São Luís Travel Guide

  local festivity prior to Carnival
by mircaskirca
 
  • local festivity prior to Carnival
      local festivity prior to Carnival
    by mircaskirca
  • Tambor de Crioula
      Tambor de Crioula
    by mircaskirca
  • Ladeira do Jacare
      Ladeira do Jacare
    by mircaskirca
  • Ladeira do Jacare
      Ladeira do Jacare
    by mircaskirca
  • Ladeira do Jacare
      Ladeira do Jacare
    by mircaskirca
 

Explore São Luís

Things to Do  

Beaches - From Ponta D'Areia to Olho d'Agua

Beaches - From Ponta D'Areia to Olho d'Agua, São Luís

 mircaskirca Says:  Sao Luis has many beaches along its 32 km of coastline. They lie beyond the Sao Francisco district so you must cross the bridge to reach them. There are frequent buses from the Terminal de Integracao (Praia Grande) which run along the waterfront. The beaches become extremely... 

Projeto Reviver - UNESCO World Heritage Site

Projeto Reviver - UNESCO World Heritage Site, São Luís

 mircaskirca Says:  Because of the beautiful houses in the city's historical centre and its azulejos-tiled houses, with balconies and terraces in the finest Portuguese style, Sao Luis has been made one of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. During the late 1980s state authorities finally agreed to... 

The City of Azulejos

The City of Azulejos, São Luís

 mircaskirca Says:  Sao Luis is known for its azulejos (decorative ceramic tiles, often blue or blue-and-white) which most buildings in the historical centre are covered in. They are the city's signature. Because of it the city is also known as cidade de azulejos (the tiles city). In Sao Luis... 

Teatro Arthur Azevedo - The Cultural Symbol

Teatro Arthur Azevedo - The Cultural Symbol, São Luís

 mircaskirca Says:  The cultural symbol of Sao Luis is Teatro Arthur Azevedo, one of the oldest, most traditional and beautiful in the country. It was inaugurated in 1817 and has since been an integral part of the local history. Theatro Arthur Azevedo is Brazil's second-oldest theatre,... 

Hotels  

Pousada Portas da Amazonia

 2 Reviews and 58 Opinions  A pretty cozy Pousada in the Historic center of Sao Luis. In the Historic Center of town and they... 

Hotel Vila Rica Sao Luiz

 1 Review and 4 Opinions  An old 4 star hotel that once was a charming hotel, it seemed then to be in need of a renovation. ... 

Restaurants  

Maracangalha: Most Charming Resaurant of Sao Luis

Maracangalha: Most Charming Resaurant of Sao Luis, São Luís

 mircaskirca Says:  If you would like your dinner to be something to remember, you should visit Maracangalha, the most charming restaurants of Sao Luis. It's the opportunity not to be missed. The restaurant specializes in regional culinary variety, mostly fish, shrimps, crabs and other... 

Comidas Tipicas da Rosa: A Huge Variety of Regional Specialities

Comidas Tipicas da Rosa: A Huge Variety of Regional Specialities, São Luís

 mircaskirca Says:  In the historical centre they put every night several food stalls that offer huge variety of home-made regional specialities. My favourite place was Barraca de comidas tipicas da Rosa. You will quickly discover that the real delight of Maranhao is the seafood. They have... 

Nightlife  

Nighttime Art Market and Dinning Spot: The Place to Start the Night

Nighttime Art Market and Dinning Spot: The Place to Start the Night, São Luís

 mircaskirca Says:  In Reviver you find several stalls offering a huge variety of regional specialities and sweets (yummy cakes made from coconut, cashew nuts, chocolate and different local fruit) to get the energy needed for a long coming night!! :))Besides, there are quite a few stalls... 

Tambor de Crioula

Tambor de Crioula, São Luís

 mircaskirca Says:  If you are lucky you may come across the performance of Tambor de Crioula, one of the most popular rituals of Afro-Brazilian culture of Maranhao. It's a celebration based on music and dance. more in the Local CustomsI attended their performance on a little square, Praca... 

Shopping  

various shops in Reviver: Traditional Handicrafts

various shops in Reviver: Traditional Handicrafts, São Luís

 mircaskirca Says:  There are quite a few shops that offer a wide choice of traditional handicrafts and specialities from the region so it's nice to walk around and have a look. handicrafts: baskets, bags, purses - all made from straw or plant fibres, tiles in all forms, lacework, hammocks,... 

various shops in Raposa: Region's Famous Lace Work

various shops in Raposa: Region's Famous Lace Work, São Luís

 mircaskirca Says:  Well, I am generally not fencier of lace work but several people that I met in Sao Luis were really enraptured with it. Therefor it slowly started to stimulate my curiosity too, haha. When visited Raposa I was quite surprised at finding such number of shops making and... 

Arte Indigena: Indigenous Art of Maranhao

Arte Indigena: Indigenous Art of Maranhao, São Luís

 mircaskirca Says:  Association Carlo Ubbiali was created in 2003 by a group of people attached to father Carlo with the intention to give continuity to their ideas and projects referred to indigenous matters in the state of Maranhao. Principal activity of the association is directing an... 

Local Customs  

Tiquira - It's a Kick!!!

Tiquira - It's a Kick!!!, São Luís

 mircaskirca Says:  A beverage that certainly pays attention because of its blue or lilac colouring is tiquira, a kind of very strong brandy distilated of manioc juice. It originates from an indigenous tradition of Mamede comunity. They wanted to take advantage of manioc for almost everything,... 

Embaixada Babacu Livre - Babacu Palm Tree Products

Embaixada Babacu Livre - Babacu Palm Tree Products, São Luís

 mircaskirca Says:  Deep in the interior of the state of Maranhao, local female workers initiated a unique women's movement integrating the practice of traditional extractive economy. They identify themself as coconut-breakers, making a living by collecting and gathering coconuts of palm trees... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Alcantara-Historic Town with Laid-back Atmosphere

Alcantara-Historic Town with Laid-back Atmosphere, São Luís

 mircaskirca Says:  If you like history, you have to visit Alcantara, a town that seems to have stopped in time. It is set in a wonderful tropical landscape on the other side of the Baia de Sao Marcos from Sao Luis. Founded in the 17th century, it was one of the richest and most important towns... 

Raposa - Fishing Town Well-known for Its Lace Work

Raposa - Fishing Town Well-known for Its Lace Work, São Luís

 mircaskirca Says:  Travel in Maranhao outside Sao Luis is made difficult by road system that is limited and often precarious when it rains. Fortunately, not all the interesting places are difficult to go to. Easy to reach is Raposa, an interesting fishing centre at the tip of the Ilha de Sao... 

Beautiful Landscapes of Santo Amaro

Beautiful Landscapes of Santo Amaro, São Luís

 mircaskirca Says:  Santo Amaro is located on the eastern coast of Maranhao, approximately 243 km from Sao Luis, at the boundaries of the National Park of Lencois Maranhenses. It is characterized by beautiful landscapes of beaches, dunes, fields, rivers, lakes and ponds, in the middle of... 

Sao Jose de Ribamar-Fishing Town & Site of Faith

Sao Jose de Ribamar-Fishing Town & Site of Faith, São Luís

 mircaskirca Says:  A charming and enjoyable little town Sao Jose de Ribamar is located only 32km from Sao Luis. Traditionally a fishing town, it's also an important religious centre of the state of Maranhao. There is about an hour drive through thick palm forest and small hills. The bus stops... 

Favorites  

Poeme-se - Poetry and Art

Poeme-se - Poetry and Art, São Luís

 mircaskirca Says:  Sao Luis has been called the Island of Love or Brazilian Athens because it was the birth place of several noted poets and writers, such as Goncalves Dias, Aluiso Azevedo, Graca Aranha, Ferreira Gullar, Odylo Costa Filho, among others. To some extent the literary tradition is... 

Reveillon da Maranhensidade-New Year Celebration

Reveillon da Maranhensidade-New Year Celebration, São Luís

 mircaskirca Says:  On New Year's Eve (Reveillon) Sao Luis gathers people not only from the city but also from other parts of Maranhao. Though there is a party with DJs and live music in the centro historico, the main celebration takes place on Avenida Litoranea, some 45 minutes by bus from... 

Musical Traditions of Maranhao

Musical Traditions of Maranhao, São Luís

 mircaskirca Says:  Sao Luis is known as Brazil's capital of reggae music. Besides, the state of Maranhao is home to some of the most beautiful musical traditions in the country and the most famous artists from Maranhao are Alcione, Zeca Baleiro and Rita Ribeiro.If you are one of those,... 

The Place

Plan a São Luís vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and São Luís locals

Experience São Luís
  •   40 Tips and Reviews
  •  226 Photos
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The People

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Our Members Say
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 This very simple restaurant was a finding... we could have a pleasant lunch of seafood (huge schrimps!!!) plus typical local dishes by only $6... 

1 member lives in São Luís

 

Questions and Answers

kriss profile photo

Q:  Hello everybody out there, does anybody know anything above the parcel de manoel, specially about diving, operators... 

idb profile photo

A: i found the site above, despite it is in portuguese : http://www.brasilmergulho.com.br/port/points/ma/index.shtml it said that you must be a experienced diver, because... 

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Top São Luís Writers

1

São Luís

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 São Luís is the capital of Brazilian state of Maranhao and it's located on São Luís island, known as Island of Love. Originally it was a large village of the Tupinamba tribe. Since being established,... 

2

São Luís do Maranhão

ahoerner profile photo

 São Luís was a real good surprise for us as Brazilian tourists for both its fantastic views and its typical Brazilian culture, expressed by the June Feasts called "Festa de Boi-Bumbá" or... 

3

Sao Luis - Emerging Capital

peace_prevails profile photo

 It can be said that Brasil is a whole is a blend of cultures: African, Indigenous, Portuguese (Arabic and Asiatic via the Portuguese), etc. However, I found the capital of Sao Luis especially... 

4

You could be in Portugal

johnkebab profile photo

 Sao Luis is a beautiful old town on the coast, its split into 2 halves, the one half a Bohemian, jazzy and traditional half, with old portuguese buildings all over, complete with the famous outside...... 

5

Capital of Brazilian Reggae

sanguin profile photo

 If São Luís' old town is beautiful during the day, it is amazing at night. It doesn't matter where you go as long as you stay in the historic center. Have a pizza, have a caipirinha, dance some... 

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