6 Best Sights in Natal, The Northeast

Massive dunes have made this one of the best-known beaches in the country. The area is most commonly explored on thrilling day-trips across the dune by buggy, stopping off at three lakes and two parks along the way. You have two choices: com emocão (literally, "with emotion"), which rivals any roller coaster, or sem emocão (without emotion), a little calmer but still fairly hair-raising. Buggy operators, who usually find you before you find them, charge around R$100 per person, although it is recommended to book in advance through a reputable operator. You can also explore the dunes on camels imported from southern Spain. Other activities include half-hour boat rides and skyboarding (also called skysurfing)—which is basically snowboarding down the dunes. The beach is attractive, although it gets crowded during high season. Because Genipabu is close to Natal, it's primarily a day-trip destination. There are a few small pousadas and restaurants near the beach, but the town shuts down at night. Buses leave from the Rodoviário Velho every half hour or so for the 45-minute trip. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: walking.

This beach is endowed with great natural beauty yet does not usually draw many visitors. On the left side of the beach, the barrier reef creates an area of clear, calm waters ideal for bathing, snorkeling, and scuba diving. In the background are some impressive dunes, covered with palm trees and other vegetation. The modest infrastructure consists of just a few small pousadas and restaurants. While the right side of the beach is best for surfing, parents with children should avoid swimming here due to unpredictable currents. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; solitude; swimming.

Natal owes its existence to this impressive five-sided fort, which juts out into the sea on an artificial spit. It was built by the Portuguese in 1598, one year before the founding of Natal, and controlled by the Dutch between 1633 and 1654. Visitors can see the old quarters, the chapel, and rusted cannons; there is an impressive viewing point of the sea, especially when the tide is coming in.

The principal draw at Maracajaú is the large coral reef 6 km (4 miles) off the coast. Teeming with marine life, the sizable reef offers the best snorkeling in the Natal area, and the natural pools are some of Brazil's most beautiful. Visitors can catch a minivan from Natal, followed by a small boat or catamaran across to the reefs. A day trip starts from R$130 per person.

This long white-sand beach is an extremely popular summer vacation destination for residents of Natal. Boat rides to nearby coral reefs and beaches run frequently. Near the beach is the world's largest cashew tree, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Its circumference measures 500 meters (1,650 feet), and it's as big as roughly 70 normal cashew trees. The entrance fee is R$4, and includes free cashew nuts and cashew juice. There is a small market nearby for souvenirs. Amenities: food and drink; parking; toilets; water sports. Best for: walking.

Nearly all tourism development has focused on or around this beach in the past decade, with both negative and positive repercussions. It has a multitude of pousadas, restaurants, and shops, and even a few large resorts at the northern end. The beach itself, around 2½ km (1½ miles) long, can no longer be called pristine, but is still attractive and reasonably clean. If you seek a connection with nature, you would be best advised to head to one of the city's outer beaches during the day and venture to Ponta Negra for the nightlife, which ranges from buzzy to seedy. Ponta Negra's distinguishing feature is the Morro da Careca (Bald Man's Hill), a 120-meter (390-foot) dune at the southern end. You can catch a taxi or a bus (look for buses marked "Ponta Negra") at various stops along the Via Costeira south of Natal. From Ponta Negra to downtown Natal, look for buses marked "Centro" or "Cidade Alta." Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); toilets. Best for: partiers.