Delta do Parnaíba Environmental Protection Area

The Delta do Parnaíba is a protected environmental area covering roughly 313,800 hectares across three states and containing the deltas of three major rivers. Within it you find mangrove forests, sand dunes, river channels, and more than 70 islands that create a complex natural system.

The area became an official protection zone in 1996 when the Brazilian government created it to safeguard the river deltas and their ecosystems. This establishment marked an effort to preserve one of the Americas' most important delta systems from further damage.

Communities here fish and harvest resources using methods handed down through their families, working in harmony with the river and tides. You can see this way of life throughout the delta, where people follow rhythms that have changed little over generations.

The most accessible entry point is through Parnaíba airport, which has connections to major Brazilian cities like Fortaleza, Teresina, and the southern regions. Once there, local boat operators can take you through the channels and islands to experience the different habitats up close.

This delta ranks among the largest in the entire Western Hemisphere, with islands numbering over 70 scattered throughout its waterways. The variety of wildlife and ecosystem types here rival those of famous river deltas elsewhere in the world.

Location: Piauí

Location: Maranhão

Location: Ceará

Inception: 1996

GPS coordinates: -2.80719,-41.81012

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:47