The State of Piaui

Imagine 66 km of sun-drenched coastline. Imagine white dunes, lines of coconut trees and an ocean of warm water. Imagine a temperature never below 24º C (75 F.), with 3,000 hours of sunshine a year. Imagine a constant breeze cooling the sunny day and lifting sails to windsurf and kite surf competitions. We are talking about the State of Piauí; Located in the Northeast region of Brazil, Piauí is full of enchantment and hospitable people. Many foreigners, from all over the world, are just now discovering Parnaíba and the State of Piauí.

Along with the glorious permanent warm climate, Mother Nature protected Piauí against rainstorms, earthquakes, hurricanes and other natural disasters - or the ones created by man including terrorism or wars.

The location will become very favourable to US and European visitors: in less than 9 hours, on direct flights, the continents are linked.

A sun shining all year round and clear-sky luminosity give Piauí an everlasting vision of the Brazilian colours in its waters, lands, climates and hopes.

Piauí in North East Brasil is a state of striking contrast, the state with natural mysteries and beautiful contrasts, from the amazing moonlight of the countryside to the long white beaches. There are beautiful solitary beaches in one of the most unexplored regions of the northeast coast, for a long time they have gone unnoticed by most tourists but have recently been discovered as another of Brasil's hidden treasures.

In addition to its historical charm, Piauí has the most warming people of Brasil and, although it started the 21st century with three times as much urbanisation, it has kept the same avant-garde cosy features: children running along the streets, people chatting on side-walks, spontaneous cirandas (popular songs and music) and plenty of quietness.

The natural landscape inebriates visitors with its long plateaus, forests, coastal plains and pre-coastal low table land. Clean, humid fields, caranava, tucum and muriti palm trees paint brush the originality of greener areas. The harmony of the lagoons, waterfalls, perennial rivers and the only open delta of the Americas offer the scenery its vivid tones.

Piauí is today the door to ecological, cultural and historic tourism and due to its large extension has been divided into poles each one with its peculiar features, its unique adventures and its natural charming power. Make a special choice in your itinerary for all of them.

The beauty of Parnaíba is the result of great encounters: the Parnaíba delta, where the river meets the sea, and the Capivara Mountains, where the semi-arid regions of the northeast come up against the Amazon forest.

One of the prettiest beaches of the northeast where there is a fishing village with crystal clear water protected by dunes and rocky formations in which salt becomes deposited. Hence the name Pedra de Sal, a mesmerising place of almost untouched beauty. It is located on the island of llha Grande de Santa Isabel

PARNAÍBA DELTA

Also in the state is the Parnaíba Delta, the only one in the American continent to be in the open sea. It is the third largest in the planet. If you like sunny dunes and a full moon over the sea......, you do belong here. As it gets near to the Atlantic Ocean, the Parnaíba River breaks up into five channels: Igaraçu, Canarias, Caju, Carrapato or Melancieira and Tutoia. The artistic drawing of nature, teeming with inspiration and exotic features make up the Parnaíba River Delta. The region also includes five bays and beautiful human scenery formed by artisanal fishermen and crab collectors.

The place is considered an ecological shrine and an international tourist point, which has been made into an area of Environmental Preservation. Almost unbelievable landscape that mixes deserted beaches, immense dunes up to 40 meters high, and dozens of islands surrounded by forests, mangroves swamps and Carnauba Palm groves. A paradise with more than 70 islands defined by rivers, brooks and streams, dunes and lakes. For the traveler who is fond of adventure, it is possible to go around the stream by boat, go walking in the dunes, ride a bike along the alternative trails or go through the mangrove swamps to observe the exuberant fauna and the local people catching crabs.

One of the most important islands in the delta is the Caju Island, it is an ecological sanctuary. This is a place where you can enjoy nautical sports or just do nothing and relax and enjoy the sea breezes. There are three big rivers in the world that transform themselves in this radical way when they meet the sea and the Parnaíba is the gateway to the delta.

In the Parnaíba River Delta you will find an area of unique beauty, aggregating over 70 islands between two states igarapes (small wood rivers) forming real labyrinths, carnauva palm trees, mangroves, amazing dunes and desert beaches beside a rich fauna. Nothing matches the emotion of getting to know all these personally.

In the middle of this adventure, it is worth stopping to see and enjoy the Sete Cidades (Seven Cities) National Park with its formations and paintings in ancient rocks, dating from at least 400 million years ago.

Located in the municipalities of Piripiri, Brasileira and Piracuruca, the park has seven groups of giant rocks, the seven cities- with traces of the pre-historic man and fantastic legends, made up by the ancestors of local people.

It is even more impressive when you get closer to the archaeological sites of The National Park of Serra da Capivara (Capybara Mountain Range) with its intriguing rock inscriptions which is considered the birthplace of American Man, with vestiges of the most ancient civilization of the Americas the most important archaeological site not only in Brazil but in the entire American continent. There is evidence that this reserve, a pre-historic site in the middle of bushlands, was the origin of American mankind, and much longer ago than was thought.

Another obligatory stop is Parnaíba City, one of the most indicated for ecological tourism, with direct access to the small municipality of Louis Correia and Cajueiro da Praia, where the most fascinating native beaches of the region are located.

With so many beaches, dunes, lagoons, igarapes and intense winds you can enjoy off-road tours, sea cruises and radical sports, such as Jet Ski, surfing, kite-surf and windsurf in free-access areas. But if you prefer firm ground you can enjoy walks and horse-riding.

The capital, Teresina, is the only north-eastern state capital to be situated inland because colonization took place differently from the other administrative centres in the north-east. In Piauí occupation started in the interior and spread towards the coast, contrary to other Brasilian states. Piauí has the advantage of having a stable population, balanced between the rural and urban areas, and a low demographic density in relation to north-eastern standards.

Piauí is a state that can make your dreams come true. The people who have visited it know what this means. The natural beauties will give you great satisfaction and long-lasting impression.

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