In Maranhão, you can plan a trip around living culture, historic places or natural areas. Bumba meu boi and Tambor de Crioula shape the cultural landscape; Lençóis Maranhenses and Chapada das Mesas offer contrasting scenery. When choosing where to stay, it’s worth deciding first which of these interests will define your trip.
Living culture: Bumba meu boi and Tambor de Crioula
Bumba meu boi do Maranhão brings together faith, music, dance, theater and inherited knowledge. During the June festival cycle, the tradition brings entire communities together. Its cycle has four main phases: rehearsals, the ox’s baptism, performances and the ritual of its death. Bumba meu boi was listed as Brazilian cultural heritage in 2011; in 2019, UNESCO recognized it as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The tradition is present in numerous municipalities across the state. The festival grounds of São Luís are especially prominent; hundreds of groups take part, known as Companhias or Batalhões. This gives Bumba meu boi a clearly defined festival cycle, while Tambor de Crioula offers a different way to experience Maranhão’s culture.
Tambor de Crioula was recognized as Brazilian cultural heritage in 2007 and is practiced in virtually every municipality in Maranhão. Dance, song and percussion come together in celebrations that unite art, faith and collective memory. Rodas may take place in terreiros, backyards, streets or squares. There is no fixed calendar or specific venue, so don’t plan a visit around a presumed regular date. This difference is especially useful when planning a trip: Bumba meu boi is linked to a June festival cycle, whereas Tambor de Crioula is not tied to a fixed event calendar.
Lençóis Maranhenses and routes through the protected area
Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses is a protected area in the state of Maranhão. Its landscape includes dunes, freshwater lagoons, mangroves and restinga vegetation. In the broader destination of Brazil, more than half of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park consists of a white coastal dune field with temporary and permanent lagoons. Those interested in the landscape will find a different focus here than in the cultural traditions.
In the wider region, the Travessia dos Lençóis is a long-distance hiking route through the park, from Atins in the municipality of Barreirinhas to Santo Amaro do Maranhão. It crosses the particularly sensitive Zona Primitiva. Tourist access to this zone is permitted only on foot. For the 2026 season, reservations at the community-operated support bases are mandatory before beginning the Travessia. Check this requirement again before your trip.
Cerrado, waterfalls and river landscapes
In south-central Maranhão, Parque Nacional da Chapada das Mesas protects 159,953.78 hectares of Cerrado across the municipalities of Carolina, Riachão and Estreito. Around the park, there are trails to waterfalls and viewpoints, river excursions, and opportunities for hiking, nature photography and observing rare birds. Pedra Caída is described as a separate excursion destination: the ecological complex is 35 kilometers from Carolina and includes several waterfalls; the main waterfall drops 46 meters.
The Rio Parnaíba Delta offers another natural setting. It empties into the Atlantic through five river branches and offers opportunities to swim in fresh and salt water. Together, these examples show the range of interests in Maranhão: trails and viewpoints around a national park, waterfalls at Pedra Caída, or the river branches and swimming spots of the delta.
Historic places and the connection to Alcântara
The historic center of São Luís includes about 4,000 buildings from the original Portuguese colonial plan, including churches, mansions and palaces. It is an outstanding example of a Portuguese colonial city successfully adapted to the climatic conditions of equatorial South America. São Luís is also especially associated with the festival grounds of Bumba meu boi.
Alcântara is a historic city in Maranhão with protected artistic, landscape and archaeological heritage. The Museu Histórico Artístico de Alcântara is housed in a 19th-century colonial building with a façade of Portuguese tiles and has a valuable collection. From São Luís, Alcântara can be reached by speedboat and catamaran across the Baía de São Marcos. The crossing departs according to the tide schedule from the Praia Grande pier in the historic center of São Luís; check the current departure time before traveling.
Culture, coastal landscapes and nature trails offer different ways to travel; it’s best to choose your accommodation based on your planned focus and itinerary.
Discover more destinations: São Luís, Praia, Pinheiro, Barreirinhas, Cururupu, Mangunça, Tutóia, Paço Do Lumiar, Carolina, Imperatriz, Humberto De Campos, Açailândia, Cariri, Santa Helena, Atins, Escalvado, Vargem Grande, Dom Pedro, Buriti, Alcântara, Fortuna, Pedreiras, São José De Ribamar, São Bento, Timon, Araioses, Barra do Corda, Senador La Rocque, Alto Parnaíba, Bacabal, Codó, Santa Inês, Morros, Matões.
For the broader travel overview: Brazil.
