Conheça Natal
Natal
Brazil is a real mixed civilization, cooking, history, and natural beauties fascinate everyone visiting our region.
In our reality .. .difference between people is our richness.
So interesting like others places in Brazil, North East region attract for his climate with smooth temperature and sunny days. People’ s personality is friendly and north-east hospitality is famous in all over the world.
Now we’ll show to you some of the most enchanting places of our region.
Welcome in this wonderful land, enjoy  your holiday
Sun fiancée
Natal is not only natural beauties but also history. France Holland and Portugal they fight quite a lot to take control of this country.
During dutch army occupation, Natal was named New Amsterdam . During the world war two, Natal , to be the nearest country geographically allied, has been very important as a logistic area to supply allied forces in Africa and Europe with all the war material need in that campaign.
Actually Natal has a big touristic potential cause of that also. The city , well known as the fiancée of the sun, gain this nick name for its 300 sunny days in the year , perfect to enjoy free time , vacations and to rest .
Protect your skin with sunscreen, put t-shirts and shorts in your luggage and enjoy the marvelous city of Natal.
Touristic points
To be one of the most visited town by national and international tourists has to have many interesting places to see …don't you agree? So.. please check the main touristic points of this town that are fascinating all people coming.
Beaches
Ponta Negra - South seacoast
One of the well known beaches of Natal . With an important hotels structure pousadas and restaurants is one of the most visited night life points. In this area is located a dune whose name is "Morro do Careca" a sand and wooded hill 120 meters high.
The entire area has been protected to avoid climbing responsible for sand descent in order to preserve this as one of the natural beauties of the town.
Genipabu - North seacoast
Known mostly for hard emotions connected with dune trials and trips Genipabu is adventure united with beautiful landscapes.
Who likes "adrenalina" best choice is a BUGGY sightseeing trip.
Who likes panoramic view with a relaxing way to spent a little time best choice is a "dromedary trip".
Also easy to find is "aerobunda" and "esquibunda" (the real meaning of this is up to you) very funny …
On this way visit the "Genipabu laguna" a real oasi in the middle of dunes and palm trees . Clear and crystalline water is the "maximum" to relax after a rough day
Maracajaú - North seacoast
Far from to be only a tropical beach Maracajau is little town with preserved traditions.
Maracajau was recently included in the "APA" an area which preservation laws assure the best protection to the coral reef called Parachos de Maracajau". Clear and sweet waters are perfect for diving to discover this natural environment .
Pipa - South coast
Four wheels guide said that Pipa is one of the finest beaches in Brazil, night life and diversion is perfect to enjoy the "easy life".
Discovered by the "surfers people" now you can practice many others sports like Kite surf and sand-board .
Restaurants, shops and bars and "pousadas" are very carateristic in this little town.
Environmental patrimony
Dunes Park
First environmental unit of the preservation program in Rio Grande du Norte is 1.172 hectares large full of Atlantic forest vegetation .A lot of paths show all the fruit-trees and animals to be observed .
To improve nature interest a special program is provided to let you in contact with a light and amazing sport activity .
Every Sunday , thanks to the "voice of the forest project" shows and original music are performed in "dunes park" with local artists.
City Park:
"Dom Nivaldo Monte city park is 64 hectars large situated close to "Candelaria" and "Cidade Nova" districts in Natal/RN . Designed by Oscar Niemeyer this "unidade de conservaçao municipal" pretend take care of on of the most importants underearth water reservoirs of Natal.
In fact is the very best beautiful duna's landscape in Rio Grande du Norte. With two parking area (east and west) this monument has two entrances , five paved tracks (four miles about) four rest-units , bathrooms , library, auditorium, environment educational center … well a multistory monument with 12 decks. A really memorial for all the citizens of Natal .
Pirangi cashew tree:
In this little town you'll find the biggest cashew tree in the world with a top of 8.400 meters large and a production of 80 thousand cashew fruits every harvest .
This cashew tree has a genetic anomaly which makes its branches ramify below and reaching the earth becoming roots… so.. this cashew tree.. is always growing.
There is a viewpoint (about 6 meters high ) who show the top of this cashew tree. Close to the tree, crafts shops and authorized guides (English and Spanish spoken) may organize your daily tour and give you a different experience.
Cultural and Historical heritage
Three magis king's fort
Close to Potengi river , this fort, was occupied for Dutch people army in XVII century, and is the most visited monument in Rio Grande du Norte. Protected by the Historical and artistic national department, is a museum with a enchanting landscape. A very famous newspaper in Brazil , CARA, write about this fort as "one of the seven wonders of Brazil.
Hell's reef
This rocket's launch base is located on the top of a red earth colored cliff and has been the first in Latin America . Today is involved with many space research issues leaded from the Brazilian air Force. A guided tour inside is possible with appointmet.
Chile road
Situated in the "Ribera" district, was the main road in XIX century. Its buildings are the testimonies of the historical and cultural heritage of Natal and are included in the Historic Preservation area . Interesting also for its bars and restaurants and shows.
Alberto Maranhão theater
An historic building included in a preservation program shows an interesting mix of colonial and French last century architecture . Builded in 1898 with a Belgian tile' s floor in the entrance and in the auditorium is the most important theater of Rio Grande do Norte.
Events
Who likes big and crowded events the very best one is the "Carnatal" a out of date carnival . This big party has started first time in 1991. Musical groups (axe, samba, rock etc) are the soul of the show during all night long.
You can also choose to spent your time in a less emotional way enjoing "The cinema festival of Natal" and "fest Natal" show.
After the Carnatal event a lot of local videos and films are shown with others cultural activities like street rappers and districts groups performing theater plays and classical music.December is the right month to enjoy a lot of events. Starting with ENE (Nation writers meeting) .
Natal in Natal event with many national artists and the well known "Hangar Award " for the brazilian music national artists. Others events , perfect to dance "Forro" music are cows and horses rodeos with many prizes for the best cow boy. This kind of show always has a famous group playing the top "forro" music .
Craftwork
The country handicraft of "Potiguar" people is : Pottery objects , straw's baskets, leather's jackets , wooden saints , laces, embroidery and hammocks.
Gastronomy
To stay in the wave of all the events in town nothing better than try our country gastronomy . Surely you will not lose a nice occasion like that . So check our very best food
"Carne de Sol " made in our Potiguar way
Salted and sunny dried meat with many different side-dishes (farofa de agua, farofa de sertão, milk rice , green beans , mandioca and aipim (fried or boiled), salads and coutry butter in bottle . A really un forgettable flavor.
Paçoca
The "paçoca " is not a peanuts cream as in the southern part of Brazil. Basically is a "farofa" with chopped salty meat and cassava flour (onion and garlic are usually used too)
Chicken couscous
Corn boiled bran with vegetable and chicken. A deliciousness…
Tapioca
A cassava flour pressed and lightly warmed to eat pure or filled with grated coconut regional cheese, meat , chicken or fish.
Country Pastries
Milky cream, green coconut candy and fruit's cakes like banana, caju, mango and mellon .
Gastronomic Festival of "Beco da Lama"
In the last week of November and first of December happen this event with good music and nice and delicious food . Plastic artists also comes enjoying the festival.
Useful phone numbers:
a) Phones:
- Ambulance(SAMU) :192
- Police: 190
- Fire department: 193
- Civil defense: 199
- Táxi: 3213 – 6800 (Natal Taxi), 4005 – 5666 (Rádio Táxi), 3205-4455 (Cooptax)
- Mail: 3220 2500
- Tourist Police: 3232 - 7402/7404
- International airport Augusto Severo: 3087-1270/1310
- Bus station: 3232-7310/7312
- Bus station: 3232-7500/7501
Obs: Area code (local DDD) - 84
b) Main entry in town:
- By plane : Augusto Severo Airport 15 km far from the center.
- By bus : Bus Station BR101 road (Recife – Joao Pessoa) and BR 116/ BR 304 (Fortaleza)
Obs: Bus service in town allow your circulation in town with only one ticket charged , using the "bus station transfer " located in all over the city .
Using taxi cab service the run price , depends from distance and time (daily or nightly).
Natal - Distances from others cities:
- Manaus: 5985 Km,
- Porto Alegre: 4066 Km,
- São Paulo: 2947 km,
- Rio de Janeiro: 2625 km,
- BrasÃlia: 2.507 Km,
- Belo Horizonte: 2348 km
- Salvador: 1.126 Km,
- Maceió: 572 km,
- Fortaleza: 520 km,
- Recife: 280 km,
- João Pessoa: 180 kM.