Luna Gold Applies for a Secondary Listing on the Lima Stock Exchange and Appoints Celfin Capital S.A. SAB as Its Sponsor in Lima

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - April 13, 2011) - Luna Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE:LGC) ("Luna Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has applied for a secondary listing on the Bolsa de Valores de Lima ("BVL") and is currently waiting for final approval of this listing. The BVL is one of the most important markets in South America. The consolidation of the BVL with the stock exchanges of Chile and Colombia, creates the third largest stock exchange in Latin America with a combined capitalization of nearly US$500 billion. This will add excellent exposure to current and future investors from many countries in South America to access shares of Luna Gold on the BVL. Additional information about the BVL may be found in Spanish at www.bvl.com.pe.

The Company has appointed Celfin Capital S.A. SAB (Celfin SAB Peru), part of Celfin Capital Investment Bank, as its new sponsor on the BVL. Celfin Capital is a South American investment bank with a regional platform specializing in sales & trading and capital markets. Celfin Capital is one of the largest investment banks in South America with 470 employees in Chile, Colombia and Peru. As the Company's sponsor, Celfin SAB Peru will support the listing of Luna Gold's common shares on the BVL by providing all services required by the BVL in compliance with the BVL and any other regulatory entities to satisfy local requirements relating to all marketing activities in compliance with the stock exchange and CONASEV.

Option Grant

Luna Gold also announces that its board of directors has approved the issuance of 7,075,000 stock options. The options have a five year term and were issued after market close on April 12, 2011, with an exercise price based on the closing price on that day. The stock options were granted pursuant to Luna's Stock Option Plan and have been issued to officers, directors and employees of the Company. Following the grant, the Company's total outstanding stock options will be equal to approximately 5.0% of the Company's issued and outstanding shares.

About Luna Gold Corp

Luna Gold is a producing gold company, with development and exploration projects. Gold production is from the Aurizona Mine in Maranhão state Brazil, development is the Cachoeira deposit Para, Brazil and the Company is exploring in a large strategically placed land position in Maranhão, Brazil.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

LUNA GOLD CORP.

John Blake, President and CEO

Regulatory Footnotes

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains certain "forward looking statements" and certain "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans" or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the application by Luna Gold Corp. for the listing of its common shares on the Bolsa de Valores de Lima (BVL), the appointment of Celfin Capital S.A. SAB as the Company's sponsor and the anticipated response of the BVL. Forward-looking statements are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions that, while believed by management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Certain of the statements made herein by Luna Gold Corp. are forward-looking and subject to various risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, many of which are beyond the ability of Luna Gold Corp. to control or predict.

Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause Luna Gold Corp.'s actual results, performance or achievements may be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, and are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out here in, including but not limited to the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drill results and other exploration data, the potential for delays in exploration or development activities, mine development and production costs, the projected life of the Company's mines, future production levels, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, accidents, equipment breakdowns, title matters, labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in production and operations, fluctuating metal prices, unanticipated costs and expenses, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, commodity price fluctuations, currency fluctuations, regulatory restrictions, including environmental regulatory restrictions and liability, competition, loss of key employees, and other related risks and uncertainties. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.