Natal

Natal is known as "City of the Sun" or "Bride of the Sun", where the sun stands high in the sky for almost 10 hours a day. It is also known as "City of the Dunes", with a Park of Dunes measuring 8 kilometers of extension and 1,8 kilometer of width. Its sea is of calm, blue and crystal clear waters. The south coast comprises 15 beaches with dunes, cliffs, coconut trees, hills, reefs and some natural swimming pools. Barra do Cunhaú is a complete beach offering both sea and river baths besides a structure of regional seafood cuisine. The north coast has 20 beaches with beautiful white sand and many have ideal waves for surfing. Dunes, coconut trees, hills and reefs are characteristic of the landscape. The southernmost beach and best for swimming is Ponta Negra , where many hotels, restaurants and bars are located. One of the most significant symbols of the city, the famed Morro do Careca Dune, is also there. You can dip in the natural pools, formed at low tide; enjoy dolphin watching; ride jet skis; and explore the cave of Pedra Oca on the South Coast Beach. Dunas de Genipabu Park is popular for the most adventuresome of dune buggy riders. The buggies here can descend at an inclination of 90 degrees. Pipa Beach , one of the most important seaside resorts in the Northeast, attracts nature lovers, surfers, artisans, and more who are captivated by the beauty of its beaches, dune, cliffs, Atlantic forest, dolphins and turtles. Once a small village, many of its traditions still exist today. It has become a must for visitors from all over the world.

The climate is semi-equitorial with average temperature throughout the year at 83°F. You can expect about 300 days of sunshine per year with a cooling sea breeze. And its air is the purest in all of Latin America.The landscape ranges from the colored cliffs in the south to the 50 meter high sand dunes in the north where magnificent beaches stretch for nearly 10 miles. These enormous sand dunes are the ideal landscape for the excitement of dune buggy rides. The dune buggy drivers will ask you "With Emotion or Without Emotion"? If you say "With Emotion," it will be an exhilarating ride as you go up and down the towering dunes at rapid speeds. Besides being a lot of fun, dune buggies are able to go where other vehicles can't - and that includes some of the best beaches in Natal. You can access the lakes and the northern coast in one day with a dune buggy. And you can try "sand boarding" at a steep descent on the dunes, sliding into the water.

Nightlife in Natal is lively and fun. Several houses offer live shows of folklore, rock, reggae and forro (Brazilian dance music). Many bars have live music, nightclubs play Brazilian popular music and there are a lot of great discos. A number of hotels have special attractions as well. Many of the best restaurants are known for their seafood but you'll also find pizza places, creperies, sushi-bars, regional and international food restaurants, acai paste, Portuguese food, barbecue house, pastry shops, light snack places and more.

BEACH BUGGY TRIP to sand dunes of Genipabu (lunch included) Easy Level Excursion – Aprox. 8 hours
$ per person (two people to a buggy) $ per person (three people to a buggy)

The famous Beach of Genipabu, municipal district of Extremoz, 45km north of Natal, has the highest, most beautiful and famous dunes of Brazil. A true paradise in the Brazilian northeast, offering special adventures such as buggy rides over the fixed dunes, reaching up to 100 feet in height, camel rides and an amazing opportunity to visit its movable dunes that are never in the same place. Before you start down the sand hills the driver will you ask you: “With or Without Emotion?” the best option may be “With Emotion” then the driver goes down the hill very fast making all kinds of skillful moves. Genipabu has a lake between the dunes and the Ski-bunda ("Butt-ski"), in which you slide down the dunes sitting on a small board like you do on the snow or the Aerobunda (“Air-Butt”) where hanging on the cables you will slide down to the warm and clean water. The mix of the dunes, the lake and lush vegetation form gorgeous scenery.

Snorkeling tour (lunch included) Easy Level Excursion – 8 hours

Maracajaú is a small fishing village located 40 miles north of Natal. It is best known for its coral reefs located 4.6 miles from the coast. The total coral area is about 28 square miles and well preserved. It is home of many kinds of sea life such as lobsters, shrimps, octopus, tiny fish and other different kinds of fish and crustaceans. The temperature of the water near the corals can reach 90º F in the summer, making it the perfect place for snorkeling and diving.

The tour will go straight to Maracajau and the ocean views are very beautiful. The tour will stop at the Water Park and take a boat to the platform, which has very good bar service. Each tour participant will get the snorkeling equipment (optional: scuba diving), instructions and lessons on how to appreciate the beautiful sea life (Aprox. time: 2 hours). Back on shore, there will be time for lunch, drinks and the Water Park. In the afternoon, the tour will return to the hotel
Price per person: US$ for 1, $ each for 2, $each for 3

Pipa Tour (lunch included) Easy Level Excursion – Aprox. 8 hours
Tibau do Sul, 55 miles south of Natal is a beautiful place composed by a group of beaches. The most beautiful view of Tibau is the “Guarairas Lake”, which forms amazing scenery during the sunset. Pipa (district of Tibau) is a very different place. In the past, it was a quiet, inaccessible fishermen village. Due to its gorgeous beauty, composed of dunes, cliffs, white sand beaches, Atlantic Forest vegetation, dolphins and sea turtles, it has become an interesting village for visitors from all over the world. Pipa´s infrastructure offers bars, restaurants, hotels and pousadas. The nightlife, especially on the weekends and holidays, is a mix of all different kinds of music, dance and various groups of international tourists. The beach has kept its natural beauty, but remains wild. We will visit the Ecological Sanctuary to walk it's Atlantic Forest trails and see a marvelous view. We will also have time to swim at Ponta do Madeiro/Dolphins Bay: a bay of calm and warm water often visited by dolphins.
Price per person: US$ for 1, $ each for 2, $ each for 3

City Tour- (lunch not included) Easy Level Excursion – Aprox. 4 hours
Participants will have the opportunity of knowing the history and the most important highlights of Natal:
* Parque da Dunas: the second largest urban park in the country (5miles long and 1.2miles wide).
* Reis Magos Fortress: Built by the Portuguese and Dutch soldiers in 1598.
* The old town: Alberto Maranhão Theatre, André de Albuquerque square, Câmara Cascudo Museum, Metropolitan Cathedral and the Tree Power Square.
* Centro de Turismo: a handicraft center located in an old prison built by the Portuguese.
* The modern town: Macadam (football stadium), Shopping de Artesanato Potiguar, Granada (gemstones lapidary)
* Barreira do Inferno: the biggest space base of Brazil.
* Cashew Tree of Pirangi: Located on Pirangi Beach, this cashew tree is listed on Guiness Book as the largest in the world, occupying an area of 3 square miles.
* Ponta Negra Beach: an urban and famous beach because of the great entertainment, bars and restaurants, besides the beauty of “Morro do Careca” (Bald Man’s Hill).
Price per person: US$ for 1, $ each for 2, $ each for 3

Natal International Show-(dinner included) Easy Level Excursion – Aprox. 6 hours
The tour stars with a wonderful folkloric show featuring typical dances that had strong influence in Natal’s culture (the Portuguese, the Dutch, the Indian and the African) and it ends up with a great party that invites you to enjoy the local dances, such as Forró, Capoeira and Samba, very popular in the whole world.

Capoeira: Originated as an African martial art developed by slaves to fight their masters. The fight was prohibited by the slave owners and for that reason was only practiced clandestinely in the forests. Later, Capoeira was developed into a kind of acrobatic dance. The clapping of hands and plucking of the berimbau (a stringed musical instrument) originally served to alert fighters to the approach of the boss and subsequently became incorporated into the dance to maintain the rhythm.

Samba: Intimately linked with African rhythms; notably the Angolan tam-tam, which provided the basis for its music and distinctive dance steps. It caught on quickly after the advent of radio and records. Since then, it became a national symbol.

Forró: Based on the accordion accompanied by a zabumba (drum) and a triangle, the Forró has spread throughout Brazil as workers migrated to the south searching for jobs and popularized in the 1940's when it became a must in festivities that happen all over the country in the month of June.
Price per person: US$ for 1, $ each for 2, $ each for 3.

Prices are per person in US$ and include roundtrip airport transfers, 3 nights hotel with breakfast, private tours with English-speaking guide, entrance fees, other meals mentioned.
Prices will change during holiday times.

Internationally renowned for the beauty of its beaches and hospitality of its people, the Northeast region of Brazil holds many strange secrets for the discerning tourist in its little-known interior. These riches occur in the midst of wild landscapes graced with impressive geological monuments formed by erosion over millions of years. The semi-arid climate, impenetrability of the thorn forests and small population of this remote region has helped to preserve these natural and cultural marvels.

Brazil

Natal Area