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Voykit pocket guide · Brazil
Ilha das Canárias
A half-day trip from Parnaíba or a quiet overnight on a sand island with one pousada, no cars and few services. Go if you want total stillness; skip if you need activities or infrastructure.
Ilha das Canárias is a tiny river island off the coast of Maranhão, home to about 3,000 people. There is one place to sleep, one restaurant and no roads. You come here to disconnect: walk the beach, watch the river meet the sea and eat fresh fish. Most visitors arrive from Parnaíba by motor launch (15 min) and stay one night or return the same day.
- Country
- Brazil
- Best months
- Jun–Sep (dry season, lagoons full)
- Avoid
- Feb–May (rainy, river high)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BRL
- Money
- Currency is the Brazilian real (BRL, R$). About R$5–5.8 per US dollar in 2026 — check. Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere, even at beach kiosks.
- Daily spend
- Budget R$ 70–110 (pousada single/double, includes meals and boat) · Mid R$ 110–140 (pousada double/triple) · High R$ 140+ (pousada triple or longer stay) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vivo, Claro and TIM cover the country; buying a prepaid SIM needs a passport and sometimes a CPF — an eSIM before you fly is easier.
- Emergency
- Police 190 · Ambulance 192 · Fire 193
- Plugs
- Types N, C · 127 V (Rio, São Paulo) or 220 V (Brasília, much of the Northeast) · Check the voltage on the socket; most chargers are dual-voltage.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10% service (serviço) usually on the bill; optional but normal.; Beach kiosk / bar: Often included; round up.; Taxi / Uber: Not expected; round up.; Guide: US$5–15 per person per day.; Hotel staff: Small tip for porters.
- Water
- Do not drink tap water; filtered water is provided in most homes and hotels.
- Toilets
- Put toilet paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Pousada single room (all-inclusive) | R$ 70 |
| Pousada double room (all-inclusive) | R$ 110 |
| Pousada triple room (all-inclusive) | R$ 140 |
| Dish for two at the pousada restaurant | R$ 30 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PHB · Parnaíba–Prefeito Dr. João Silva Filho
- Small regional airport; flights from Fortaleza and Teresina. From Parnaíba take a taxi to Porto dos Tatus (about 20 min).
Typical fares
- Boat Porto dos Tatus → Ilha das Canárias
- Included in pousada rate; about 15 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The settlement is walkable. No cars, no taxis, no bicycles for rent.
See and do
Known for
- Remote river-island setting
- Deserted beaches
- Simple pousada with all-inclusive rates
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Parnaíba | Motor launch from Porto dos Tatus, about 15 min | About 30 min |
| Lençóis Maranhenses National Park | Return to Parnaíba, then drive or bus to Barreirinhas (about 3 h) | About 4 h |
| Atins | Boat to Parnaíba, then bus to Barreirinhas and another boat to Atins | About 5 h |
Sleep
- Canárias settlement
- The only lodging is Paraíso das Canárias, on the beach at the north end. Rates include boat transfer from Porto dos Tatus.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Oláoh-LAH |
| Thank you | Obrigadooh-bree-GAH-doo |
| How much is it? | Quanto custa?KWAN-too KOOS-tah |
| Where is the boat? | Onde está o barco?ON-de es-TAH oo BAR-koo |
| I need a doctor | Preciso de um médicopre-SEE-zoo dee oom MEH-jee-koo |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, hug or cheek kiss (one in São Paulo, two in Rio); avoid: Being stiff with new acquaintances
- Gestures: Use thumbs-up freely; avoid: The OK hand sign (it is rude)
- Language: Try Portuguese; say obrigado/obrigada; avoid: Defaulting to Spanish
- Time: Expect relaxed social punctuality; avoid: Being late for tours and flights
- Beach: Bring only a towel, cash and a copy of your ID; avoid: Leaving things unattended
Scams and watch-outs
- No ATM on the island; bring cash in reais.
- No shops or pharmacy; bring any supplies you need.
- Boat transfer is included in the pousada rate; confirm the return time when you arrive.
- Mobile signal is weak or absent; download maps and messages before you leave Parnaíba.
The island is very safe; petty crime is virtually absent. The main risks are sunburn, dehydration and the river current. No medical facilities on the island.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Ilha das Canárias yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Remote river-island setting
- Deserted beaches
- Simple pousada with all-inclusive rates
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Ilha das Canárias, revision 5135627 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5135627
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Ilha das Canárias
Para este endereço, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
The nearest consular services are in São Luís or Fortaleza. Most embassies are in Brasília.
No ATM on the island. Bring cash.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/ilha-das-canarias). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.