Experience Brazilian beach life on a holiday to Natal
The dune buggy drivers known locally as bugeiros, will ask you if you want your experience com emoção or with emotion. Be warned, if you say yes, you will be taken on a white-knuckle ride through the sand dunes experiencing the ‘wall of death’ and the ‘vertical descent’. This sums up a holiday to Natal and the surrounding area of Rio Grande de Norte on the north east coast of Brazil. For Natal is all about beaches and having a good time.
Natal is surrounded by incredible sand dunes and has some of Brazil’s most beautiful beaches, like the famous Pipa beach, on its doorstep. The landscape is as wild as its nightlife and with year long temperatures averaging 25C, a holiday is the perfect place to escape the British winter or summer.
Beach life and nightlife in Natal
From Natal you can take an organised daytrip to the naturally stunning Pipa beach. The beach, surrounded by rainforest and flanked by tall cliffs, has masses of hidden coves to discover. If you can drag yourself away from the beach, then stop off at Pipa village and refuel in one of its restaurants. A trip to Maracajau, north of Natal, is paradise for divers. The Parrachos is a deep reef located 4 miles offshore and is teaming with tropical fish.
Discover the wild and desolate beach of Caraubas or try sand boarding at Jenipabu, a beach backed by palm trees and sand dunes. Tuck into lunch at Resturante 21, which can be found right on the beach. Back in Natal there are the northern urban beaches of Praia do Meio and Praia dos Artistas, where you can surf. South of the city are the popular beaches of Ponta Negra, which have a stunning backdrop of dunes.
A holiday to Natal is all about the beaches, sea and sand dunes, but if you do want to sightsee then the Forte dos Reis Magos is well worth a visit simply for its fabulous views over the dunes and the city. Explore the old chapel and soldier’s quarters of the five-point star shaped fort that dates back to 1598.
After dark the area of Alto de Ponta Negra is a vibrant place filled with bars and restaurants frequented by both tourists and locals. Further into Natal the area of Centro Comercial O Jardin gets packed at night, and the Sancho Music Club is one of the least seedy places in that area. For dinner, jungle themed Cipó Brasil has interesting sounding pizzas on its menu, while Choperia Petrópolis serves great food like caldinhos or spicy bean soup, while you listen to live music.
A Natal beach holiday with lastminute.com
For an affordable holiday filled with lazy days lounging on beautiful beaches mixed with adrenalin fuelled dune buggy excursions, book your trip to Natal in Brazil with lastminute.com.