The Endless Beaches of Brazil

Escape to the very edge of Maranhão state and the land resembles an eerie new world: one of vast, white sand dunes, rippling like the folds of a silk dress as far as the eye can see. Hidden in its pleats are startlingly clear, malachite-green lagoons: the product of rainwater prevented from draining by a layer of impermeable rock. This extraordinary landscape offers boundless sand-between-toes adventure, whether on four wheels or on foot, with the chance to cool off in one of the glassy pools or the Atlantic surf that laps some of Brazil’s finest beaches.  

On the banks of the river that shares its name, the city of Parnaíba is the waters’ final stop before it embraces the Atlantic in a spectacular conclusion. The Parnaíba Delta is a vast expanse of winding mangrove channels strewn with islands, its sandy banks a stage for barefoot adventures. See the shipwrecks at Tutóia Bay, cruise through the tangled roots of flooded igapó forests, or shore up at beautiful, sugar-white bays, where rustic restaurants serve seafood landed that morning.  

Peering over the edge of the Coreaú River, the easy-going town of Camocim is a beach-goer’s dream, set within stone-skimming distance of some of the region’s finest coastal gems: the spectacular Maceió Dunes; the deserted banks along Barra dos Remédios, a sand barrier curling into the sea; and Caraúbas Beach, a sweeping sandy stage for rose-pink sunsets. 

All cobbled streets and brightly painted houses, Taíba is an unspoiled Brazilian beach town, moving to a gentle, palm-swaying rhythm. Life is all about the beach here, be it an afternoon’s relaxation on one of the beautiful golden shores, an invigorating sunset swim or a thrilling day surfing or kitesurfing, riding the waves that roll in on cool Atlantic breezes.