Experience the best of Natal

Natal was founded around Christmas in 1599, which gave it its name, and the star-shaped Forte dos Reis Magos still guards the mouth of the Potengi River where the city began. Modern Natal spreads over low hills and sand, with a cable-stayed bridge across the river, a large dune park that keeps a remnant of Atlantic forest, and the city beach of Ponta Negra, where the great dune called Morro do Careca rises behind the sand.

North of the city, the Genipabu dunes are known for buggy rides across the sand and views over a lagoon and the sea. To the south, the coast road passes lagoons and small fishing beaches to Pipa, where cliffs shelter bays that dolphins visit. A short boat trip offshore, the reef pools of Maracajaú are shallow enough to snorkel in warm, clear water.

Carne de sol, sun-dried salted beef, comes with cassava and grilled coalho cheese, and tapioca pancakes are filled with coconut or cheese at street stalls. Shrimp are farmed in the estuaries nearby, and cashew fruit juice is a common drink. The sun shines for most of the year, and the driest months run from September to January.