In which quarter house in Sao Luis?

Are you leaving for the northeast of Brazil and the capital of Maranhão? This is in which sleeping area in São Luís!

Between Belém and Fortaleza, the city of São Luís, located on the eponymous island, is the capital of the state of Maranhão, in the northeast of Brazil. With more than 1.23 million inhabitants throughout the urban area and an area of 827 km2, São Luís is the only state capital of Brazil that was not founded by the Portuguese, but by the French in 1612, under the name of Saint-Louis de Maragnan during the French colony of France Équinoxiale. The Portuguese colonial architecture of the city centre – a World Heritage Site of Humanity since 1997 – dates from the end of the 17th century and is in an excellent state of conservation: it is said of its alleys that they are similar to the popular districts of Lisbon.

The city is nicknamed "Brazilian Jamaica" because of its cultural heritage, including its general taste for reggae. Staying in São Luís can be complicated and expensive if you come to cultural events, like the annual Bumba-meu-boi festival. The lovers of history, architecture and art will surely be seduced by going to sleep in São Luís. Here are the neighborhoods where to stay in São Luís.

Historic Centre

Rolled around the confluence between rivers Rio Anil and Rio Bacanga , the historic city centre represents the place where the French founded the city in the early 17th century, before passing under Dutch and Portuguese domination. The original set of its streets has been admirably well preserved, to a point that is said of the neighborhood that it is one of the best witnesses of Portuguese colonization in South America. If you are looking for a place to sleep in the old centre: the historical and artistic museum of Maranhao, the visual arts museum, the Arthur Azevedo Theatre, the Casa do Maranhao, the Casa de Nhozinho, the Casa das Tulhas or the Centre de Culture Populaire, etc.

Numerous churches scatter the quadrant streets of the historic centre, such as the Matriz da Sé, a neoclassical cathedral. The streets are pedestrian and paved, the buildings are colored and many are decorated with faience. It should be noted that a festive and relaxed atmosphere reigns in master over the neighbourhood throughout the year. Most of the bars, restaurants and hotels where to stay in the area will be located near Praça João Lisboa.

Ponta do Farol, near the new city

The old town is, of course, very quiet in the day. On the other hand, all social activity stands in the opposite place in the streets of the modern city, built on the other side of the bay. It is the business centre of São Luís, where skyscrapers seem to almost touch the clouds. On the beaches, the bus could take you to the Praia Ponte d’Areia, on the north shores of Ponta do farol, to enjoy a relaxed and festive atmosphere.

Peripheral neighborhoods

Many hotel complexes and cheap accommodation options will be available to stay in São Luís and its peripheral areas, including around Jardim Renascenca, and around Jansen Lake. Staying east of São Luís offers an ideal location to discover the rest of the region: the Dunes de Park Lençois do Maranhão (with natural pools), the village of Alcantara.

Main photo credit: Flickr – Roberto Tietzmann