Santo Amaro Car Tours: Top 5 Adventures

Santo Amaro do Maranhão is that access point to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, a place known for its expansive dunes and, too it’s almost seasonal lagoons. If you want to make the most of your visit, one that gives you memories, then grabbing one of the several car tours is the way to go. They will handle those tricky sandy trails, giving you access to the park’s highlights. Let’s check out the best tours from Santo Amaro.

1. Lagoa Azul and Lagoa da Gaivota Tour

First up is that classic combo, Lagoa Azul and Lagoa da Gaivota! This is really that perfect intro to the Lençóis Maranhenses. So, you will set out from Santo Amaro in a 4×4, and this will be very, very important as these dunes are not so much forgiving. First, Lagoa Azul. Think of crystal-clear waters surrounded by dunes as far as the eye can see. It’s a good place to float and snap those unforgettable vacation pictures. Then you’re off to Lagoa da Gaivota, which, with its slightly darker waters, offers a calmer setting for relaxing and taking everything in. Arguably, the two lagoons together give you a really diverse taste of the park’s natural beauty. The tour typically spends that whole afternoon, getting you back in time for dinner in Santo Amaro.

2. Betania River Exploration

Looking for something a little different than just lagoon hopping? Then the Betania River exploration is that choice for you. You’re still doing the 4×4 thing from Santo Amaro, yet instead of directly heading into the dunes, you follow a path toward the Preguiças River. This tour combines river landscapes with visits to the dunes, actually offering some respite from the sand. So, that main highlight is when you float down the Betania River on inner tubes, one that passes by local villages and offers unique views of the surrounding landscape. You also typically visit the dunes around the river, actually providing photo opportunities. Usually, this tour provides a more laid-back experience and closer look into that local life around Lençóis Maranhenses.

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3. Emancipation Route Car Tour

If that natural beauty is all good, yet you’re kind of curious about that cultural part too, then the Emancipation Route tour should definitely pique your interest. Rather than focusing that whole time on the lagoons, this tour gives respect to the history and culture around the region. So, the route gets its name from those historical paths used by runaway slaves, and today, the tour visits communities descended from those escapees. This typically involves meeting local artisans, arguably trying regional foods, and knowing about the history from the inhabitants themselves. Often, you get a glimpse into how that life is around the edges of the national park and what difficulties and victories they’ve been though. This tour often provides that deeper look than the more lagoon-centric trips.

Read our full review: Lençóis Maranhenses Emancipation Route Full Review and Details

4. Night Tour of Lençóis Maranhenses

Ok, so if you want to switch up that routine and experience something quite extraordinary, then check this out! You need to book a night tour of the Lençóis Maranhenses. Yep, that’s right. When that sun sets, yet after most travelers head back to their accommodations, a few really awesome tours begin. With these tours, arguably they drive you back into the dunes by the stars. Then you have this place entirely to yourself, completely calm. Then you can see the moon on the lagoons and also some constellations without city lights hindering you, it’s really an experience of another sort. Bring a decent camera and you’re able to actually experiment with the nighttime photography too, often creating really awesome and unforgettable imagery. This tour is certainly better if you are after that one of a kind adventure. Plus, that temperatures also drops which can actually be a relief after those warm day excursions.

5. Combination Tour: Lagoons and River

Now, if you simply are on the fence and can’t decide, yet the good news is that, hey, why not do both? So, for that indecisive explorer, that combo tour can arguably give you just the right mix of the dunes and waterways that surround Santo Amaro. This typically starts off with some of the most popular lagoons such as Lagoa Azul or Lagoa Bonita where you can take some beautiful pictures. And then, later on, they often switch gears and take you to the Betania River for a relaxing float. Typically, it’s really a longer day and will likely wear you out as it tries to cram everything into one experience, however, for people really limited on time, or simply want a sampler of that region’s diversity, these trips are so amazing. The convenience can’t be overstated.

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