While Piauí is home to Barra Grande, one of the country’s most enchanting beach villages, it has the shortest stretch of coastline of any Brazilian state – just 66km in fact. A highlight of this region is the Delta do Parnaíba. This archipelago is made up of more than 70 islands, with mangroves, dunes, rivers and beaches to explore. The best time to visit Piauí is from April to July, after the rainy season has refilled the lakes and the birds return for breeding season.

The capital city is Teresina, the only Brazilian capital city in the northeast to be located inland. The city is built around two rivers, Rio Poty and Rio Parnaíba and is regarded as Brazil’s hottest city. There’s a historical centre, with colonial architecture, relaxed craft markets and a well-preserved theatre. The Estaiada Bridge’s observation tower gives sweeping views over the city’s rivers, high-rise towers and a sea of red-tiled roofs.

Piauí’s Serra da Capivara National Park is one of the state’s most important sites, protected by UNESCO. This vast park features archaeological sites containing prehistoric rock paintings, some more than 25,000 years old. In addition to its historical significance, it’s also geographically beautiful, offering views over the region’s valleys, mountains and plains.

 

_{Photo: Chico Rasta / MTur (Praia do Macapa, Luís Correia), Mauricio Pokemon / MTur (Ponte Estaiada, Teresina), Artur Warchavchik – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Serra da Capivara National Park)}