Casa Do Pescador Atins

The house itself stood out to me first. As an architect, I found Casa do Pescador probably the best-designed place in Atins, and perhaps the most luxurious, modern, and comfortable too. It has two garden terraces, one by the living area at the front and another off the main bedroom at the back. The cross-breeze keeps the indoor space pleasant in the warm, humid climate, while air-conditioning in both bedrooms makes for comfortable sleeping and helps with moisture. The outdoor bathrooms have lovely open-air rain showers. Wi-Fi was surprisingly reliable for such a remote spot, averaging over 10 Mbps, and working online every day was a treat. We came to see Parque Nacional dos Lencois Maranhenses, one of Brazil's top 10 destinations, and I highly recommend taking an aerial tour to appreciate the huge landscape. As a former commercial pilot, I'd suggest a high-wing Cessna 172 if possible, since the wings don't block the view of the ground as much. The only four-seat Cessna 172 currently available in Barreirinhas belongs to pilot Murillo Efrain, and can be booked ahead through Voar Fotografia Aerea. Atins is a quiet little fishing village of only a few thousand people, with soft sandy tracks instead of paved roads. Most people get around by four-wheel-drive quad, and you can rent one from Anarrara at a very competitive rate. We recommend it, it makes you feel like a kid again. Anarrara and her husband own the house, as well as Casa do Campo, their other Airbnb listing in Atins, which has lots of land and space outside, a great option for families with kids. Getting there is part of the trip. The private speedboat from Barreirinhas takes about an hour and is an interesting ride in its own right. Driving from Sao Luis to Barreirinhas takes 4-5 hours, and watch out for potholes. Everton Turismo in Atins can arrange the boat transfer and a secure private garage for your rental car. For our national park trip, Gilvan of Guaratur in Atins organized a 4WD Toyota tour with a multilingual guide whose experience and credentials were impressive, and who has been featured in Lonely Planet. Bernard de Laroche of Sandwalkers has lived and worked as a guide in Atins for over 14 years. He lives a minute's quad ride from Casa do Pescador, and Gilvan of Guaratur is his neighbour. Bernard speaks English, French, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, and some other languages. He's funny and has an amazing grasp of life. In over 40 years of travel around the world, he's among the top 10 guides we've had the honour and pleasure of meeting. Have a fantastic time!