Introducing São Luís
The historic center of São Luís is an enchanting neighborhood of steamy cobbled streets and pastel-colored colonial mansions, some handsomely restored, some still deep in tropical decay, and 1100 of them on the Unesco World Heritage list. It’s a charming area with a unique atmosphere, and also has one of the best concentrations of museums, galleries and craft stores in the Northeast. But Maranhão’s capital is more than just this colonial heart. São Luís is also the reggae capital of Brazil, it is home to the highly colorful and unusual Bumba Meu Boi festivities, and it has a lively beach scene.
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The trip across Baía de São Marcos to Alcântara, an impressive historic town slipping regally into decay, is an added reason to put São Luís on your itinerary.
Last updated: Mar 2, 2009
