Lençóis Maranhenses National Park in the northeast and the city of Manaus in the north are the two Brazilian destinations that made the New York Times’ 52 Best Travel Destinations of 2023 list. The list is headed by London.
The American newspaper describes Lençóis, which appears at number 11, as “the antidote to the claustrophobic feeling of the Covid era a giant lunar passage where you can roam freely”. He also says those who visit the place feel “vaguely on planet Earth” between its pristine white sand dunes and blue lagoons filled with rainwater.
The publication reports that there is no cell phone signal or signs of comfort in the Northeast Park. “There are few structures, people or even trees in the area. And being so close to the equator makes it scorching hot during the day.”
When it comes to the Amazon capital, which ranks 41st, the New York Times spills over its kitchen. “Star restaurants in São Paulo use Amazon ingredients to look exotic, but in Manais you can taste steaming tacacá squashes at the stalls in front of the Teatro Amazonas.”
The New York newspaper even gives some tips for tourists who decide to travel to the Amazon city: the Biatuwi restaurant with local cuisine, as well as Banzeiro and Moquém do Banzeiro by chef Felipe Schaedler.
The New York Times list includes the following destinations in its ranking, right after London: Morioka (Japan), Monument Valley (USA), Kilmartin Glen (Scotland), Auckland (New Zealand), Palm Springs (USA) ) , Kangaroo Island (Australia), Vjosa River Valley (Albania), Accra (Ghana) and Tromso (Norway).
Apart from Lençóis Maranhenses and Manaus, there are no other Brazilian destinations on the list.