Lençóis Maranhenses, the flooded desert that is a symbol of sustainable tourism in Brazil

A desert of white dunes hiding thousands of crystal-clear freshwater lagoons: this is the surreal landscape of Lençóis Maranhenses, the paradise that is causing a stir on social media and has become a symbol of sustainable tourism in Brazil .

The phenomenon, which only occurs in this ecological transition zone between the Amazon, Caatinga and Cerrado biomes , is the result of the accumulation of freshwater from tropical rains on an impermeable surface of sedimentary rock, covered by fine white sand.

The absence of pollutants and organic sediments preserves the transparency of the water, and, by reflecting sunlight, the sandy bottom gives the lagoons blue, green or turquoise hues .

With shifting dunes that can reach 40 meters in height , this landscape dominates 90,000 of the 155,000 hectares of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, which spans four municipalities in the state of Maranhão, in northeastern Brazil.

The park, which received more than 440,000 visitors in 2024, according to official data, is "a powerful showcase of the country's potential as an ecotourism and sustainable tourism destination." Furthermore, it conveys the image of a "lush, preserved, and welcoming" Brazil, which creates an emotional impact due to its "rare beauty" and "cultural richness," said Marcelo Freixo, president of the Brazilian International Tourism Promotion Agency (Embratur), in an interview with EFE .

The most visited lagoon is the Lagoa Azul, in the city of Barreirinhas, but the Lagoa do Buriti Amarelo also stands out for its reddish tones stained by vegetation .

The largest lagoon in the park is Lagoa da Gaivota, in Santo Amaro, which remains full year-round and is ideal for surfing the dunes.

In addition to countless lagoons and deserted beaches, tourists can admire sunsets, starry skies, and abundant fauna and flora, with endemic species of anteater and turtle , as well as armadillos and sloths.

"Tourism is a green industry that, if carried out sustainably, can contribute to preserving heritage sites like this one and the communities that surround them (...) Tourism can be for this century and the next what oil was for the 20th century ," Freixo added.

The unique experience of exploring the Lençóis can include hiking through the dunes, which are cold and compacted due to accumulated water; boat trips on the Preguiças River; and visits to local communities rich in culture and cuisine.

The fishing village of Mandacaru , for example, is home to a 54-meter lighthouse , one of the region's premier viewing points.

Caburé, a picturesque peninsula between the Preguiças River and the Atlantic, offers freshwater and saltwater swimming, as well as local flavors such as free-range chicken, goat with coconut milk, and fish.

For a more "complete and safe" experience, it is advisable to hire local guides, according to Cristiane Figueiredo, head of the park managed by the Ministry of the Environment through the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio).

"Each restaurant or hammock area has a particular characteristic of the local traditional population," he tells EFE .

Although it offers stunning landscapes throughout the year, the high season for foreigners is currently concentrated between August and September .

For Freixo, these tourists, especially French, German, Portuguese, British, and American tourists , as well as South Americans, find in the destination "the perfect combination of stunning nature and adventure" and are won over by "an authentic experience."

"This image is essential to attracting tourists who value authenticity , nature, and environmental responsibility, and it helps them return to Brazil to discover other equally surprising destinations," he said.

On the other hand, the recognition as a World Heritage Site granted to the park in July 2024 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is boosting the park's international reputation.

That same year, it ranked fourth among the most searched Brazilian tourist destinations by foreigners on the internet, just behind Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, and Iguazu Falls on the border with Argentina , according to data from the Similarweb platform published by the 2025 magazine 'Tendencias del Turismo'.

According to Freixo, the more than 12,000 registered searches "reinforce its value as a prestigious global tourism asset" and corroborate the efforts of Embratur, along with other organizations and airlines, to improve the destination's connectivity.

"Brazil has incredible and unique destinations from north to south. That's precisely what sets it apart from other tourist destinations. Only here are there paradisiacal beaches, dotted with waterfalls, the Amazon, the Pantanal, and, of course, a flooded desert like the Lençóis Maranhenses," he concluded.