Fatima Al-Kassab of NPR shares her experience travelling to the extraordinary landscapes of northeastern Brazil. Her journey began with a four-hour bus ride from São Luis, a tropical city, to Barreirinhas, a calm fishing village. From Barreirinhas, she undertook a rugged trip in a 4×4 vehicle to reach the awe-inspiring National Park of Lençóis Maranhenses.

The national park spans hundreds of thousands of acres and features striking white sand dunes. On one side, lush jungle, and on the other, the expansive Atlantic Ocean, frame this unique scene. Lençóis, meaning ‘bedsheets’ in Portuguese, aptly describes the dunes, which appear like flowing sheets from above.

Climbing the dunes proved challenging. Each step sank into the fine sand. Upon reaching the top, panoramic views akin to a sci-fi setting awaited. When Fatima visited in July, the rainy season had filled over 35,000 freshwater lagoons amid the dunes. These pools provided a refreshing break after a day of hiking.

The vast scene of white dunes and sparkling blue pools resembled another planet. However, despite appearances, Lençóis Maranhenses is not a desert. Bordering the Amazon rainforest, this UNESCO World Heritage Site receives about 50 inches of rain annually, more than twice the rainfall of London. Standing at the top of a dune, Fatima felt her hometown worlds away.