How to Get from São Luís to Arpoador, Maranhão

The route in numbers

The journey is divided into four stretches:

• 258 km: São Luís → Barreirinhas
• 38 km: Barreirinhas → Paulino Neves
• 34 km: Paulino Neves → Tutóia
• 13 km: Tutóia → Vila Arpoador

The first 258 km run from São Luís to Barreirinhas along the BR-135, the MA-402 (known as the Translitorânea) and the MA-225. It is single-carriageway tarmac the entire way, with petrol stations few and far between once you join the Translitorânea, so it is worth leaving the capital with a full tank.

From Barreirinhas to Paulino Neves it is 38 km along the MA-315, and this is where the drive becomes a destination in itself: the road skirts the edge of the Pequenos Lençóis Maranhenses, with dunes and coconut palms appearing through the window. Another 34 km bring you to Tutóia, the last paved stretch and the last place to refuel.

And then the roads run out. The final 13 km to Vila Arpoador, Maranhão follow the beach heading north-west, passable only by 4x4 and only when the tide allows.

The final stretch is the arrival

The beach as a road is not an obstacle, it is a filter. This unpaved stretch is exactly what keeps Vila Arpoador as it is: a fishing village at the end of the Alameda dos Velejadores, between the Parnaíba Delta and the Lençois Maranhenses, with no through traffic.

Everyone who arrives here chose to come.

Reading the tide and the sand takes people who drive this route every day. That is why qualified local drivers handle the final stretch: they know the right time to cross and how the beach changes shape from season to season.

By helicopter

For those who would rather trade the road for the view, a private helicopter charter covers the 216 km as the crow flies between São Luís do Maranhão and Vila Arpoador, following the coastline and landing in the village. Along the way: Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2024, the Pequenos Lençóis and an arrival over the dunes.

216 km as the crow flies. Lençóis, coastline and dunes seen from above.

Our concierge arranges charters on request for couples, families or groups with confirmed dates.

When to go

The wind season runs from July to January, with easterly trade winds between 18 and 30 knots, and this is when Vila Arpoador reveals its calling as a kitesurfing destination. The lagoons of the Lençóis reach their highest levels between June and September, just after the rainy season. Between July and September, both happen at the same time.

In December, the destination adds the festive calendar, with Réveillon Duna, the New Year's Eve celebration held in the village.

Arrive without thinking about logistics

The Arpoador Collection Concierge arranges your arrival from start to finish: a private 4x4 transfer from São Luís airport to your front door, with drivers who know the route and the tides, or a helicopter charter with a welcome on landing. Either way, the team is waiting when you arrive, your luggage is taken care of and the house is ready.

You take care of the journey. We take care of the way.

Tips for making the most of the drive

The route from São Luís is at its best when treated as part of the trip, not simply a transfer. Leave the capital early and you will cross the Translitorânea in good light, reaching Barreirinhas in time for lunch on the banks of the Preguiças River. From there, the MA-315 reveals the first dunes of the Pequenos Lençóis, so ask your driver for the best viewpoints to stop at.

Alternatively, spend a night in Barreirinhas, visit the lagoons of the National Park the following morning and continue to Vila Arpoador in the afternoon, timing your arrival to the tide window. And if you are travelling the full circuit, use this route in one direction only: arrive via São Luís and leave via Parnaíba, or the other way round, without retracing a single kilometre.

One planning detail makes all the difference: the final stretch of beach opens and closes with the tide. It opens and closes twice a day. The tide determines the ideal departure time from São Luís, which is why our concierge confirms your travel plan the day before, using that day's tide table.

Frequently asked questions

1. Can I drive from São Luís to Vila Arpoador in a regular car?
   As far as Tutóia, yes: that is 330 km of tarmac. The final 13 km follow the beach and require a 4x4 with a driver who knows the tides. The simplest option is to leave your car in Tutóia or book a full transfer from São Luís.
   
   
2. Where can I refuel along the way?
   Once you join the Translitorânea, petrol stations become scarce. Barreirinhas and Tutóia are the reliable stops, and Tutóia is the last one before Vila Arpoador.
   
   
3. How long should I allow for the journey?
   It depends on the tide, the season and your stops, so we plan the route by distance and around each day's tide window. Our concierge will tell you the best departure time for your dates.
   
   
4. Where does the helicopter depart from?
   The helicopter departs from São Luís, follows the coastline and lands in the village of Vila Arpoador. Each charter is quoted on request, based on your dates and the number of passengers.