Best things to do in Natal

Choose from leisurely camel rides or exciting beach buggy adventures to explore Dunas de Genipabu, located inside a world-famous environmental protection area. These shifting dunes are located on a beach noted for its secluded freshwater lagoon. The beach includes plenty of tourist facilities, such as hotels, inns, restaurants, and food kiosks. Many visitors opt to experience the sandbanks by sandboarding over them, starting on top of some of the highest dunes in the country and ending up right on the water’s edge. Intense winds shift the sand around, constantly creating new landscapes and surprising even frequent visitors with this ever-changing beach scenery. Don’t forget to bring a camera for your dune adventure, and your swimming gear for a refreshing dip in the lagoon.

Explore the region’s famous Parrachos de Maracajau, a series of reefs sheltering a fragile ecosystem of several types of coral and dozens of species of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. Several tour operators offer guided snorkeling and diving trips, designed to introduce visitors to the colorful coral reefs, which are an important part of a large Coral Reef Preservation Area. Start your adventure with a buggy ride around the nearby beaches, and spend the rest of the day discovering the natural wonders hidden inside the warm pools of crystalline water formed by these coral formations.

A 1,172 ha (11.72 sq km) nature reserve--the second largest urban park in Brazil--Parque das Dunas serves as an integral part of the Atlantic biosphere reserve. Opened in 1975, the park has a large visitor center containing an auditorium, an exhibition hall, an infirmary, a library and a cafeteria. Three trails--Perobinha, Peroba, and Ubaia-Doce--also traverse the park, making it ideal for the visiting wanderer. For kids and families, there’s also a playground, a picnic area, an amphitheater, and an artificial lake.

Ponta Negra Beach, a lively beach dotted by numerous convenient tourist facilities, has long been a beloved hang-out spot for both locals and passing visitors. The sand is lined with huts, locally called "barracas," selling food and drinks to beachgoers throughout the day, with several staying open late into the night. You can swim, dive, and snorkel in these calm waters, or spend the day browsing the many nearby shops, bars, clubs, and restaurants. Located at the extreme southern end of the beach is the famous Morro do Careca (Bald Hill), a large dune and an iconic landmark of the city. To the north of the beach is the Via Costeira (Coastal Way), a long road connecting this site with several other popular beaches along the coast.

Nestled inside an important environmental protection area, Genipabu Beach often feature prominently on postcards of Rio Grande do Norte. Internationally famous for its dune buggy rides, the beach features a freshwater lagoon and plenty of tourist facilities. Besides riding or sandboarding over the huge golden dunes, you can swim, snorkel, dive, or simply relax right by the water’s edge. Several tourist operators provide visitors with a unique chance to ride camels over some of the highest dunes in the country. If you choose a camel ride adventure, be sure to bring lots of water, sunglasses, and plenty of sunscreen.

Join an informative free tour of Reis Magos Fortress, a medieval fortress built in 1598. Built to protect the city from possible foreign invaders, the site now serves as a local museum and a major tourist attraction. The fortress has retained its original five-point star shape, and still contains a chapel, cannons, and soldiers’ quarters. Also included on the site is the Marco de Touros, a marker stone placed there by the early Portuguese settlers. Stop by to explore the history of the region and enjoy panoramic views of the city, Ponte Nova Bridge, and the sand dunes across the Potenji River.

Located at the extreme southern end of the popular Ponta Negra, Morro do Careca includes a large dune that has become an iconic landmark of the city. This beach features an unusual combination of water, dunes, and lush vegetation, with its "Bald Hill" rising 120 m (374 ft) into the air. Though climbing of the hill was official forbidden in the 1990s in order to protect its fragile ecosystem against erosion, you can swim, snorkel, dive, kayak, windsurf, or simply relax right on the water’s edge. This entire area is completely urbanized, with numerous shops, bars, restaurants, and hotels. The sand is lined with huts selling food and drinks throughout the day and late into the night.