Take the desert plunge

Discover Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, a spectacular dune ­landscape extending 40 kilometers inland from the coast of Maranhão state in northern Brazil

The adventure begins in the town of Barreirinhas, the starting point for tours of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, a dune landscape covering an area of 1500 square kilometers, which is Brazil’s only desert. Its endless expanses of fine, snow-white sands are broken only by crystal-clear, freshwater lagoons. It’s impossible to resist the urge to take a dip! The best time to go is between March and September because many of the mini lakes run dry later in the year for lack of precipitation.