Lençóis Maranhenses: Brazil’s "Desert of a Thousand Lagoons"

Tired of cookie-cutter beaches and mountains? This otherworldly national park—where dunes cradle turquoise lakes—belongs on your bucket list. ✨ Why It’s Magical Alien Landscape: After rains (May-Sep), thousands of sapphire lagoons appear between blinding-white dunes. Photographer’s Eden: The sand acts as a natural reflector—wear red for jaw-dropping contrast against blue waters. Under-the-Radar: A favorite of European influencers but still unknown to most Asian travelers—your social media will explode! 📍 Survival Guide 🚗 Getting There Fly to São Luís (via São Paulo). 3-hour 4x4 ride to Barreirinhas (park gateway). Mandatory jeep tours (~R$200/person) enter at dawn for sunrise over dunes. 🏠 Where to Stay Splurge: Pousada Encantes Do Nordeste (infinity pool overlooking the desert). Budget: Atins village hammock homestays (fall asleep under the Milky Way). ⚠️ Pro Tips Pack a windbreaker + SPF 50+ (days scorch, nights chill). Water shoes > flip-flops (some lakes require 30-min hikes). Cash is king—ATMs are rarer than jaguars here. #barreirinhas#Lagoa Azul. Lençóis Maranhenses.#travel guide#trip diary#Brazil