Humberto De Campos: Bay, Manatee Conservation and Culture

Humberto De Campos combines a broad perspective on nature with cultural connections. Baía de Tubarão and the Reserva Extrativista give the municipality a landscape perspective; manatee conservation and local traditions add specific themes. When choosing a holiday rental, the mix you want can be a good starting point: should the landscape be the main focus, or are you especially interested in cultural connections and community events?

Bay and protected area

Baía de Tubarão stretches between the municípios of Icatu and Humberto De Campos. The Reserva Extrativista da Baía do Tubarão is also located in both municipalities; the 2018 decree assigns it an area of 223,917 hectares. The bay and the protected area represent different geographic points of reference: one denotes a natural area between two municipalities, while the Reserva is a legally designated protected area. The figure gives a sense of the Reserva’s scale, while its location in both municípios turns attention to the municipality as a whole. If you choose nature as the main theme of your trip, you can start with the bay and protected area before focusing on individual activities.

Manatee conservation and cultural connections

The Festival de Preservação do Peixe Boi began in 2007 and continued after the CMA base in the Comunidade Ilha do Gato closed. At a festival event on June 21, 2019, in the same Comunidade, there were educational activities as well as sports and water sports competitions. Knowledge-sharing and community activities thus complemented the manatee theme evoked by the festival’s name. In 2007, an observation tower for manatees in the wild was also built on Ilha do Gato. A pilot project to implement a protocol builds on the community’s long-standing involvement in manatee conservation and its collaboration with CMA and CNPT.

Another cultural reference associated with Humberto De Campos is Boi Famosão de São João. The São João connection adds a distinct cultural note to the manatee theme. The two references have different emphases: the festival has a specific date and includes educational and sporting activities; Boi Famosão stands alongside it as a cultural reference.

Birdwatching as a planned focus

The fifth edition of “De Grão em Grão: a construção do turismo de base comunitária no Maranhão” was planned as an event in the Comunidade Santa Clara, in the Município of Humberto De Campos, from May 1 to 3, 2026. The full title itself refers to community-based tourism in Maranhão. Ecotourism and observing wildlife, particularly birds, were also planned. The program was intended to address the potential of ecotourism and nature observation for conservation, income generation and sustainable development. Birdwatching was thus framed within the broader context of conservation and local development. If you want to plan your trip around a festival or event, check the latest dates in advance.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: São José De Ribamar, Alcântara, Vargem Grande, Atins, Araioses, Praia, Santa Helena, Alto Parnaíba

Go to the main travel overview: Maranhão.