Parque Nacional dos Lencois Maranhenses

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses) is a national park located in Maranhão state in northeastern Brazil, just east of the Baía de São José. Protected on June 2, 1981, this park includes 70 km (43 mi) of coastline, and an interior composed of rolling sand dunes. During the rainy season, the valleys among the dunes fill with freshwater lagoons, prevented from draining due to the impermeable rock beneath. The park is home to a range of species, including four listed as endangered, and has become a popular destination for ecotourists. Lençóis Maranhenses National Park receives as many as 60,000 visitors a year. Common activities within the park include "surfing, canoeing, adventure tourism, rustic camping, horseback riding, and all-terrain vehicle...and water tours." The best route of entry is flight to the regional capital of São Luís, and then travel by jeep to the interior of the park from Barreirinhas.