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Voykit pocket guide · 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.
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.
- Country
- Brazil
- Best months
- Aug–Nov (driest, sunniest)
- Avoid
- Feb–May (heaviest rain)
- Stay
- 2 nights
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$150–250 excl. bed · Mid R$250–450 excl. bed · High R$450+ excl. bed (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 |
|---|---|
| Coffee | 2026 estimate: check |
| Set lunch (prato feito) | 2026 estimate: check |
| Arroz de cuxá or peixada | 2026 estimate: check |
| Beer, 600 ml bottle | 2026 estimate: check |
| Taxi or Uber across the centre | 2026 estimate: check |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | 2026 estimate: check |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- 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.About 8.1 mi from the centre; domestic flights by Gol and LATAM. Fixed-price taxi to the Old Town, or bus 901 to Praça Deodoro.
Typical fares
- 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.
Get 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 and do
Known for
- UNESCO-listed Historical Center with azulejo tiles
- Bumba-meu-boi festival in June–July
- Reggae scene
- Gateway to Lençóis Maranhenses
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Barreirinhas and Lençóis Maranhenses | Road transfer or bus from São Luís, about 4 h | 4–5 h |
| Atins | Via Barreirinhas by 4x4 or boat, or direct transfer | 5–6 h |
| Raposa and Carimã beach | Bus or taxi to Raposa, then small boat — check transport and timing | check |
| Alcântara | Ferry or catamaran across the bay — check route and crossing time | check |
Sleep
- 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.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Oláoh-LAH |
| Thank you | Obrigado / Obrigadaoh-bree-GAH-doo / -dah |
| How much is it? | Quanto custa?KWAN-too KOOS-tah |
| The bill, please | A conta, por favorah KON-tah por fah-VOR |
| Can I pay by card? | Posso pagar com cartão?POH-soo pah-GAR kon kar-TOWN |
| Where is the toilet? | Onde fica o banheiro?ON-jee FEE-kah oo bah-NYAY-roo |
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
- 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.
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.
One and two days
No timed day plan for São Luís yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- UNESCO-listed Historical Center with azulejo tiles
- Bumba-meu-boi festival in June–July
- Reggae scene
- Gateway to Lençóis Maranhenses
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- São Luís city government: www.saoluis.ma.gov.br/
- Wikivoyage: São Luís, revision 5197549 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5197549
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
São Luís
Para este endereço, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
The US has no consulate in São Luís; nearest is in Recife. Most countries: embassies in Brasília, consulates in Rio or São Paulo.
Tipping: 10% service is usually already on the bill.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/sao-luis). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.