It’s not a mirage! This flooded desert in Brazil will leave you awestruck by its beauty.
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Water and desert are the antithesis of each other. It’s the last thing anyone would expect to see together. But Mother Nature always has her ways to surprise us and she gave us this stunning sight of clear blue lagoons and blindingly white sand in the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park.
The first question which primarily arises in our minds is how is this even possible?
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The answer is very simple. Lençóis Maranhenses receives 47 inches of rainfall every year and is too watery to be considered a desert. These blue lagoons are home to various fishes despite being completely dried out in the rainy season. Strong equatorial winds push the sand in the inland creating huge sand dunes. Hence the amalgamation of dunes and water.
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Now that you know that it’s an amazing place and blah blah blah, the question arises, ” How do I get there?”
The park is located in the state of Maranhão. The easiest way to reach Lençóis Maranhenses is to reach São Luís which is the capital of Maranhão.
From São Luís you can go to the town of Barreirinhas which is right outside the park. You can go by public transport or book a car. After reaching the lagoon (which is apparently a very bumpy ride) it is advisable to hire a guide because trust me, you don’t want to get lost.
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Stay there for minimum 2 days to explore the largest lagoons in the park, Azul and Bonita.
COOL TIP: hop onto a scenic aerial flight over the park from Barreirinhas itself.
Caution: Do not just jump off into any lagoon. Make sure the water level is high enough.
Last but not the least: “What is the best time to visit?”
It rains from January to June. By July-September the lagoons are at their best with the maximum amount of water and a huge amount of fishes.
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