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The Lagoon Odyssey
Few landscapes feel as unexpected as this. Endless white dunes interrupted by freshwater lagoons, forming a setting that shifts with the seasons and reveals itself gradually.
The Lagoon Odyssey
Full-day Experience
All Ages
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park – MA
What To Expect From The Experience
The experience begins with a private transfer into Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, where access is only possible through authorized vehicles.
As you enter the dunes, the landscape appears almost minimal at first. Gradually, the lagoons begin to emerge, scattered between the sand formations, each one with a slightly different color and depth.
These lagoons are formed by seasonal rains, creating temporary pools of freshwater that transform the region for a few months each year. The best conditions occur between May and September, when the lagoons are full and suitable for swimming.
Stops are made at selected lagoons, allowing time to enter the water and experience the contrast between the heat of the dunes and the cool, clear lagoons. The pace is intentionally unhurried, with time to walk, pause, and move between different areas.
The experience is not defined by a single viewpoint, but by transitions. Each dune reveals a slightly different composition of water and sand, creating a constantly changing landscape.
The second part of the experience takes place from the air.
A scenic flight over Lençóis Maranhenses reveals the full scale of the region, something that cannot be understood from the ground. From above, the lagoons form intricate patterns between the dunes, connected in ways that are not visible at ground level.
The contrast between the two perspectives is what defines the experience. On the ground, it is immersive and tactile. From the air, it becomes expansive and abstract.
What To Expect
The experience begins with a private transfer into Lençóis Maranhenses, where seasonal lagoons emerge between the dunes. Stops are made for swimming and exploring at a relaxed pace.
It continues with a scenic flight, revealing the full scale of the landscape and the patterns formed by the lagoons from above.
Gallery
What Our Clients Say
Excellent5.0119 reviews
5.0Excellent119 reviewsI would like to express our gratitude and recognition to BET – Best Exclusive Travels for all the excellent work done during our program in Rio de Janeiro. From organizing transfers and guides, to tickets for tours, restaurant suggestions and reservations, to monitoring every detail of the program, everything was conducted with excellence, professionalism, and enormous attention to the client. A special thank you to Anthony, Camille Micaut, Sascha and Samantha Szczerb, and also to the entire team and professionals coordinated by BET. Always very attentive, available, and concerned with ensuring that everything happened in the best possible way. What impressed us most was precisely the attention to detail and the ability to offer solutions and support throughout the experience. Top-notch service. Congratulations to the entire BET team! Without a doubt, a company we recommend to anyone seeking excellence, attention, and truly personalized service in Rio de Janeiro. From organizing transfers and tour guides to arranging sightseeing tickets, restaurant recommendations and reservations, as well as carefully coordinating every detail of our itinerary, everything was handled with excellence, professionalism, and exceptional attention to the client. A special thank you to Anthony, Camille Micaut, Sascha, and Samantha Szczerb, as well as to the entire team and all the professionals coordinated by BET. Everyone was always extremely attentive, available, and genuinely committed to ensuring that everything went as smoothly as possible. What impressed us the most was their attention to every detail and their ability to provide solutions and support throughout the entire experience. Truly outstanding service. Congratulations to the entire BET team! We highly recommend BET to anyone looking for excellence, attention to detail, and truly personalized service in Rio de Janeiro.
(Translated by Google, see original)An absolutely unforgettable journey — thank you, Brazil Exclusive Travels! From the very first email to the final goodbye, planning our trip with Brazil Exclusive Travels was a genuine pleasure, and we could not recommend them more highly. Our three-week journey across Brazil — the Lençóis Maranhenses, Salvador de Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, Angra dos Reis, the Iguaçu Falls and the Pantanal — was organized flawlessly from start to finish. A very special thank-you goes to Vincent Droesbeke, our travel consultant, who looked after us with extraordinary care both before and during the trip. He crafted an itinerary that balanced adventure, culture, nature and pure relaxation perfectly, and not a single detail was left to chance. He even came to welcome us in person when we landed in Rio — a thoughtful, personal touch that meant a great deal to us — and surprised us with a wonderful room upgrade on top of it. Every transfer, flight and connection ran perfectly, and each local guide and driver was outstanding: knowledgeable, warm and genuinely passionate about their country. The experiences they arranged were once-in-a-lifetime — a scenic flight over the Lençóis, the Iguaçu Falls from both the Brazilian and Argentine sides, and, the highlight of them all, watching a female jaguar and her cub play at sunset in the Pantanal. Thank you, Vincent and the entire BET team, for turning our dream of Brazil into reality. We will treasure these memories forever — and we will be back! Ilaria & CristianoThis agency went above and beyond for my trip to Rio de Janeiro. From the first email to getting on the plane back home. The tour guides, security team and drivers were amazing-professional , friendly and always looking out for me. I felt completely taken care of the entire time, which made the trip even more enjoyable. I'm so grateful for their support and would absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for a stress-free, high high quality travel experience.Dara and Brazil Exclusive Travels is a 5 star plus company. I would give them 10 stars if possible! Dara and her team helped me plan a perfect Rio holiday. She had ideas on everything from tours - to restaurants - to transfers - to a Michelin level chef to cook for us! Plus Dara and her team were with us every step of the way! Honestly I have nothing negative to say about this company at all! I highly recommend them.I reached out to Brazilian exclusive travel as I was unable to order tickets for a concert for a birthday visit to São Paulo. This happens a lot when booking things if you’re not in or from Brazil but Brazilian exclusive came to the rescue!!! They ordered my tickets and did everything they could to reassure me about safely receiving them! It was a 10/10 for my experience! Quick and efficient, too! Using them to book the rest of my tours and things whilst I am there! 🩷🩷🩷🩷Brazil Exclusive Travels arranged a private tour for a corporate group of 20 people. All the logistics pre-tour handled by Felipe were very well coordinated. Communication was very clear. The team was very attentive to details. Our tour guide Juliana was amazing. I highly recommend them for experiencing the best of Rio.We spent a fantastic 2 days in Rio de Janeiro at the beginning of November. Thanks to Felipe everything went exactly as planned. The guide and driver arrived always on time, theyp were extremly polite,attentive and courteous. Tatiana, the guide was perfect, showed and told everything that could be done in just 2 days. It helped a lot that the driver always dropped us off at the closest location and waited us, as well as fast pass entrance tickets to important places. Overall it was a wonderful experience, just as we had imagined. Thanks to everyone who participated in the organisation and implementation. I recommend the office to everyone, they were very fair. Suzan from HungaryLeave with peace of mind for Brazil, in RIO by entrusting Camille with the care of organizing your stay. With a perfect knowledge of RIO and its surroundings, your efficient help and relevant advice Camille have been very valuable to us and in particular: obtaining tickets for a match at the Maracana (delivered directly to our hotel room), putting us in touch with a French-speaking guide for a morning visit to Santa Teresa (request made the day before), organizing a transfer Ilha Grande - Rio with a stop at the Rio heliport for a flight over the city (Help in choosing the helicopter company) ... Responsiveness, Rigor, Precision and solutions provided (even to last-minute requests): Camille has a great sense of service and support for a tailor-made trip. Thank you Camille for your assistance, your discreet, pleasant and so comfortable presence, you have greatly contributed to the success of our trip.
(Translated by Google, see original)We had an amazing experience!!! Felipe Tauile went above and beyond for our guided tour to help with restaurant recommendations, reservations, and even private airport transfers. He responded immediately to all of our questions and even pivoted plans around weather cancellations. 10/10 recommend and plan to utilize his expertise for future business trips in Brazil!Went for two weeks for carnival. Dara our tour organizer and Pedro our driver were amazing at organizing everything and patient with multiple changes many of which were last minute as we learned more on the ground about different events or places we should experience. Although definitely on the higher side price wise it is worth it if you want a stress free private experience. We will definitely be recommending to any friends traveling to Rio. Anyone who enjoys history should definitely take the private tours as it is you with a guide fluent in your language and whom are very sociable. If you have a lack of plans or want a more dynamic day I’d book the car for the day. The drivers can recommend places to shop, beach, eat etc as can Dada. Ubers can take a while and even the Uber blacks are basic Toyota Camrys and not always in the best of shape.
Experience Highlights
– Exploration of freshwater lagoons within white sand dunes
– Swimming in natural, crystal-clear pools
– Scenic overflight revealing the full scale of the landscape
– Combination of immersive and panoramic perspectives
Logistics and Planning
This experience requires careful coordination to align ground and aerial conditions.
A Word From Our Crew
This is one of the most unique landscapes in the world. The moment you see it from above, everything connects.
Location In Rota das Emoções
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is located in northeastern Brazil and is defined by a rare combination of sand dunes and seasonal freshwater lagoons. These lagoons form during the rainy season and gradually evaporate over the months, creating a constantly evolving landscape that changes throughout the year.
Plan Your Lagoon Odyssey
Due tThis experience is highly dependent on seasonal conditions and requires precise timing. To include it in your itinerary, fill out our form and our team will design the experience around your journey, ensuring optimal conditions for both ground exploration and overflight.
FAQs – Lençóis Maranhenses Experience
What is the best time to visit Lençóis Maranhenses?
The ideal period is between May and September, when the lagoons are full and suitable for swimming.
Can I swim in the lagoons?
Yes. The lagoons are freshwater, clear, and ideal for swimming during the season when they are full.
Is the overflight necessary?
Not essential, but highly recommended. It provides a completely different understanding of the landscape.
Where is the experience based?
The experience can start from Barreirinhas, Santo Amaro, or Atins, depending on your itinerary.
Where should I stay in Lençóis Maranhenses?
We recommend combining this experience with a stay at carefully selected properties such as La Ferme de Georges and Anacardier Privé Hotel, both offering a refined and intimate setting with direct access to the surrounding landscapes. Our team will recommend the most suitable option based on your itinerary and preferred level of immersion.