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If there is wind, there is kitesurfing in Atins.
Atins is still a hidden paradise with difficult access that welcomes tourists looking for tranquility, contact with nature and unforgettable experiences.
Little by little, kitesurfing breaks the aridity of the desert. A show of colors and maneuvers. They glide on the water and it is as if they had wings.
The kitesurfers have found the perfect day: strong winds, a thick lagoon, full of dunes that do not prevent the gusts of wind. Everything they need to practice the adrenaline-filled sport.
Flood season in the Lençóis Maranhenses runs until September
The geometry of the dunes shaped by the winds and the beautiful lagoons that form with rainwater is the main attraction of Lençóis Maranhenses, whose beauties can be enjoyed from June to September.
This is the period when the lagoons fill up, so it is possible to bathe in crystal clear waters.
Kitesurfing in Atins
Atins is a small fishing village, a lost paradise that lies between the largest desert in Brazil and the Atlantic Ocean, next to an untouched river and several dunes and lagoons: this is how we can describe the village of Atins, on the coast of Maranhão.
Its bucolic landscapes formed by simple houses, wooden and wire fences, sandy streets and many trees, make it extremely cozy.
There are few inns, but they fit all pockets. All very rustic, without luxury or ostentation. Soft sand, deserted beach, green sea and a breathtaking view.
For sailors, Atins is an incredible peak for Kitesurfing.
At the meeting of the Rio Preguiça with the sea, there is the possibility of sailing in Rio, with the smooth water and after the sand banks, in the sea.
The Kite Point of the crowd is the Bar.Co – a shipwrecked boat, located on the edge of the beach, with juices, drinks and wonderful snacks to spend the day, not to mention the sound that rolls loose, with lots of chill-out.
In high season, reggae and electronic parties take place on the beach. Some say that Atins is the new Ibiza, for the concentration of gringos and quality of the parties, but of course, with the magic of a place that has not yet been contaminated by the crowd.
The coastline of Atins is immense and beautiful, however, in the so-called “Canto de Atins”, the beach joins the dunes and lagoons, creating a stunning scenery.
And as the wind reaches high speeds in the village, a type of water sport has been gaining more and more fans: it is kitesurfing.
The modality combines the common maneuvers of surfing with the propulsion caused by a kind of “parachute” attached to the athlete’s body.
There is even a kitesurfing school in the community and several championships have already been organized there, further moving the city.
For those who do not Kitesurf, it is worth trekking in the dunes of the National Park, remembering that the season of the full lagoons is from June to September.
How to get to Atins
The way to Atins is not the easiest, but it is certainly worth it.
Most travelers arrive in the capital of Maranhão – São Luís– and from there travel 252 kilometers to Barreirinhas – a route that can be done by bus or vans.
Atins é um vilarejo cheio de encantos - como chegar
Barreirinhas is the main access to the park, so there are many agencies specialized in transportation and tourism on site.
There are two options to go to Atins: by land, in pickup trucks and jeeps with 4×4 traction, which can cross the obstacles of the road – puddles, trails in the middle of small forests and dunes.
The whole way takes about 2 hours to do.
The other option is by boat, through the Preguiça River, passing by Caburé, Mandacaru and other small villages that integrate the landscape of the region and make the trip much more exciting.
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
The Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, located 250 km from São Luís, attracts tourists who visit the capital of Maranhão, interested in getting to know the only desert in the world in the middle of lagoons.
You can reach the destination through Barreirinhas, which offers the circuits of the Blue and Bonita lagoons; and Santo Amaro, a little further away, where the Gaivota and Betânia lagoons are located.
The Lençóis Maranhenses have become, over the last decade, one of the main tourist attractions for foreigners and Brazilians visiting Maranhão, according to the State Tourism Secretariat. Maranhão’s own residents have elected the destination as one of the best in the state.
The walks through the sand require physical preparation and protection against the sun.
There is no sale of drinks or food in the park. For the more adventurous, at any time of the year it is possible to go horseback riding and long trekking across the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park.
In the village of Atins, in front of the Preguiças River, it is possible to practice kitesurfing, stand up paddle, windsurfing and get to know a little of the local culture.
The tour of the Route of Emotions, of which the Lençóis Maranhenses are part, leaves from the Jericoacoara National Park (CE), passes through the Parnaíba Delta (PI) and goes to the Lençóis Maranhenses, with boat trips in some places.
To travel in Lençóis aboard 4×4 vehicles, you must have authorization from the Chico Mendes Institute (ICMBIO) in Barreirinhas. The transportation vehicles that drive tourists are accredited with the logo of the Park.
See the map Lençóis Maranhenses in Maranhão
In this almost untouched piece of Maranhão, there are plenty of fantastic routes for kitesurfing.
See when to go to Lençóis Maranhenses
Kitesurfing invades Lençóis Maranhenses National Park in Maranhão
