Discover desert lagoons, volcanic islands and pure white beaches in Northern Brazil
One of north Brazil’s top attractions is the white, shifting sand dunes in Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. Known as the “bedsheets” this desert comes with a twist. Lying just outside the Amazon Basin, it has a rainy season which results in jewel-coloured lagoons collecting between the dunes. You can explore this alien landscape and spot the red ibris when you kayak along the Pregucias Rivers. Visit Pregucias lighthouse and enjoy a panoramic view of the desert, recently used to depict planet Vormir in the film, Avengers: Infinity War.
Experience pure, open beaches and world-class diving when you fly into Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park. This UNESCO site is a rich breeding ground for turtle, home to spinner dolphin and the western Atlantic resting post for seabirds. This volcanic archipelago is made up of 21 islands, ragged tips of the mid-Atlantic ridge 350 kilometres from the coast. Only the main island is inhabited and with visitor numbers restricted you’ll have some of Brazil’s best beaches to yourself.
Back on the mainland, explore the museums, galleries and crafts stores in the UNESCO city of São Luís. The island is made up of cobbled streets and coloured colonial mansions. Hop aboard a speedboat and enjoy an exhilarating tour of the Delta do Paranaiba, the biggest in the Americas, with its mix of rivers, mangroves, dunes and desert beaches. What better way to end another A&K adventure than climb Pôr do Sol (Sunset) dune near the fishing village of Jericoacoara to enjoy the magical sunset.