The state of Brazil that almost no one knows and has a delta and a virgin beach with natural pools

For those looking for nature and good weather; for those who want beach and tranquility. In the north of Brazil, the state of Piauí It is little known and has such a narrow coastline that its capital, Teresina, is not located on the coast but 400 kilometers from the sea.

With the exception of the rainy season, between February and May, the coastal area of ​​Piauí has ​​guaranteed sun. On the one hand, it stands out Parnaíba River Deltawhose course forms the natural border between the states of Piauí and Maranhão, and on the other, the Barra Grande beach.

With fine, white sand, in an environment with good infrastructure, this destination surprises with its achieved balance of preservation and comfort.

Like a hidden treasure on the coast of the state of Piauí, Barra Grande is a fishing village within the municipality of Cajueiro da Praia and is surrounded by coconut trees and a sea of ​​crystal clear waters.

This virgin beach It is situated between the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park and the Parnaíba Delta, offering travelers an ideal base from which to explore the natural wonders of the region.

Lovers of water sports will find here a great place for diving, windsurfing, kitesurfing and other activities. But above all things, Barra Grande is a quiet place to relax and enjoy the landscape, with a town that does not disappoint.

Barra Grande beach stands out in the Route of Emotions, an itinerary of the Northeast of Brazil that offers nature, impressive landscapes and the imprint of local culture.

This route runs 500 kilometers, passing through 14 municipalities in the states of Ceará, Piauí and Maranhão. The tour begins in Jericoacoara (Ceará), passes through the Parnaíba Delta (Piauí) and ends in Lençóis Maranhenses (Maranhão), providing a unique opportunity to explore the Northeast in a memorable way.

1 km from Barra Grande is Barrinha Beach. It is an even smaller village, with a square, a church and houses that house families who have lived there “always”, with neighbors who take their chairs out to the sidewalk at dusk.

But in addition to the calm and cozy atmosphere, Barrinhas has some incredible natural pools. And if there is a full moon and the tide is low, visitors can venture into the crystal clear waters offshore.

There is a three-hour excursion, which begins very early in the morning and, after a 30-minute boat ride, you reach a point with huge sandbanks surrounded by transparent waters.

Then they appear some impressive islets on the high seas, with chairs and umbrellas to enjoy the natural pools.

Later, the boat will arrive at a deserted beach: it is Witch’s Mouthwhere the river meets the sea among dozens of bird species.

The boat returns to Barrinhas beach before noon and you will have to choose the restaurant where you will have lunch.

Another of the most popular trips consists of going to observe the seahorses from a canoe in the mangrove located after climbing the dunes of Barra Grande, walking or by sulky.

With a varied proposal of inns for different budgets, Barra Grande also has restaurants that serve fish with local seasonings, in addition to the typical northeastern food: dried meat, cassava and seafood.

The Parnaíba Delta is an ecological sanctuary, with its mouth on Atlantic beaches, with warm waters, constant breezes and dunes in which lagoons form.

Full-day boat trips are available throughout the 2,700 km2 area, which is currently the largest producer of crabs and shrimp in Brazil.

It is an excursion on a boat with capacity for 76 people, among bodies of water, dunes, rivers, beaches and an archipelago with 70 islands and islets.

During the tour, which departs from Puerto de los Tatus, on Ilha Grande de Santa Isabel, 11 km from the center of Parnaíba, there are stops to have lunch, buy regional crafts, visit small fishing villages and beaches with unique landscapes that mix river, vegetation, white sands and turquoise sea.

Another of the unmissable board tours is the observation of the “Revoada dos Guarás” phenomenon, the stampede of red corocoro birds within the Parnaíba Delta during the afternoon.

The most practical option to get to know Piauí is to travel to Teresina, the capital, via San Pablo, and from there take a transfer or bus to Parnaíba or Barra Grande. The land trip lasts between 4 and 5 hours.

There are also internal flights to Parnaíba, 70 km from Barra Grande.