An
expedition tour, using off-road jeeps to visit some of the most
unspoiled beaches in Brazil. A great opportunity to
travel through the off-beaten tracks. During the trip we schedule
stops for swimming, sandboarding on the dunes, pictures and local
cultural attractions. Beaches, dunes, lagoons,
rivers, sun and paradisiac scenery are part of this adventure.
An
ecotouristic expedition from Fortaleza to Jericoacoara using the routes of
primitive beaches, dunes, lakes, small villages and trails onboard a Land
Rover Jeep, equipped with air-condition. Program: Departure
from Fortaleza at 08:00 am via the asphalt road to Lagoinha beach, 110 km
north west of Fortaleza. A short stop to get to know the beach. The tour
continues on the virgin beaches to Guajiru, Fleixeiras and Mundau. From Mundau
driving on dirt roads to Baleia beach and from there on the beaches of
Marinheiros, Inferno, Pracianos, Apique, Sabianguaba and Caetanos
passing by small fisherman villages. From Icarai driving on to Moitas. Cross a
river and then on trails and dirt roads to Itarema and from there on
asfalt and beaches finaly to Jericiacoara. Arrival late afternoon and
accommodation. Overnight.
Jericoacoara is considered as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Since 1984, Jericoacoara is a protected environmental area with 20 km of wide
beaches, reefs, rock formations, white sand dunes which can
be up to 30 meters high, lakes and palm trees. Most of
the population survive from fishing or handcrafts and live in streets without
names or numbers. The town has a number of small hotels & restaurants,
integrated with the landscape and the tranquility of the place.
Meals Included: none
Day 2 – Jericoacoara
Jericoacoara.
Breakfast. Day at leisure.
Meals
Included: breakfast
Day 3 - Jericoacoara
- Parnaiba – Ilha das Canarias.
Parnaiba
is the name of both the city and the river. The Parnaiba river is one of only
three rivers in the world that has its estuary in open sea, forming a tangle
of river banks, lagoons and islands of every size. The city is located
on the northeast coast of Brazil and in the state of Piaui, 366 km from
Teresinha - the states capital, 630 km from Fortaleza and 810 km from Sao Luiz.
Parnaiba city has a population of 125 000 inhabitants and it was
colonized in the 17th century by the Portuguese and Spanish. The port of
the city was one of the most important in the region in the last century due
to its location. The river Panaiba is 1414 km long and when it meets the
Atlantic Ocean, it forms a river delta with more than 70 islands, some covered
with tropical forest, others with dunes up to 40 meters high and others have
farms, plantations and beaches. The total area of the delta is 2700 km2 and
with 90 km of coast. Of the whole area 35% is swamp, 12% dunes, 23% forest,
20% fields and 10% salt. There are only two other rivers in the world similar
to the Panaiba river: Mekong and the Nile. In this ecological sanctuary lives
animals such as monkeys, foxes, deer, wild cats, coatis, alligators, sea
turtles and more. Program: Breakfast. Departure from the
hotel by beach buggy or jeep for a 1,5 hours drive on the beaches and dunes. A
short crossing of the Correau River before arriving in Camocim. A stop is
made in the city. Departure to Parnaiba with arrival in the early
afternoon. A short tour of Parnaiba before driving to Tatus, a small village
located in the delta. From Tatus is about 45 minutes boat trip to the island
Ilha das Canarias, the second biggest island in the delta, with an area of
about 32 km2 and a population of about 2500 people. The main income is from
fishing and rice plantations. Arrival and accommodation at hotel Paraiso das
Canarias, with a privileged view of Parnaiba River. Accommodation. When it
gets dark, departure with a small canoe in to the small and narrow creeks. The
local guides use a strong flash light to look for alligators and which
they catch with their bare hands. After they shown the animals to the guests,
they let them in the water again. Other animals as lizards in the trees
and snakes are easy to see, plus many other animals. Return to the hotel
for dinner and overnight.
Meals Included: breakfast
Day
4 – Ilha das Canarias – Parnaiba.
Very
early wake-up. Breakfast and departure by a motorized boat, sailing in to the
narrow river arms and creeks where the bigger boat will be changed for smaller
canoes. Using only paddles, it allows the canoe to enter in to the narrow
creeks where animals as monkeys, lizards, snakes, capybaras, birds and more
can be seen without frightening them! Return to the bigger boat. The boat
continues to another island for fishing of the famous Piranha fish! Watch
your fingers! Return to Ilha das Canarias for lunch. Lunch can also be
onboard. Departure by boat to Tatus in the afternoon and then by land to
Parnaiba. Overnight.
Meals Included: breakfast
Day 5 –
Parnaiba - Cabure – Barrerinhas.
Breakfast.
Departure from Parnaiba with 4x4 wheel drive vehicle first to Tutoia,
120 km on asphalt road. From Tutoia 65 km on dirt road, trails and beaches to
Rio Novo and Cabure located on the margin of Preguicas river. The whole trip
from Parnaiba to Cabure takes about 4 hours. Arrival to Cabure, a
picturesque fishermen village, whoose simple cottages are covered with
carnauba (a palm) straw. A stop is made for lunch (not included) and
time at leisure. The Preguicas is a voluminous river, with clear waters, which
originates in the interior of Maranhao. It surrounds the desert until it
encounters the Atlantic Ocean and is bordered by bushy woods and impudent
dunes. Board smaller boats. Cross the Preguicas River and arrive at Mandacaru,
a village of about one hundred houses, which originated at the Mandacaru
lighthouse. From the lighthouse top one can have a complete view of the dunes,
river, the ocean and the vegetation of the region. If possible we will climb
it. We continue to travel on the beautiful river until we reach Pequenos
Lencois, an area under environmental protection. We stop and walk on the
dunes, have a swim in the lagoons (the lagoons have water normally from April
to October). From Pequenos Lencois a 45 minutes boat ride to Barrerinhas.
Arrival, accommodation and overnight.
The gateway to the fascinating National Park
of Lencois Maranhenses, is the city
of Barreirinhas, 260 km from Sao Luiz. The park is the largest in
the Northeast and considered as the only desert in the country. In
the rainy season (from Dec-July) the landscape undergoes a dramatic
transformation, Lencois becomes a huge oasis
with innumerable pools of crystalline waters that spread out over
an area of 155000 hectares. Lencois forms a matchless desert, formed by dunes
of very white sands tens of meters high, replete with lagoons of sweet and
crystalline water, pure rivers and beaches as deserted as wild, extending from
the municipality of Barreirinhas until Primeira Cruz, on the banks of Rio
Preguica. It would be a big desert if in the region it did not rain 300 times
more than in the Sahara. The water dropping from the sky turns the earth into
a large natural oasis.
Meals Included: breakfast
Day
6 – Barrerinhas - Sao Luis.
After
breakfast, leave Barreirinhas in 4x4 wheel drive vehicle on sand
covered roads and trails to "Grandes Lencois", the big sand
dunes! From here a walk to the dunes and lake "Lagoa
Bonita", considered as one of the most beautiful attractions of the
region. Time for relax and a swim. The walking tour continues to other
dunes and areas with the feeling is of beeing in a desert! Return to
the vehicle. Lunch box included. Return to Barrerinhas. In the afternoon departure
Barrerinhas for Sao Luis by air conditioned coach (3 hours). Arrival early
evening and transfer to the hotel in the historical center. Check-in and
time to explore the nice historical center at night with bars, restaurants and
reggae clubs. Overnight.
Meals Included: breakfast
Day
7 – Sao Luis.
A
walking city tour of the historical center. The island and the city of Sao
Luis, is graced with a totally unique atmosphere and charm. Curiously enough
it is the only Brazilian capital that was NOT founded by the Portuguese, but
by the French in 1612. In addition to the well preserved Portuguese colonial
architecture, Sao Luis has quiet streets, more than 30 km of beaches, a strong
popular culture with festivals and rituals that go on practically
the entire year. It is also known as the capital of Reggae music in Brazil.
Overnight.
Drinks, Laundry, Tips, Telephone
calls, and any
other personal expenses etc….
Meals
Meals included in the program are detailed in the following chart.
DAYS
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
Breakfast
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Accommodation:
Double
rooms can have separate beds or not. A third person depending on the hotel
has the possibility of using a sofa bed. Consult for children policy.
Payment:
Deposit
of 30% to guarantee your reservation. The remaining amount must be paid a
minimum 30 days before start of the tour. If reservation is made within 30
days of the tour full payment required to make a reservation.
Cancellation:
Up
to 30 days before full refund is given unless the flight tickets have been
emitted. In this case there will be a penalty due to the cancellation of
the tickets. This depends on the rules of the airline used.No refund is given when a cancellation is made within 30 days of
departure.
Operation
of tour:
Minimum
of 1 pax to operate.
Responsability:
Brasil Travel / Melchior & Hodson Ltda and/or agencies involved with
the packages, flights and tours shall act only as agents of the tour
members in making arrangements for hotels and any other services and do
not assume any liability what so ever for any injury, damage, death, loss,
accident or delay to persons or property due to an act of God, default by
any hotel, company or person rendering any of services included on the
tours or flights. Furthermore, no responsability is accepted for
quarentine, government restrains, weather or other causes beyond control.
No responsability is accepted for any additional expenses, omissions,
delays, re-routing or acts of government authority.
