Alcântara

The day before heading back to Recife from São Luis, we decided to head to the town of Alcântara, the original capital of Maranhão, a one and a half hour boat ride from São Luis. Alcântara was founded in 1648 and was the base of the Maranhense sugar, cotton and salt barons. The city ground to a halt with the end of the slave trade [a common theme in the Northeast] and Alcântara exists today as a cross between an historical ghost town [colonial ruins intermingle freely with preserved mansions] and the base of the Brazilian Space Agency's launch site.

Aside from the fact that the captain of the boat that took us across and back dropped us off in a Really Bad part of town [in an effort to avoid being fined for having three too many people on the launch], spending a relaxing day exploring the ruins of Alcântara was a perfect way to end our ten days in Maranhão.