The Wayro route from Canoa Quebrada to Mandacaru is 503 miles (809 km), about 13 h 20 min of driving without stops.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
Full advisory: Brazil. Advisory issued: Brazil August 31, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Brazil: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
| Distance by road | 503 mi (809 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 13 h 20 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-304 → CE-040 → BR-020 → BR-222 → CE-187 → CE-232 → PI-213 → BR-343 → BR-402 → MA-346 → MA-345 → MA-034 → MA-315 |
| States on the route | Ceará, Piauí, Maranhão |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
What the drive from Canoa Quebrada to Mandacaru is like
BR-222 (188 mi) and CE-040 (78 mi) carry about 53% of the 503 miles. It runs through 3 states: Ceará, Piauí, Maranhão. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Canoa Quebrada and Mandacaru
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Ceará |
| BR-304 | 6–10 | 4 | Ceará |
| CE-040 | 10–88 | 78 | Ceará |
| connecting roads | 88–89 | 1 | Ceará |
| BR-020 | 89–105 | 16 | Ceará |
| BR-222 | 105–293 | 188 | Ceará |
| CE-187 | 293–311 | 18 | Ceará |
| CE-232 | 311–334 | 23 | Ceará |
| PI-213 | 334–362 | 28 | Ceará, Piauí |
| BR-343 | 362–391 | 29 | Piauí |
| BR-402 | 391–400 | 9 | Piauí |
| MA-346 | 400–409 | 9 | Maranhão |
| BR-402 | 409–413 | 4 | Maranhão |
| MA-345 | 413–426 | 13 | Maranhão |
| MA-034 | 426–447 | 21 | Maranhão |
| local roads | 447–451 | 4 | Maranhão |
| MA-315 | 451–485 | 34 | Maranhão |
| local roads | 485–503 | 18 | Maranhão |
- Mile 337 of this route: Ceará → Piauí (state line)
- Mile 400 of this route: Piauí → Maranhão (state line)
Places worth a stop between Canoa Quebrada and Mandacaru
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu Sacro São José de Ribamar (mile 81)
- Nature and outdoors: Praia das Fontes (mile 47), Prainha (mile 81), Lagoon of Messejana (mile 92), Parque Botânico de Caucaia (mile 106), Ubajara National Park (mile 276)
- Museums and history: Museu Sacro São José de Ribamar (mile 81), Pinacoteca de Sobral (mile 238)
Praia das Fontes
Praia das Fontes in Beberibe, Ceará, takes its name from the many freshwater springs that flow out of its cliffs.
Prainha
Prainha is a beach in the municipality of Aquiraz, Ceará, Brazil, located at the mouth of the Catu River.
Museu Sacro São José de Ribamar
Opened in 1967, the Museu Sacro São José de Ribamar in Aquiraz holds around 1,400 sacred objects, including images, silverwork, furniture and vestments, mostly from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Lagoon of Messejana
Lagoon of Messejana (Lagoa de Messejana) sits in the Messejana neighborhood of Fortaleza, Ceará, and is part of the Cocó River basin.
Parque Botânico de Caucaia
Covering 190 hectares in Caucaia, 15 km from Fortaleza, the Ceará State Botanical Park sits along highway CE-090, the road to Icaraí, Cumbuco and other beaches.
Pinacoteca de Sobral
The Pinacoteca de Sobral is an art museum and gallery in the city of Sobral, in the Brazilian state of Ceará.
Ubajara National Park
Ubajara National Park is a national park in the state of Ceará, best known for the Ubajara grotto, a cave that gives the park its reputation.
In Mandacaru itself
Preguiças Lighthouse
Also called Mandacaru Lighthouse, Preguiças Lighthouse in Maranhão is a white, tapered concrete tower marked by four black bands, with four ribs and a double gallery.
More drives to Mandacaru
From Canoa Quebrada to other places in Brazil
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Canoa Quebrada to Mandacaru?
About 13 h 20 min of driving without stops, over 503 miles.
What is the driving distance from Canoa Quebrada to Mandacaru?
About 503 miles (809 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Canoa Quebrada to Mandacaru drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Canoa Quebrada to Mandacaru?
In order: BR-304, CE-040, BR-020, BR-222, CE-187, CE-232, PI-213, BR-343, BR-402, MA-346, MA-345, MA-034 and MA-315. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Canoa Quebrada to Mandacaru?
Closest to the road: Museu Sacro São José de Ribamar (museum, mile 81, 0.6 mi from the route); Lagoon of Messejana (lagoon, mile 92, 3 mi from the route); Pinacoteca de Sobral (museum, mile 238, 2 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.