São Luís Cruise Shuttles

A colorful North Brazilian town home to historic stone buildings and iron balconies, São Luís is the place to be, not only for cruise ship attendees looking to stretch their legs but lovers of exploring terrains urban and rural. The cruise ship is likely to dock at one of two major ports; either the Madeira Port on the far southwest end of town, or the Port of Itaqui, located slightly further south in the same area. Two miles from the main downtown area, guests have the option to either stay put in the small community of Itaqui, or get a cross-town transfer into the city. These options include private sedans, vans and chartered buses perfect for tranquil coastline drives along Senador Vitorino Freire Avenue, meet-and-greet services ranging from the convenience of taxis moving toward distant all-in-one locales along the waterfront, or local personal drivers who can make the most out of hidden treasures.

Get to know the scenery for all its worth by sticking to the south side first, enjoying what’s close to the cruise port through modest getaways like Pier 77, a vibrant restaurant at the heart of Itaqui offering fresh buffet eats as healthy as they are filling. Travel a bit further east into the quiet scenery of Bacanga State Park, home to an enclave of forest trails, hidden lakes and archaic ruins overgrown with lush vegetation. Escape the natural for something more urban by venturing toward the city afterward, looking forward to such popular São Luís landmarks as the old walled-in gardens and fountains of Fonte das Pedras, as well as the old alleyway shops and restaurants of Casarão Da Família Jansen. A great place to truly experience old Portuguese architecture is the Maranhão Historical and Artistic Museum, specialty waterfront homes along the included Maranhão’s House offering even more of the similar style in a likewise setting.