New Year's Eve in Lençóis Maranhenses: Festival Duna in Vila Arpoador

If you are looking for raw nature, great music and very few people to see in 2027, this guide covers where Vila Arpoador is, what Festival Duna is, how to get there, when to go and where to stay.

Where is Vila Arpoador, the gateway to the Pequenos Lençóis?

Vila Arpoador is a fishing village on the Tutóia coast, at the end of the Alameda dos Velejadores. It sits on a rare point of the map: to the east lies the Parnaíba Delta, the only open-sea delta in the Americas, with more than 70 islands. To the west begin the Lençóis Maranhenses, whose National Park was declared a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2024. The region is part of the Rota das Emoções (Route of Emotions), which links the coastlines of Ceará, Piauí and Maranhão.

In front of the village stretch the Pequenos Lençóis Maranhenses, a landscape of dunes, lagoons and coconut palms protected since 1991 within a 270,000-hectare Environmental Protection Area. It is a sister landscape to the National Park, with one difference: here the dunes live alongside lush vegetation, coconut groves and a coastline carved by rivers and mangroves, where scarlet ibises cross the sky at dusk.

What is Festival Duna, Vila Arpoador 's New Year's Eve celebration?

Festival Duna is a New Year gathering sized to fit the village: attendance limited to around 300 guests, six days long and a programme that follows the rhythm of nature. Days begin in silence, with yoga, meditation, breathwork and sound healing. By night, the dance floor comes alive to house, organic and afro sounds beneath a sky free of light pollution. The festival's base is Villa Cocar, in the heart of the village, and the countdown happens on the sand: New Year's Eve dinner and the midnight celebration on the dune.

The programme also travels across the landscape. One of the parties takes place on an island in the Parnaíba Delta, reached by boat, and excursions include the scarlet ibis flight at sunset and the lagoons of the Pequenos Lençóis. Guests can also add kitesurfing lessons, as December is still part of Maranhão's wind season. The festival happens with the village, not just in it. At the last edition, an open-air cinema brought guests and residents together, and for many locals it was the first film screening of their lives.

The production's commitment comes down to one phrase: leave no trace.

How to get to Vila Arpoador and Festival Duna

The nearest airport is Parnaíba (PHB), in Piauí, 134 km from the village, with LATAM flights via Fortaleza and, from November 2026, Azul flights from Belo Horizonte (Confins) on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The alternative is São Luís (SLZ), 343 km away, with full connections from Brazil's main cities.

The final stretch to Vila Arpoador includes 13 km along the beach, driven by 4x4. It is part of the experience: the arrival delivers dunes, sea and village all at once. The Vila Arpoador Collection Concierge arranges the full welcome, with 4x4 vehicles driven by qualified local drivers and helicopter charters for those who would rather shorten the journey.

When to go and what to do beyond New Year's Eve

The wind season runs from July to January, with easterly trade winds between 18 and 30 knots, making the Tutóia coast one of the most complete kitesurfing destinations in north-eastern Brazil, with delta, lagoons, river, open sea and downwinders such as the Vila Arpoador to Atins run. The Lençóis lagoons are at their fullest between June and September, just after the rainy season.

In December and January, the setting shifts and is just as striking: dry weather, clear skies, end-of-season wind and the dunes at their sharpest. It is the backdrop to New Year's Eve. The rest of the year, the excursions continue: boat trips through the Parnaíba Delta, the scarlet ibis flight at sunset, the Pequenos Lençóis lagoons by 4x4 and Praia do Amor, one of the most unspoilt beaches in the region.

Where to stay in Vila Arpoador

The village's infrastructure is kept deliberately small to protect the experience. Vila Arpoador Collection is the official partner of Festival Duna and offers houses and apartments in the village, with accommodation, property management and a dedicated concierge throughout the festival. With 300 guests and few beds within walking distance of the celebrations, booking early makes all the difference.

Would you like to see in the New Year in Vila Arpoador ?
Talk to our concierge and find your home for Festival Duna at www.arpoadorcollection.com

Frequently asked questions

1. Is Lençóis Maranhenses worth visiting in December?
   Yes, as long as you know what to expect. The lagoons are lower than in mid-year, but December brings clear skies, end-of-season wind, dunes in their rawest form and the New Year's Eve calendar. For those seeking landscape and celebration in a single trip, it is the best month of the year.
2. How long does Festival Duna last?
   Six days, from 27 December to 1 January, with a programme running day and night: morning wellness practices, afternoon excursions and music until the early hours.
   
3. How do I get to Festival Duna?
   Fly into Parnaíba (134 km) or São Luís (343 km) and continue overland to Vila Arpoador, with a final 4x4 stretch along the beach. The Arpoador Collection concierge arranges your transfer from the airport.
   
4. Where should I stay during Réveillon Duna?
   In the village of Vila Arpoador itself, within walking distance of Villa Cocar and the New Year's Eve dune. Arpoador Collection houses and apartments are the festival's official accommodation and tend to sell out before the tickets do.
   
5. Do I need to kitesurf to enjoy it?
   No. Kitesurfing is an optional chapter of the programme. The festival is designed for those seeking nature, music and connection, with or without a board.