2 weeks in Brazil - A Northeast Itinerary
When most people think of travelling to Brazil, they think Rio and Salvador, the two mainstream cities that although are a must do, aren’t all that Brazil has to offer. This 2-week north-eastern Brazil itinerary will take you on a journey through the less travelled areas of Brazil that are rich with Afro-Brazilian culture and golden coastlines.
Northeast Brazil - Day 1 - São Luís, Maranhão
Spend the first day of this north-eastern Brazil tour settling in, and getting to know your bearing. It’s always good to recoup after a long flight so you can dive in feeling fresh the next day
Accommodation recommendation: The best hotels in Sao Luis
Northeast Brazil - Day 2 - São Luís, Maranhão
Today take a walking tour of the city, either at your own pace, or guided, and explore the historical center of São Luís. Visit:
São Luís Historical Centre: The historical center of the city and UNESCO World Heritage. A grid of streets lined with colonial style buildings.
Palácio dos Leões: Stands for the Palace of Lions. It’s currently the main government building, and the most iconic landmark in the city.
Museu Histórico e Artístico do Maranhão: Sao Luis public history museum, where you can learn about the areas history and culture.
Lunch Suggestion: Flor da Vinagreira
Casa do Tambor da Crioula - A centre of culture in Sao Luis that often has regular exhibitions, af art, history and culture
Casa do Maranhão - History Museum
Dinner Suggestion: Casa da Juja
Northeast Brazil Day 3 - São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil
On your last day in Sao Luis, you are going to visit the small city of Alcantara. Alcantra is a tiny town, with a population of only 20,000 inhabitants. Built between the 17th-19th century using slave labour, previously home to Brazilian aristocrats and cotton plantations, this small town is oozing with history. The town is rich with colonial character and history with all the main sites able to be reached on foot.
To get there take the ferry at Cais da Praia Grande to Alcantara, which takes about 1.5 hours.
When you arrive go to:
Praça das Mercês to visit the Mercês Chapel
Nossa Senhora do Desterro Chapel - ring the bell and make a wish, it’s very traditional for travelers to do.
Lunch Suggestion: Cantaria restaurant at the same street as the chapel;
Matriz Square - where you will find the ruins of São Matias church.
Casa Histórica de Alcântara - Alcantara’s history museum
Northeast Brazil - Day 4 - São Luís x Lençóis Maranhenses
Today you are going to move to Barreirinhas located in Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. Lençóis Maranhenses national park is famous for its incredible landscape, of beautiful white dunes, create thousands of bright blue lagoons.
In the afternoon, go on a tour of Lagoa Bonita (which stands for beautiful lagoon). Around Lagoa Bonita the dunes climb higher and it’s located further into the National park giving the feeling of a never ending landscape of lagoons and dunes like nothing you’ll experience elsewhere. It can involve a lot of walking, so is only suitable for those capable, however the majority of the tour will be completed in a 4x4 to make it across the dunes.
Dinner suggestion: Beira-Rio deck.
Northeast Brazil - Day 5 - Lençóis Maranhenses
Today book onto a full day tour of the Preguiças River. The Preguiças River surrounds Lençóis Maranhenses national park and is full of an abundance of wildlife, including monkeys that aren’t afraid of coming up close. These amazing boat tours take you up close to the wildlife and stop at the quaint riverside villages and beaches on the river bank. You’ll also stop for lunch and can enjoy some local seafood delicacies, like crab and shrimp.
The tours last about 8 hours, so you’ll need the whole day, and cost in the region of £25.
Northeast Brazil - Day 6 - Lençóis Maranhenses
Spend the morning travelling to Santo Amaro do Maranhão. Pre-book onto an afternoon Lagoon tour. Explore more of the dunes, and swim in the crystal clear pools.
Dinner Suggestion: Cajueiro restaurant.
Northeast Brazil - Day 7 - Lençóis Maranhenses
Enjoy a full day tour of the Betânia Circuit lagoons, in a 4x4 Jeep. Located next to the small village of Betânia, where you can stop for essentials if necessary. This circuit of lagoons is fed by the river and has a particularly wide variation of pool colours creating an even more picturesque landscape.
Dinner Suggestion: Restaurant do Gordo.
Northeast Brazil: Week 2 - Ceará
Ceará State is located next door to the state of Maranhão, in Northeastern Brazil, a much less traveled area of Brazil with so much to offer. Filled with a mountainous landscape, Atlantic coastline, and lined with dramatic red cliffs, with dunes stretching back from the ocean to the mountains.
Northeastern Brazil - Day 8 - São Luís x Fortaleza
Spend the morning travelling to Fortaleza. You can do this by driving on booking onto a transfer.
After you’ve settled in, use the afternoon to explore the city's main historical sites on foot.
Mercado Central de Fortaleza: A market with hundreds of stalls stocked with handmade souvenirs made by locals
Jardim Japonês - Beautifully landscaped Japanese garden, next to the beach.
Metropolitan Cathedral of Fortaleza: A relatively modern cathedral that was only completed in 1978, with stunning architectural design. In total it took 40 years to finish construction.
Northeastern Brazil - Day 9 - Fortaleza
The next couple of days will involve driving to some stunning beaches, and red cliffs so I would advise hiring a car for 2 days if you don’t have one already.
Head to Morro Branco beach, which is located about 85km (1.5hrs from the city) 85 km from the center. Morro Branco is famous for its red cliffs that stretch back from the sea, a unique contrast and striking views. Then head to the nearby Praia das Fontes beach for the afternoon.
Lunch suggestion: Restaurant Bougainville
Northeastern Brazil - Day 10 - Fortaleza
For your last day at Fortaleza go to Águas Belas beach, located about a 1hr drive (60 km) from the city alternatively there are a few tours that will take you there.
Águas Belas beach is very quiet with just a few places to buy snacks and drinks. The water is also really calm, and lots of shallow pools line the beach making it great for kids and the elderly.
After a day relaxing at the beach, head back to the city for dinner.
Dinner Suggestion: Coco Bambu restaurant
Northeast Brazil - Day 11 - Fortaleza x Jericoacoara
Today it’s time to travel to the final stop of your north-eastern Brazil itinerary to Jericoacoara.
Personally I think this is the best thing to do in North-eastern Brazil. This tiny treasure of a town is barely touched, but has grown considerably in popularity over the last few years due to it’s relaxing nature.
It’s not that there are a huge amount of things to do in Jericoacoara, but it has a really chill feel about it. With hammocks out in the sea, tiny village streets filled with sand from the beach and surrounding dunes. There are also lots of cute bars and eateries near the seafront, with lots that play live music.
Jericoacoara is about 300km from Fortaleza, so you’ll have to take a morning transfer to make it in good time. The final stretch of the journey you’ll have to switch to a dune buggy (pretty cool right), and Jericoacoara is enclosed between the sea, and high sandy dunes that can only be travelled over in a 4x4. The whole journey will take around 6 hrs. A good provider is Fretcar for the transfer.
As you’ll spend most of the day travelling I strongly advise taking an evening stroll around the village and local bars.
Bar suggestion: Samba Rock Cafe
Dinner Suggestion: Bistro Caiçara
Northeastern Brazil - Day 12 - Jericoacoara
Spend the day at Pedra Furada beach, which is just a 30 minute walk from the village. Often the beach printed on the front of Jericoacoara postcards, you’ll find Pedra Furada (a red rock formation, carved by the sea, that forms a beautiful archway) front and centre.
As the tide goes out rock pools and are filled with marine life, like your own mini aquarium, and other cool rock formations open up.
Bar suggestion: Café Jeri
Northeast Brazil - Day 13 - Jericoacoara
Spend your day at Lagoa de Jijoca. A crystal clear lagoon, lined with beach bars and hammocks spread out in the water. Spend the day relaxing on the beach, and then I'd highly recommend climbing up onto the dunes to watch the sunset over the sea, before heading back for dinner.
Dinner suggestion: Restaurante Tamarindo
Northeast Brazil - Day 14 - Jericoacoara
Enjoy your breakfast before leaving the city back to Fortaleza to take your flight. The northeast region of Brazil is far less travelled than places like Rio, and has so much to offer. It's rich in Afro-Brazilian culture, and has some of the best scenery and beaches South America has to offer.
North-eastern Brazil is also much cheaper to travel, and a bit more off the beaten track, though it’s popularity has grown considerably over the last few years. If you are going to travel Brazil or even travel South America as a whole, don’t miss these parts of Brazil, they are unique and you won’t find anything else like it.
Thanks for checking out our 2 week north-eastern Brazil itinerary, comment below, and let us know if you have any extra suggestions for our readers. If you’re interested in travelling other areas of Brazil like Rio & Salvador, check out our 2-week Brazil Itinerary.
Latest on Instagram
More on South America
About Amie
Travel Hacks
Everything you need to know to do the Saco Do Mamangua hike without the need for a guide.