Travel advisory · BrazilSome governments advise against travel to parts of Brazil.The warnings cover only these areas: Ceilandia, Favelas, Paranoá, Santa Maria, São Sebastião, Venezuela border area.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice

Areas with warnings

Ceilandia · avoid non-essential travel · Italy, US
Favelas · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, Spain, New Zealand, US
Paranoá · avoid non-essential travel · Italy, US
Santa Maria · avoid non-essential travel · Italy, US
São Sebastião · avoid non-essential travel · Italy, US
Venezuela border area · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, France

Also named by one government: 160 km strip along Brazil's land borders (US), Complexo da Maré (Canada), Complexo da Penha (Canada), 20 km strip along the Bolivian border (excluding Pantanal National Park) (Canada), 20 km strip along the Colombian border (Canada), 20 km strip along the French Guiana border (Canada), 20 km strip along the Guyanese border (Canada), 20 km strip along the Paraguayan border (Canada), 20 km strip along the Peruvian border (Canada), 20 km strip along the Surinamese border (Canada), 50 km strip along the Venezuelan border (Canada), Amazonas River and tributaries, Amazonas State (between Codajás and Belém do Solimões) (UK), Border zones (unspecified) (France), Chapada Diamantina National Park (trilha do 21) (Spain), Planaltina (Italy), Samambaia (Italy)

Government	Advice	Updated	Read the advice
United Kingdom (FCDO)	No advice against the whole country (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
United States (State Dept)	Exercise increased caution (regional advisories)	Aug 31, 2026	Read the advice
Canada (Global Affairs)	Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
Germany (Auswärtiges Amt)	No advice against the whole country (regional advisories)	Oct 27, 2026	Read the advice
New Zealand (SafeTravel)	Exercise increased caution due to high crime rates (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)	Vigilance renforcée (pays à risque) (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice

Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.

São Luís

Go to São Luís for a colonial old town of tiled facades, the Bumba-meu-boi folk festival and reggae and drumming traditions, with the Lençóis Maranhenses dunes within reach by road.

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São Luís is the capital of Maranhão, a state in northeastern Brazil. The city sits on an island between two bays on the Atlantic coast. The French founded it in 1612, and the Portuguese took it in 1615, which left the old town with colonial streets and tiled facades. Its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with stone churches, merchant houses and facades covered in blue and white azulejo tiles.

Visitors come for the colonial streets, the Bumba-meu-boi folk festival, which peaks around late June, and the regional cooking, built on seafood and local dishes such as arroz de cuxá. São Luís is also known for its reggae and drumming traditions. A three- to four-day trip is enough for the city, or add a longer stay for the Lençóis Maranhenses dunes, which are several hours away by road. The drier months from July to December are the best time to visit. The rainy season runs roughly January to June.

São Luís in five

Carry reais for markets and small stallsMany local shops take Pix, but it needs a Brazilian bank account, so visitors mostly rely on cards and cash. Use reais for markets and small stalls, and check that your card works abroad before you go.Money and costs
Use Uber or 99 for night ridesBooking in the app shows the driver and plate before you get in, so you can check them first. Set your pick-up point in the app before you go out.Getting around
Set up a Brazilian eSIM before you landMaps and ride apps need mobile data from the airport. Install the eSIM before you leave home so it works as soon as you land.Phones and eSIM
Check your visa status before you bookBrazil's entry rules depend on your nationality, so check the official government portal rather than an old travel blog. Keep your flight and hotel details on your phone for the border.Visas and entry
Time the Lençóis dunes for June to SeptemberThe lagoons in Lençóis Maranhenses fill with the rains and are fullest in the months after the wet season, from about June to September. Book a licensed tour from Barreirinhas, the gateway town, because the dunes are reached by 4x4 from there.

Things to do in São Luís

See all attractions in São Luís

a large building with statues on top of it

Landmark · São LuísPalácio dos Leões

Theater · São LuísTeatro Arthur Azevedo

Sight · São LuísCasa do Maranhão

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to São LuísPut the places you like in São Luís on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Currency: Brazilian real (BRL)
Entry: Visa-free for many passports; check yours on the government portal before flying Read more
Emergency: 190 police, 192 ambulance, 193 fire
Tipping: A 10% service charge is often added to restaurant bills; optional
Time: UTC-3, no daylight saving

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain28 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Rainy, humid
FebruaryRain27 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Carnival, rain
MarchRain30 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Heavy rain
AprilRain29 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Still wet
MayRain27 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Rain easing
JuneRain23 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°São João festivals
JulyRain17 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Dry, festivals
AugustPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Dry, windy
SeptemberPartly cloudy5 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Dry, quieter
OctoberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Hot, dry
NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Hot, humid
DecemberRain19 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Holiday season

Average daily high and low in São Luís, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in São Luís

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 34°
Humidity: 67%
Wind: 26 km/h
Chance of rain: 87%

São Luís

05:43 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-3

Today32°27°87%Monday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 87%.
Tue32°27°24%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 24%.
Wed33°27°4%Wednesday: Clear. High 33°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 4%.
Thu33°27°6%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 33°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 6%.
Fri33°27°2%Friday: Cloudy. High 33°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 2%.
Sat32°27°6%Saturday: Cloudy. High 32°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 6%.
Sun32°27°39%Sunday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 39%.

Updated 03:03 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 5.437 BRL

Amount

Converted to

BRL · Brazilian Real

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Lençóis Maranhensesabout 4 hours by road to BarreirinhasA national park of white dunes and rain-filled lagoons, reached from Barreirinhas.
Alcântarahalf a day, by road and boat across the bayA colonial town across the bay, known for its old houses and quiet streets.
São José de Ribamarabout 30 min to 1 hour by carA neighboring town with the pilgrimage church of Our Lady of Ribamar.

Before you go to São Luís

eSIM for São LuísData for maps and ride appsRead the guide

Insurance for São LuísCover for delays and medical careRead the guide

Money and cardsPix, cards and cash in reaisRead the guide

Where to stay in São LuísHistoric center or beach districtsRead the guide

Rules for São Luís, checked

Visa rules depend on your passport. Check the Brazilian government portal before you book flights, and carry proof of your onward travel.Source
Lençóis Maranhenses is a national park managed by ICMBio. Check its access, vehicle and camping rules on the official page before you travel.Source

Plan around São Luís

Getting around São Luís

Buses, ride-hailing apps and the road to Barreirinhas

Read the guide Money in Brazil

Pix, cards and cash in reais

Read the guide Entry rules by passport

Visa status, documents and what to check before you fly

Read the guide Culture and festivals

Bumba-meu-boi, tambor de crioula and the tiled old city

Read the guide Festivals in São Luís

São João and Carnival, with dates to check each year

Read the guide All of Brazil

Regions, flights and the wider northeast coast

Read the guide

São Luís FAQ

Is São Luís worth visiting?

Yes, for the tiled historic center, the Maranhão festivals and the Lençóis dunes a few hours away. It is a poor pick for a beach-only week, because the city beaches are not the main draw.

When is the best time to visit São Luís?

July to December, when the rain is lightest. The rainy season runs roughly January to June, and heat and humidity stay high all year.

Can you visit Lençóis Maranhenses from São Luís?

Yes, but it is a long road trip of about 4 hours to Barreirinhas, the gateway town. Tours leave from Barreirinhas, so plan one or two nights there rather than a day trip from the city.

Is São Luís safe for tourists?

Use ride-hailing apps after dark, keep your phone out of sight in crowds, and stick to busy, well-lit streets in the historic center and beach areas at night.

Do you need Portuguese in São Luís?

Yes, in practice, because Portuguese is the working language. Download an offline translation pack before you arrive, and learn numbers and basic greetings.

What is the historic center of São Luís known for?

Its Portuguese colonial streets, azulejo tiled facades and the UNESCO listing that covers the old city. Walk it in the early morning or late afternoon, when the heat is lower.