When planning a trip to Barreirinhas, two different types of excursion take center stage: the tour to Lagoa Azul, organized through an agency and including a 4x4 ride, and the boat trip along the Rio Preguiças to Tapuio. Would you like to plan a morning tour that includes a 4x4 ride, or a river trip to another place? The activities differ in their mode of transport and itinerary; the time estimates also refer to different parts of the excursions.

Organize the Lagoa Azul tour

To visit Lagoa Azul, you should find an agency in Barreirinhas and book a regular or private tour in an authorized vehicle. The usual tour takes place in the morning, is run as a half-day excursion, and includes a 4x4 ride along a track. In your travel plans, you should therefore allow half a day for the visit. If you have other fixed commitments planned for the same day, ask the agency about the specific departure and return times.

Reach Tapuio by boat

An excursion route to Tapuio described in 2018 begins at Porto do Janjão on Avenida Beira Rio in Barreirinhas. From there, it travels by boat or speedboat along the Rio Preguiças; the trip to Tapuio takes about 30 minutes. This approximate duration is a guideline from the route as described, not a current timetable. So if you plan to travel by river on a specific day, ask about departure times.

River scenery and the visitor experience

The river trip offers views of igarapés and native vegetation, with a rich variety of wildlife and plant life. The route thus combines a specific journey with impressions of the river landscape; visitors interested in waterways and vegetation will find a different focus here than on the 4x4 track to Lagoa Azul.

Tapuio is within the municipality of Barreirinhas. During a visit to the village described in 2018, travelers could learn about the artisanal production of cassava flour in so-called casas de forno or casas de farinha—from cutting the cassava root to preparing the flour. The individual steps of the process are the focus, giving the visit an artisanal emphasis alongside the river trip. If you would like to include this experience in your travel plans, ask in advance whether a visit can currently be arranged.

Trips toward the national park

Vehicles leaving Barreirinhas in the direction of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park also have to cross the Rio Preguiças. This river crossing is part of the vehicle route to the national park and should be distinguished from the boat route to Tapuio. If you plan to include trips in both directions during your stay, add them separately to your daily itinerary. For planning purposes, note that half a day refers to the usual Lagoa Azul tour, while the approximately 30 minutes refers only to the boat trip to Tapuio. Do not treat the crossing time as the duration of a whole excursion to Tapuio.

Discover more destinations: Araioses, Açailândia, São Luís, Fortuna, Codó, Pedreiras, Bacabal, Carolina

For the main travel overview: Maranhão.