Lagoa Bonita e Lagoa Azul, State of Maranhao, Brazil

5Paula L 5:00 PM Aug 10, 2019

Worth it!
Both lagoons are beautiful and I recommend the visit. In case of Lagoa Bonita, you have to be prepared for 75m of inclination on the dunes. There is a rope to help the visitors in the end of the climb and I have also seen an alternative way for those who have any kind of locomotive deficiency. These 2 tours are made separatedly by the agencies. When you go to Lagoa Azul, you visit other lagoons around, and the same for Lagoa Bonita, but never both of them in the same visit due to the time. I recommend the agency São Paulo Ecoturismo, but you can also ask for help in your hotel (it is generally cheaper than scheduling in advance). Remember you shall schedule your tours always until 1100 a.m. the previous day of the tour. Besides, do not forget to take suncreen, hats, sunglasses, water and a snack. The car travel until the lagoons can take almost 1 hour and a half, but the guides say it takes 40 minutes because they don't consider the stops we get while picking up the other visitors in the hotels and waiting for the barge to cross the river.

5travla67 5:00 PM Jul 19, 2013

Stunning, beautiful but be aware of the crowds
We first experienced the dunes and lagoon on a walk from Atins. We were alone on the walk (apart from our guide) and so had the whole place to ourselves - very tranquil and a special experience. When you visit Bonito or Azul lagoon there are a whole bunch of tours there at the same time so the place is swamped with people, which obviously affects the tranquility of the place. But the lagoons are stunning and you can always walk a little further to the next lagoon to find one less visited and even to yourselves. Even though you are sold a "sunset' tour, be aware that your driver will most likely hussle you back into the truck/jeep before sunset (and certainly before the full post-sunset colours come out) as they are all in a rush to get back to town and to get across the ferry