LENCOIS 2026 | Gaia Expeditions

Lençóis Maranhenses

embark with us on an unforgettable journey to

A paradise made of thousands of turquoise lagoons among an infinite number of white dunes that change with the actions of nature, so the scenery is always changing, creating incredible conditions for photography.

Hosted by Ricardo Braz, Leo Cavazzana & Ryan Tu

June 15th-21st, 2026

The trip

Even though our trips are focused on creativity, photography and videography, everyone is welcome, regardless of photography level, age, equipment, or physical condition. On this expedition, we intend to pass on all our knowledge to the participants, from planning a photo/video to the final editing (and much more!). There will be 6 days of photographic experiences in different landscapes and light conditions, in addition to part of our time being dedicated to theory and post-editing. The group will be 12 people, including us, and all routes and tours will be done in a private 4x4 car with a guide.

We're extremely excited to announce that the talented Ryan Tu will co-host this trip with us!

Itinerary

Day 1 - June 15th

Our meeting will be in the city of Barreirinhas, in Maranhão. We will have the group's first meeting and a chat to introduce ourselves and discuss planning for the next few days. First group dinner.

Overnight: Pousada Encantes do Nordeste

Day 2 - June 16th

The second day will start a little later so that we can rest after a long trip. After breakfast, we will take our first tour. We will leave for Lagoa Azul, one of the most beautiful lagoons in the park. We'll spend the day there, have lunch in a local village, and go watch the sunset at Mirante da Lagoa Bonita, our favorite place in the park. We will photograph until it gets dark and return to Barrerinhas for dinner and sleep.

Overnight: Pousada Encantes do Nordeste

Day 3 - June 17th

After breakfast, we will go to the city of Atins. We will take an alternative route - we will leave Barreirinhas by boat, on a trip along the Preguiças River. The tour is super relaxed and photogenic, with several strategic stops to take photos. We will arrive in Atins around lunch time and then have the afternoon free. We can do some activity (optional/extra) such as kitesurfing, go out to see the flock of Guarás (a typical bird of the region), horse riding, photograph the sunset on Atins beach or, if we prefer, we can edit photos at the house.

Overnight - Casa Rosa Atins

Day 4 - June 18th

Our first sunrise of the trip! We will leave the hotel at around 4:30 am for the Sete Mulheres lagoon, inside the park. After photographing the sunrise, we will enjoy the day a little and return to Atins for coffee. We will have some free time until lunchtime, where we can get together to edit or answer any questions. We will pack a backpack and leave for Baixa Grande, an oasis in the middle of the park, where we will spend the night at a local family's house. We'll take a nice walk for sunset, and after an impromptu swim and dinner, we'll have the opportunity for a night photo session.

Overnight: traditional house with simple infrastructure (dinner not included, 50 reais per person, night in the hammock)

Day 5 - June 19th

We will wake up once again to see and photograph the sunrise inside the park. We'll visit Rio Negro, a best secret local drone spot. After having breakfast at the local house, we will return to our base in Atins for a more relaxed day. After all, we are on "vacation!"

The rest of this day will be completely free, but the idea is to do a great joint editing intensive and answer any questions about photography, the market, organization, etc. There will always be the possibility of doing something different, such as quad biking, horse riding, kitesurfing or simply relaxing on Atins beach.

Overnight - Casa Rosa Atins

Day 6 - June 20th

After breakfast, we will return to Barreirinhas by boat. We will have lunch there and the culmination of our trip - a 30-minute plane flight during sunset (optional, around 700 reais per person according to actual rates). In this magnificent way, we will end our trip. We will have our final dinner with the group.

Overnight - Pousada Encantes do Nordeste

Day 7 - June 21st

Departure day! We will say goodbye according to the group's flight and transfer schedules. If you are willing and available, the trip can be extended to different places in the region - our partner company can organize all the logistics for you!

Photographic equipment

There is no mandatory equipment - what you have is enough! That said, below is a list of equipment and accessories that, if you have them, will provide a better photographic experience. Remember that, on trips like this, we can always share material and equipment so that we all have an incredible experience!

Camera;
Lenses: Both open (wide-angle) and long (telephoto) lenses work really well in the park. We recommend taking all you have!
Tripod - Not mandatory, interesting to have, especially for blue hour/night photo shoots and still videos.
Extra batteries;
Memory Cards;
Cables and chargers;
Polarizer/ND filter;
HD or SSD for storage;
Laptop (preferably with Lightroom and Photoshop installed);
Drone (use is permitted in most places we will visit);
External battery.

Investment

The price of the trip is 2200USD per person. 30% of the payment must be made at the time of booking to guarantee your place and the remainder by installments.

What's included:

All accommodations include breakfast and Wi-Fi in or triple rooms (for single rooms, there will be an extra fee if available)

All tours and activities (unless listed as optional)

What's not included:

International flight tickets;

Transfer to Barreirinhas (we can help you organize);

Health insurance;

Equipment insurance;

Lunch and dinner;

Drinks;

Optional tours and activities.

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