Hidden gems of Northeastern Brazil Maranhao & Piaui Brazil White sands, crystal-clear ponds, river islands and fresh and salt water beaches in two breathtaking destinations. The two locations of this ride - Lençóis Maranhenses and Delta of Parnaíba, promote direct contact with the lush nature of the region. Explore three of Brazil's hidden gem destinations (Lençóis Maranhenses, Seven Cities National Park and Delta of Parnaiba), rich in beaches, sand dunes and lush nature. Lençois Maranhenses is one of the most beautiful, unique and breathtaking places in Brazil. Its unique and gorgeous sceneries feature hundreds or maybe thousands of undulating sand dunes full of rainwater. The area gets its names from this white, wavy landscape, as lençóis means ‘bedsheets’ in Portuguese. The Parnaíba River Delta is the only open sea delta in the Americas. It is an ecological sanctuary of great natural beauty. Its ramifications draw an archipelago with over 75 islands, sand dunes, freshwater lagoons and a lush tropical forest. Seven Cities National Park consists of arid savanna forest (babassu forests) and seasonal forest. Wind, rain and flora sculpted seven groups of rock formations called “cities”. These natural monuments, with shapes that resemble symbols, animals and human figures aroused wide interest in various scientific groups, attracting historians, geologists, archaeologists and even ufologists. The park also has pre-historic cave paintings and inscriptions of over 100 million years old. An epic experience with an exclusive itinerary exploring the magical sands of the Lencois and the beauties of the Delta. An extraordinary cavalcade; Perfect combination of culture, gastronomy, exuberant nature and adrenaline! Horseback riding that allows you to get to know stretches of two National Parks and the Parnaiba Delta on horseback. The horses are Mangalarga Marchador purebred and crossbred. Progressive Ride (no camping) Family Vacation Ride with Gaited Horses Suitable for riders over 210 lbs Meeting: Pedro II Airport: Teresina Airport Transfer: Teresina Airport Riders: Min 5 riders Max 10 riders Trip Brochure (PDF) Trip Rating

Packages and Options

Click here for updated current rates.

 

Transfers included from/to Teresina Airport at set times

Sample Itinerary - Subject to changes

Note: Please note that changes to the itinerary may be necessary because of local conditions, weather and riding experience of the group - always with your best interests in mind. Hotels subject to availability.

The itinerary is divided into two states, Piaui and Maranhao, arriving in Sao Luis and departing through Teresina.

Day 1: Arrival, Sunset Ride
2 PM reception at hotel in Atins – Lençóis Maranhenses. It is a breathtaking first day at the dunes, seeing those beautiful sights in front of us. A unique opportunity to take the most beautiful photographs and watch the sun go down across the stunning landscape. Ride in the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park in the Ponta do Mangue, with areas of vegetation following trails between dunes and lakes. At Canto do Atins stop to contemplate the Sunset – Dinner at a restaurant close to the dunes and return by car to the hotel.
Atins is small fishermen's village nested between the entrance of Lençois Maranhenses Park and the splendid delta of the Preguiças River. There life is still somewhat “primitive”. The streets are all of sand, and it is possible to see oxen, cows, donkeys walking freely through the alleys.
Atins is also a famous destination for kite surfers thanks to optimal wind levels and flat waters.
Meals included: dinner
Overnight in Atins

Day 2: Ride between lagoons and dunes of Lençóis Maranhenses.
We ride crossing small rivers of crystal clear water, a good time to cool off before arriving at the first group of dunes, a beautiful view of wonderfully colored lagoons, natural pools for swimming and photographing, while exploring the shapes of the dunes and lagoons.
The ride crosses Atins and the village of Santo Inácio, to start the ride through areas of vegetation of the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park until arriving at the dunes of the Lagoa Tropical circuit, with a long route through dunes, seeing several lagoons of different colors and sizes. Ride continues through areas of restinga, cerrado and flooded areas. Lunch at Dona Ziluca's house, who prepares a delicious country chicken, with traditional recipes, with coconut milk and brown sauce. After lunch, time to rest in the hammocks at the house, and get back on horseback to ride through the dunes towards the beach of the former mouth of the Rio Preguiça, heading towards Atins. Return to pousada in Atins.
Meals included Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Atins

Day 3: Transfer to Parnaíba/PI
After breakfast transfer to Parnaíba/PI (~200 km) boutique hotel Casa de Santo Antonio. In the afternoon you will meet your new horses and go for a beautiful ride on the beach.
Meals included Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Parnaiba

Day 4: Boat tour in Ilha das Canarias and its beaches.
The island is environmentally protected area, part of the Marine Extractive Reserve of the Delta. After breakfast we will embark on a speed boat tour through the majestic labyrinth of islands of the Parnaíba Delta. The route will take us to see the microcosm of the Delta, where we can observe all of its natural systems: desert beaches, big dunes, narrow streams, estuary, river, fields, big and beautiful mangroves. Tour lasts approximately 4 hours with stops at the deserted beach of Poldros and set of dunes of Morro Branco. Delicious lunch at a beach restaurant located on a dune with panoramic views. At 5:30/6:00 pm watch the “revoada dos ibis”. Return to Parnaiba. Transfer to boutique hotel Casa de Santo Antonio
Meals included Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Parnaiba

Day 5: Ponta da Barra
7:30 am transfer to Ponta da Barra to start the ride between dunes and lagoons. End of the ride on the beach. Return transfer to Pousada Vila Itaqui.
Meals included Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Camoci

Day 6: Sete Cidades National Park
Transfer to the entrance to the Sete Cidades National Park. Ride among monuments that nature has carved out over thousands of years. Transfer to Oca Tacarijus – Pousada in Piracuruca – PI / Sete Cidades National Park
Meals included Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Piracuruca

Day 7:
Meals included Breakfast
After breakfast - transfer to Teresina airport.

Non Riders
Non-riding companions are welcome to join this tour. They will follow slightly a different itinerary and join the riders for all transfers and overnight accommodations. 

                                                Parnaiba area

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Average High Temperature (°F)	89	88	88	88	89	90	89	90	90	90	90	90
Average Low Temperature (°F)	77	77	77	77	77	76	76	77	78	79	79	79
Average High Temperature (°C)	32	31	31	31	32	32	32	32	32	32	32	32
Average Low Temperature (°C)	25	25	25	25	25	25	25	25	26	26	26	26
Average Precipitation (days of rain)	4	6	8	8	6	2	1	0	0	0	0	1

Source: NOAA


Seasons
This region of Brazil is had 2 main seasons: the rainy season (February to May) and the dry season (June to January). Temperatures remain the same throughout the year.
The best time to visit is usually at the beginning of the dry season as the landscape is still lush.

It is recommended to put your luggage in travel bag instead of a hard suitcase. 10 bags are easier to get in the backup vehicle than 10 suitcases.

Travel documents and Voucher
Flight tickets
Passport
Visa (check with your consulate)
Travel Insurance
Pocket money (you can change money on arrival at the airport)
Riding pants or Jodhpurs (used if possible!) - as they are not too hot, and they dry out quickly if they get wet.
Riding boots (short) or hard-soled shoes + Minichaps or Longchaps
Riding helmet - please bring your own. NOTE – It's not mandatory in Brazil.
Riding gloves
Hat (with chin strip) for sun protection
Lightweight Rain coat
Tall boot socks to prevent chaffing
4 to 5 Long-sleeved shirts for protection sun
Water canteen
This list is only a general guideline for you from Ride in Brazil
Jacket or sweater for cool evenings
Comfortable T-Shirts/Shirts
Jeans
Shorts
Underwear and socks
Pyjama
Bag for dirty clothes
Trekking boots/ comfortable shoes
Swimsuit / Bathing suit
Personal Toiletries
Insect Repellent
Personal medications (please consult with your G.P. for health advise)
Sewing kit
Handkerchiefs
Adapter for electric appliances
Small Camera/Phone with Camera and batteries
Belt pack
Sunglasses
Sunscreen (spf-30 or higher) and Lip Balm with sunscreen
One towel
Torch / Flashlight

** No trip reports found with the tour ID you provided.

Accommodations
This is a progressive ride where nights are spent at different location.

Description
You are accommodated in comfortable guesthouses and boutique hotels along the way.

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1 & 2: pousada in Atins
Night 3 & 4: boutique hotel Casa de Santo Antonio
Night 5: Pousada Vila Itaqui in Camoci
Night 6: Pousada in Piracuruca

Mountain Guesthouse near Pedro II
You are accommodated in small mountain lodges just outside of Pedro II. Each lodge features air conditioning, private facilities and great views.
There is no Wi-Fi access from this property.

Sete Cidades Country Hotel near Sete Cidades National Park
This small hotel has 18 simple but comfortable rooms with air conditioning. There is also a small outdoor pool and free Wi-Fi connection.



Casa Caboclo on Canary Island
This charming seaside guesthouse offers bedrooms equipped with air conditioning and Internet access.



Casa Santo Antonio Boutique Hotel in Parnaiba
This boutique hotel is housed in a beautiful mansion. Each of the 22 guestrooms has its own decor and comes with air conditioning, a TV, an ensuite bathroom and wireless internet. The hotel also has a small outdoor pool where guests can cool off in the evening.



Vila Aty Lodge in Atins
This beautiful Ecolodge offers air conditioned rooms with private bathroom, free Wi-Fi access and lovely views of the surroundings. Guests are welcome to relax in the garden or go for a swim in the outdoor pool.

Room Occupancy
If we are unable to find another rider to share the room with you, a single supplement fee applies.



Meals
The program includes most meals. Breakfasts are always included.

Brazilian food is delicious and amazingly diverse. Brazil's staple food items consist of feijao, or black beans, farinha de mandioca (ground manioc, a root vegetable like a potato), similar to flour, and arroz, or white rice. These three ingredients are typically cooked or served with protein such as fish, red meat, or chicken.
Fruits are very popular throughout Brazil and included on the wide options of food offered for breakfast.

During the first 2 days, meals feature typical Sertao specialities with meat and chicken, accompanied by rice beans and salad.
On the coast, the specialty is seafood, but riders will also have a choice of meat and chicken. Always accompanied by rice beans and salad.

Special diets and dietary restrictions:
We can cater to special diets and dietary restrictions. Please, let us know at the time of booking.

This trip can accommodate special dietary requests.

Tack:		Mangalarga saddle
Horses:		Pure and cross bred Mangalarga Marchador
Pace:		Moderate with trots and canters. | Walk | Trot | Canter |
Level:		(3 to 5 out of 5)     Intermediate to Advanced
Age:		Min 12
Weight:		Max 220 lbs
Riders:		Min 5 riders	Max 10 riders

Riding
You should be a competent rider, comfortable at all paces and confident enough to try a different style of riding.
There is a variety of terrain to cross; from wide sandy beaches, rainforest to sand dunes so you should be used to riding in open spaces, going up and down hills.

Horses
The horses are well mannered, forward going, sure footed and very obedient.

Pace
You ride at a walk, canter and ‘travelling pace’ which, being similar to a Western jog, is very comfortable. The pace of the ride varies from walk on the narrow forest trails and in the deeper sand to a faster pace (either travelling pace or canter) where the terrain allows.

Staff
You will be accompanied by an English speaking guide and a local guide. Both guides have good knowledge of the local area.
Your English speaking guide will be Paulo. Paulo grew up in a family (Junqueira) well know in Brazil for breeding Mangalara horses, so he was surrounded by horses since childhood. In 2006, he decided to travel all around Brazil on horseback. he then decided to travel all around the world to get to know the best horseback riding destinations and learn about different riding techniques and cultures. He loves guiding this trip because he finds that every time, the experience is different.

Passports

Passports valid for at least six months from date of entry required by all nationals referred to in the chart.

Passport Note

All non-Brazillian nationals under 18 years of age, when not accompanied by both parents, must have a birth certificate (an original or authenticated photocopy). This must be in English, French, Portuguese or Spanish, otherwise an official translation must be presented as well. When travelling alone or with one parent, a declaration from the absent parent(s) must be presented authorising the journey and giving the name and address of the person in Brazil who will be responsible for the minor. In the case of divorced or deceased parents, papers attesting to full custody must be presented.

All travellers must be in possession of onward or return tickets and sufficient funds to cover their stay.



Visas

Required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except the following:

(a) 1. nationals of EU countries (except nationals of Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Malta who do require a visa) for touristic and business stays of up to 90 days;

(b) transit passengers continuing their journey to a third country by the same or first connecting flight, provided holding onward documentation and not leaving the airport.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Types of Visa and Cost

Tourist: cost varies according to nationality. Generally, it is around £30. Other prices, based on reciprocity, are £28 (for nationals of Australia); £52 (for nationals of Canada); free, but £104 processing fee (for nationals of the USA). British citizens requiring visas with a validity over 180 days will be subject to a processing fee of £124. Business and Transit: cost varies according to nationality; contact the consulate for details.

Validity

Normally 90 days from date of issue, although this is at the discretion of Brazilian immigration officials. Tourist visas can be used for multiple entry within the period of validity. Tourist visas can be extended up to a further 90 days, provided the application is made at least two weeks before the expiration of the visa. Nationals should apply in Brazil to the federal police; this must be done before the visa expires or nationals risk deportation.

Note: Some Brazilian immigration officials have been restricting single male tourists aged 25-50 to stays of up to 30 days, particularly in the north east region, in an effort to combat sex tourism.

Applications to:

Consulate (or consular section at the embassy); see Contact Addresses. Applications made through travel agents or by post are subject to a fee of £8.

Working Days Required

Depends on nationality. Up to three days for applications made in person and 10 days for applications made by a third party. Additional time is required to process applications made by post.

Passport Required?
British	Yes
Australian	Yes
Canadian	Yes
USA	Yes
Other EU	Yes
Visa Required?
British	No
Australian	Yes
Canadian	Yes
USA	Yes
Other EU	1
Return Ticket Required?
British	Yes
Australian	Yes
Canadian	Yes
USA	Yes
Other EU	Yes

 

ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR U.S. CITIZENS: Brazil requires U.S. citizens to carry a valid U.S. passport and visa when traveling to Brazil for any purpose. You must obtain your Brazilian visa in advance from the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate nearest to your place of residence in the United States. There are no "airport visas" and immigration authorities will refuse entry into Brazil to anyone not possessing a valid visa. The U.S. government cannot assist you if you arrive in Brazil without proper documentation. 

Travelers under 18 years of age and their parents should carefully review the visa application requirements. The adjudicating official at the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate may require a birth certificate and notarized travel authorization to issue a visa to a minor.

Visit the web site of the Brazilian Embassy in Washington, D.C. for the most current visa information.

U.S. citizens and other foreign travelers must fill out a small immigration form on arrival that will be stamped and handed back by immigration officials at the airport. It is important to retain this form to hand back to immigration officials upon exit from the country. According to the Brazilian Embassy’s website, visitors who lose this form will have to get clearance from the Brazilian Federal Police to leave the country and may have to pay a fine.

Remember that while in Brazil, you are subject to local law. Showing contempt to a Brazilian government official at the port of entry, or elsewhere, is a serious offense.

Additionally, if you have recently visited certain countries, including most other Latin American countries, you may be required to present an inoculation card indicating you had a yellow fever inoculation or you may not be allowed to board the plane or enter the country. Check with the Brazilian Embassy for more information.

The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Brazil.

For current entry and customs requirements for Brazil, travelers may contact the Brazilian Embassy, which is temporarily located at 1025 Thomas Jefferson St., NW, Suite 300 W (3rd floor), Washington, D.C. 20007-5250, Phone: (202) 238-2805. Travelers may also contact the Brazilian Consulates in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hartford, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco. Addresses, phone numbers, web and e-mail addresses, and jurisdictions of these consulates may be found at the Brazilian Embassy website.

Special Entry/Exit Requirements for Dual Nationals: U.S. citizens who also have Brazilian nationality cannot be issued Brazilian visas and must obtain a Brazilian passport from the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate nearest to their place of residence to enter and depart Brazil. In addition to being subject to all Brazilian laws affecting U.S. citizens, dual nationals may also be subject to other laws that impose special obligations on Brazilian citizens. Information about dual nationality can be found on our website. 

Special Entry/Exit Requirements for Minors: Brazilian minors age 17 years and under, including minors who have both Brazilian and U.S. citizenship, are subject to strict exit requirements. Brazilian minors departing Brazil, if not accompanied by both parents, must prove that both parents authorized the departure. If accompanied by only one parent, the minor must have a notarized letter from the other parent indicating permission to depart the country, a court order proving that the accompanying parent has sole custody, or a Brazilian court order authorizing the child’s departure. If accompanied by neither parent, the minor must have a notarized letter from both parents authorizing departure, or a Brazilian court order authorizing the same. There are no exceptions, even if the child remained in Brazil only a short time. The authorization must be notarized by a Brazilian notary to be considered valid by the Brazilian authorities. If prepared in the United States, the authorization must be in Portuguese or accompanied by an official translation into Portuguese, and must be notarized by either the Brazilian Embassy or a Brazilian Consulate, or notarized by a U.S. notary public and then authenticated at the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate. Prior to departing the United States, parents traveling to Brazil with children who are Brazilian nationals may wish to obtain an authorization for each parent to return with the children to the United States without the other parent, just in case. Note that children adopted from Brazil are still considered Brazilian citizens and must be documented as such should they return to Brazil.

Minors age 17 years and under who are not Brazilian nationals are not technically subject to the same strict travel requirements as Brazilian minors. However, there have been cases where the travel of non-Brazilian minors has been delayed or prevented when accompanied by only one parent or a third party. To avoid potential difficulties, parents of non-Brazilian minors may want to follow the procedures above if their children will be traveling to Brazil accompanied by only one parent or by a third party.

Parents contemplating separation or divorce should resolve custody matters before leaving the country. Pursuant to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, to which both Brazil and the United States are party, custody will ultimately be decided by a court in the country where the child is a habitual resident. Information about the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website. The State Department hotline for Child Abduction Prevention during regular business hours is: (202) 663-3330 and after hours: (888) 407-4747. 

For further information about customs regulations, please read our customs information page.

 

This information is not being updated on a regular basis. Hidden Trails does not take any responsibility for the accuracy of the above information. Please, consult the embassy or consulate for updated info.