Maranhão

Maranhão has been the scene of some important historical moments and it is a fascinating cultural melting pot of different races: blacks, indigenous and white, a phenomenon that turns this region in a Brazilian explosion of rhythms, colours and flavours. This forced encounter gave birth to a popular culture with its own identity, truly authentic and of great variety. A few different cultural events entail the essence of the maranhense (inhabitants of Marãnhao) such as, “Tambor de Crioula” (only women dance, very sensual, following the rhythm of African drums) and “Tambor de Mina” (Afro religious ceremony, the equivalent of Candomblé in Bahia). The racial mixture had a great impact on the local cuisine and the result is a sophisticated gastronomic festival, characterized by exotic and eclectic dishes, with an alchemic connaissance of the use of ingredients and spices. Its geographical position, in a middle-land, between the Amazon and the North East of Brazil, has permitted the formation of the most diverse ecosystem in the country.  Nature, in fact, has been quite generous with Maranhão, giving it the second biggest coastline in Brazil (640 km) and the biggest concentration of sand dunes in the world.  In the summer (from Dezember through March) it may rain a lot in Maranhão, with high precipitations. The best time to travel to this region is between May and September because it doesn’t rain. Also because of the diversity of the lagoons in the National Park of Lenções Maranhenses.