THE DUNE EXPEDITION

An expedition tour, using off-road jeeps to visit some of the most unspoiled beaches in Brazil. A great opportunity to travel through the off-beaten tracks. During the trip we schedule stops for swimming, sandboarding on the dunes, pictures and local cultural attractions. Beaches, dunes, lagoons, rivers, sun and paradisiac scenery are part of this adventure.

ITINERARY

Day 1 –       Fortaleza / Jericoacoara 

An ecotouristic expedition from Fortaleza to Jericoacoara using the routes of primitive beaches, dunes, lakes, small villages and trails onboard a Land Rover Jeep, equipped with air-condition. Program: Departure from Fortaleza at 08:00 am via the asphalt road to Lagoinha beach, 110 km north west of Fortaleza. A short stop to get to know the beach. The tour continues on the virgin beaches to Guajiru, Fleixeiras and Mundau. From Mundau driving on dirt roads to Baleia beach and from there on the beaches of Marinheiros, Inferno, Pracianos, Apique, Sabianguaba  and Caetanos passing by small fisherman villages. From Icarai driving on to Moitas. Cross a river and then on trails and dirt roads to Itarema and from there on asfalt and beaches finaly to  Jericiacoara. Arrival late afternoon and accommodation. Overnight.
Jericoacoara is considered as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.  Since 1984, Jericoacoara is a protected environmental area with 20 km of wide beaches,   reefs, rock formations, white sand dunes which can  be up  to  30 meters high, lakes and palm trees. Most  of  the population survive from fishing or handcrafts and live in streets without names or numbers. The town has a number of small hotels & restaurants, integrated with the landscape and the tranquility of the place.

Meals Included: none

Day 2 –       Jericoacoara / Parnaiba / Ilha das Canarias

Parnaiba is the name of both the city and the river. The Parnaiba river is one of only three rivers in the world that has its estuary in open sea, forming a tangle of river banks, lagoons and islands of every size.  The city is located on the northeast coast of Brazil and in the state of Piaui, 366 km from Teresinha - the states capital, 630 km from Fortaleza and 810 km from Sao Luiz. Parnaiba city has a population of 125 000 inhabitants and it  was colonized in the 17th century by  the Portuguese and Spanish. The port of the city was one of the most important in the region in the last century due to its location. The river Panaiba is 1414 km long and  when it meets the Atlantic Ocean, it forms a river delta with more than 70 islands, some covered with tropical forest, others with dunes up to 40 meters high and others have farms, plantations and beaches. The total area of the delta is 2700 km2 and with 90 km of coast. Of the whole area 35% is swamp, 12% dunes, 23% forest, 20% fields and 10% salt. There are only two other rivers in the world similar to the Panaiba river: Mekong and the Nile. In this ecological sanctuary lives animals such as monkeys, foxes, deer, wild cats, coatis, alligators, sea turtles and more. Program: Breakfast. Departure from the hotel by beach buggy or jeep for a 1,5 hours drive on the beaches and dunes. A short crossing of the Correau River before arriving in Camocim. A stop is made in the city. Departure to Parnaiba with arrival in the early afternoon. A short tour of Parnaiba before driving to Tatus, a small village located in the delta. From Tatus is about 45 minutes boat trip to the island Ilha das Canarias, the second biggest island in the delta, with an area of about 32 km2 and a population of about 2500 people. The main income is from fishing and rice plantations. Arrival and accommodation at hotel Paraiso das Canarias, with a privileged view of Parnaiba River. Accommodation. When it gets dark, departure with a small canoe in to the small and narrow creeks. The local guides use a strong flash light to look for alligators and which they catch with their bare hands. After they shown the animals to the guests, they let them in the water again. Other animals as lizards in the trees and snakes are easy to see, plus many other animals. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 –       Ilha das Canarias / Parnaiba

Very early wake-up. Breakfast and departure by a motorized boat, sailing in to the narrow river arms and creeks where the bigger boat will be changed for smaller canoes. Using only paddles, it allows the canoe to enter in to the narrow creeks where animals as monkeys, lizards, snakes, capybaras, birds and more can be seen without frightening them! Return to the bigger boat. The boat continues to another island for fishing of the famous Piranha fish! Watch your fingers! Return to Ilha das Canarias for lunch. Lunch can also be onboard. Departure by boat to Tatus in the afternoon and then by land to Parnaiba. Overnight.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4 –       Parnaiba / Cabure / Barrerinhas

Breakfast. Departure from Parnaiba  with 4x4 wheel drive vehicle first to Tutoia, 120 km on asphalt road. From Tutoia 65 km on dirt road, trails and beaches to Rio Novo and Cabure located on the margin of Preguicas river. The whole trip from Parnaiba to Cabure takes about 4 hours. Arrival to Cabure,  a picturesque fishermen village, whoose simple cottages are covered with carnauba (a palm) straw. A stop is made for lunch (not included) and time at leisure. The Preguicas is a voluminous river, with clear waters, which originates in the interior of Maranhao. It surrounds the desert until it encounters the Atlantic Ocean and is bordered by bushy woods and impudent dunes. Board smaller boats. Cross the Preguicas River and arrive at Mandacaru, a village of about one hundred houses, which originated at the Mandacaru lighthouse. From the lighthouse top one can have a complete view of the dunes, river, the ocean and the vegetation of the region. If possible we will climb it. We continue to travel on the beautiful river until we reach Pequenos Lencois, an area under environmental protection. We stop and walk on the dunes, have a swim in the lagoons (the lagoons have water normally from April to October). From Pequenos Lencois a 45 minutes boat ride to Barrerinhas. Arrival, accommodation and overnight.
The gateway  to  the  fascinating National   Park   of  Lencois  Maranhenses,  is   the   city   of Barreirinhas,  260 km from Sao Luiz. The park  is the largest in the Northeast and considered as the only  desert in  the country. In the rainy season (from Dec-July) the landscape undergoes  a dramatic  transformation,  Lencois  becomes  a  huge  oasis  with innumerable  pools of crystalline waters that spread out  over  an area of 155000 hectares. Lencois forms a matchless desert, formed by dunes of very white sands tens of meters high, replete with lagoons of sweet and crystalline water, pure rivers and beaches as deserted as wild, extending from the municipality of Barreirinhas until Primeira Cruz, on the banks of Rio Preguica. It would be a big desert if in the region it did not rain 300 times more than in the Sahara. The water dropping from the sky turns the earth into a large natural oasis.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5 –       Barrerinhas / Sao Luis

After breakfast, leave Barreirinhas in 4x4 wheel drive vehicle on sand covered roads and trails to "Grandes Lencois", the big sand dunes! From here a walk to the dunes and lake "Lagoa Bonita", considered as one of the most beautiful attractions of the region. Time for relax and a swim. The walking tour continues to other dunes and areas with the feeling is of beeing in a desert! Return to the vehicle. Lunch box included. Return to Barrerinhas. In the afternoon departure Barrerinhas for Sao Luis by air conditioned coach (3 hours). Arrival early evening and transfer to the hotel in the historical center. Check-in and time to explore the nice historical center at night with bars, restaurants and reggae clubs. Overnight.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 6 –       Sao Luis

A walking city tour of the historical center. The island and the city of Sao Luis, is graced with a totally unique atmosphere and charm. Curiously enough it is the only Brazilian capital that was NOT founded by the Portuguese, but by the French in 1612. In addition to the well preserved Portuguese colonial architecture, Sao Luis has quiet streets, more than 30 km of beaches, a strong popular culture with festivals and  rituals that  go on practically the entire year. It is also known as the capital of Reggae music in Brazil. Overnight.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 7 –       Sao Luis

After breakfast, transfer to the airport 

Meals Included: Breakfast

SERVICE DETAILS

Included Services

Land transfers as detailed in the itinerary, including bilingual guide
Guided Tours as detailed, including bilingual guides and National Park taxes. Tours can change due to operational, safety or weather condition.
 

Not Included  

Flights 

Optional Tours 

Meals not included in the itinerary

Travel Insurance

Drinks, Laundry, Tips, Telephone calls, and any other personal expenses etc…. 

Meals
Meals included in the program are detailed in the following chart.

Accommodation:

Double rooms can have separate beds or not. A third person depending on the hotel has the possibility of using a sofa bed. Consult for children policy.  

GENERAL CONDITIONS

RESPONSIBILITY: Brasil Travel / Melchior & Hodson Ltda and/or agencies involved with the packages, flights and tours shall act only as agents of the tour members in making arrangements for hotels and any other service and do not assume any liability whatsoever for any injury, damage, death, loss, accident or delay to persons or property due to an act of God, default by any hotel, company or person rendering any of services included on the tours or flights.

Furthermore, no responsibility is accepted for quarantine, government restraints, weather or other causes beyond their personal control. No responsibility is accepted for any additional expenses, omissions, delays, re-routing or acts of government authority. The payment for the reservation shall constitute consent to all provisions in the "General Conditions" as published herein.

PAYMENT POLICY: The total cost for the services requested must be received at least 30 days prior to guest' arrival in order to prepay and guarantee the reservation. Some hotels and resorts have different payment policies that could involve payments due up to six weeks prior to arrival during specific special dates, or will only accept a reservation with an immediate prepayment.

Brasil Travel will accept VISA or Mastercard Credit/Debit Cards or wire transfers.

The prices are subject to change without notice until reservation is paid for.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Cancellations are subject to penalties depending on the hotel and season. Note that in many instances, there is a strict cancellation penalty for those reservations cancelled or for "No-shows" especially during holidays and special dates. Cancellation periods range from three (03) days to forty-five (45) days and cancellation penalties range from one (01) nights' stay to the entire length of stay.

NOTES: Our prices include only what is stated in the fax or e-mails sent. Other fees, such as energy, maid service, phone calls, laundry, bellman or any other extra expenses are not included.

For transfers, two (02) pieces of luggage plus one (01) carry-on allowed per person. An additional cost may be charged by driver for any extra additional luggage.

IMPORTANT:

• Brasil Travel reserves the right to confirm a similar hotel if the one of choice is not available.

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