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Territory capital · Brazil

São Luís

Give São Luís 2 nights for the UNESCO tiled Old Town, then move on to Lençóis Maranhenses: the city is a stopover, not the main event.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
BRL
Best months
Aug–Nov (driest, sunniest)
avoid Feb–May (heaviest rain)
Airport
SLZ
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
  • South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
  • South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
  • South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
  • Brazil ↗US, Canadian and Australian citizens need an e-visa (about US$81 — check) applied for online at the official VFS portal before travel; EU and UK citizens do not. Check your passport with Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs before booking.
  • Brazil ↗Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for many areas, including the Amazon and Pantanal; check with a travel clinic at least 10 days before travel.
  • Brazil ↗Keep your phone out of sight in the street and on beaches; phone theft is the most common crime against visitors in big cities.
  • Brazil ↗Carnival 2027 runs about 5–10 February (Tuesday 9 February; Salvador from 4 February): book Rio, Salvador and Recife/Olinda months ahead or avoid those dates.

São Luís is the capital of Maranhão and a UNESCO World Heritage colonial centre, founded by the French in 1612 and later built rich on cotton. Two nights is the usual suggested stay for the Old Town; most travellers use the city as the gateway to Lençóis Maranhenses. It is hot and wet most of the year, so plan around the June–July Bumba-meu-boi season or the drier second half.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about São Luís, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee2026 estimate: check
  • Street or quick mealSet lunch (prato feito)2026 estimate: check
  • Beer600 ml bottle2026 estimate: check
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi or Uber across the centre2026 estimate: check
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week2026 estimate: check
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personR$60 (≈ US$12)
  • Mid-range bedDouble room, pousada or hotel, a night, per roomR$300 (≈ US$60)
  • High-end bedDouble room, pousada or hotel, a night, per roomR$650 (≈ US$130)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget R$180 (≈ US$35) · Mid R$320 (≈ US$60) · High R$600 (≈ US$120)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

UNESCO-listed Historical Center with azulejo tilesBumba-meu-boi festival in June–JulyReggae sceneGateway to Lençóis Maranhenses
Airports
SLZ Marechal Cunha Machado International Airport (About 13 km from the centre; domestic flights by Gol and LATAM. Fixed-price taxi to the Old Town, or bus 901 to Praça Deodoro.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

São Luís: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

31°C

24°C

20 rd

Feb

31°C

24°C

22 rd

Mar

30°C

24°C

25 rd

Apr

31°C

24°C

24 rd

May

31°C

24°C

21 rd

Jun

32°C

24°C

15 rd

Jul

32°C

23°C

11 rd

Aug

32°C

25°C

5 rd

Sep

32°C

24°C

3 rd

Oct

33°C

25°C

3 rd

Nov

34°C

25°C

4 rd

Dec

32°C

25°C

8 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Buses serve the city, and Uber and 99 are available. The airport bus 901 takes about 45 minutes to Praça Deodoro; airport taxis use prices posted by baggage claim. Check current fares and routes before travel.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Barreirinhas and Lençóis Maranhenses

overnight

Door to door: 4–5 h

Road transfer or bus from São Luís, about 4 h

The reason most people come to Maranhão; sleep 2–3 nights, don't day-trip it.

Atins

overnight

Door to door: 5–6 h

Via Barreirinhas by 4x4 or boat, or direct transfer

Village at the edge of the dunes; needs at least 2 nights.

Raposa and Carimã beach

caution

Door to door: check

Bus or taxi to Raposa, then small boat — check transport and timing

Dune-backed beach; access sometimes only by boat — check tides and conditions.

Alcântara

caution

Door to door: check

Ferry or catamaran across the bay — check route and crossing time

Colonial town across Baía de São Marcos; check schedules before you plan the day.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Historical Center (Praia Grande)

Where most visitors stay: colonial streets, guesthouses and restaurants on foot. Quiet on Sundays.

Lagoa da Jansen / Ponta d'Areia

Modern hotels, urban beaches and nightlife; 10–15 min by taxi from the Old Town.

Calhau

Beach pousadas and bars, no budget options; far from the Old Town, needs a bus or car.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
R$150–250 (≈ US$30–50) excl. bed
Mid
R$250–450 (≈ US$50–85) excl. bed
High
R$450 (≈ US$85)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Double room, pousada or hotel1 × 2 nights × R$300R$600
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × R$320R$1,280
Airport taxi to the Old Town, one way1 × R$40 · 2026 estimateR$40
Bus ride in the city2 × R$5 · 2026 estimateR$10
eSIM, about a week of data2 × R$50 · 2026 estimateR$100
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeR$203
Trip total≈ R$558 per person per day, bed includedR$2,233≈ US$450

2026 estimate in reais; flights excluded. Room, meal and daily figures are estimates. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee2026 estimate: check
Set lunch (prato feito)2026 estimate: check
Arroz de cuxá or peixada2026 estimate: check
Beer, 600 ml bottle2026 estimate: check
Taxi or Uber across the centre2026 estimate: check
eSIM or data SIM, about a week2026 estimate: check

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

The Old Town and Lagoa da Jansen are fine by day; after dark take Uber or 99 and avoid empty colonial streets and the Guia/BomFim area across the bay. Violent crime exists in the wider city — don't walk with your phone out.
  • Urban violence is a real issue: keep to the Old Town and Lagoa da Jansen after dark, and avoid Praia da Guia and BomFim across the bay.
  • The sea recedes up to about 1 km at low tide and leaves no dry sand at high tide — check tide times before swimming.
  • Some Old Town buildings are in poor repair; stick to lit streets at night.
  • English is limited outside hotels and tours; a few Portuguese phrases help.

Emergency numbers

Police
190
Ambulance
192
Fire
193

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

São LuísSão Luís

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Para este endereço, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police190
  • Ambulance192
  • Fire193

Embassy

The US has no consulate in São Luís; nearest is in Recife. Most countries: embassies in Brasília, consulates in Rio or São Paulo.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Airport → Old Town, taxi: Prices posted by baggage claim; check current fare.
  • Airport → centre, bus 901: About 45 min to Praça Deodoro; check current fare.
  • São Luís → Barreirinhas transfer: About 4 h by road; check current schedule and price.

Say or show

  • Olá — Hello (oh-LAH)
  • Obrigado / Obrigada — Thank you (oh-bree-GAH-doo / -dah)
  • Quanto custa? — How much is it? (KWAN-too KOOS-tah)
  • A conta, por favor — The bill, please (ah KON-tah por fah-VOR)
  • Posso pagar com cartão? — Can I pay by card? (POH-soo pah-GAR kon kar-TOWN)
  • Onde fica o banheiro? — Where is the toilet? (ON-jee FEE-kah oo bah-NYAY-roo)

Tipping: 10% service is usually already on the bill.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for São Luís. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Aug–Nov (driest, sunniest) · avoid Feb–May (heaviest rain) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for SLZ: fixed taxi prices, bus 901 timings, late-arrival fallback.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Praia Grande, Rua Grande, Lagoa da Jansen, Calhau.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Museu do Reggae, Teatro Arthur Azevedo, Palácio dos Leões) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Lençóis transfer fixtures so the São Luís → Barreirinhas leg can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Brazil

Sources