The Delta of Parnaíba is one of the three largest deltas in the world. Like the Nile and the Mekong River it has a unique ecosystem. Parnaíba is the entrance to this magisterial natural paradise.
Location: on the border of Piauí and Maranhão, states in the North-East of Brazil
Size: 2.700 square kilometres, divided in more than 70 islands
Particularity: it’s one out of the three biggest deltas in the world. Only the Nile in Egypt and the Mekong Delta in Vietnam are bigger.
Main river: Rio Parnaíba, which is 1.485 kilometres long and 2 kilometres wide.
Main islands: Ilha Grande and Ilha das Canarias
Shape: the Delta is compared with a hand of which the open fingers represent the Barra de Tutoia, Barra do Caju, Barra do Igaraçu, Barra das Canárias and Barra da Melancieira.
Average temperature: 26 degrees
Lowest temperature: 17,5 degrees Celsius on the 5th of July 1974
Highest temperature: 38,2 degrees Celsius on the 25th of November 1993
Animals: monkeys, snakes, turtles, crabs, frogs, piranhas, snakes, alligators and a lot of birds such as the scarlet ibis
Natural phenomenon’s: rivers, mangrove, lagoons, Carnaúba bushes, dunes, beaches
Most special spot to see this nature: Ilha do Caju, a privately owned island named after its huge amount of cashew trees. To enjoy the perfectly preserved nature, you can book a stay in the only pousada on the island.
Population groups: Canárias, Passarinho, Torto and Caiçara
How to reach Parnaíba: although Parnaíba itself has a small airport, it’s better to fly to Teresina. From Teresina you can take a direct bus that takes about 5 hours for 330 kilometres.