Marechal Cunha Machado International Airport, formerly known as Tirirical Airport, stands nine miles to the south of the city of Sao Luis (St Louis) in northern Brazil. It was named after an important air force chief. The airport is the main gateway to the state of Maranhão on the north-eastern coast. It stands in a flat, open area just outside Sao Luis and has a large modern air-conditioned passenger terminal building with shops, cafes and commercial facilities. If you hire a car at the Sao Luis airport you'll find you can immediately drive onto the BR-135 highway that quickly links to all parts of the city.
The airport and the city both stand on the Ilha de Sao Luis in San Marcos Bay, so if you hire a car here you'll be able to reach all the visitor highlights easily. The historic centre of Sao Luis has been designated a World Heritage Site thanks to its hilly area of cobbled streets lined with pastel-painted colonial houses on the south bank of the Anil River. Drive across the river bridges to find the city's beaches. Other highlights include the 18th-century state governor's house packed with antiques and the fascinating museum.
