NATAL AND FORTALEZA

Clear, warm water, white sandy beaches, and giant sand dunes are a few of the things commonly associated with Natal and Fortaleza on Brazil’s Northeast tip. More than one million visitors come to the region each year to take advantage of the perpetually warm weather, crystalline waters, cozy hotels just a few steps from the beach, and local arts and crafts. The beaches are pristine and the water is warm and clear and the presence of underwater reefs just offshore makes snorkeling and diving two of the most popular activities among tourists. Others include kicking back in the sun, drinking cold beverages, and eating the local fish and shrimp. Driving along the coast over the great sandy dunes is also a favorite sport in the region.

Natal has two urban centers, the cities of Natal and Ponta Negra, the latter being the main area for food, entertainment, and accommodations. The Ponta Negra beach is well worth a day of body surfing, sunbathing, and shopping. The beaches north and south can be visited by van or dune buggy in daylong or half-day trips. There you’ll be snorkeling, riding buggies across sandy dunes, skiing down sandy hills into warm water, and of course, eating and sunbathing at the beach kiosks. Known as the City of the Sun, Natal is located on the elbow of Brazil—the northeastern tip—the point closest to Africa and Europe. It’s about 15 degrees south of the equator, where the days are long and the sun shines more than 3,000 hours each year. It has a rainy season from April–June. The rest of the year, tropical rains come and go quickly. The average temperature is 27°C, although on summer days, it normally hits the 38°C mark. The water is a soothing 26°C.

As for Fortaleza, it’s difficult to decide whether the highlight here is the incredible nightlife in Iracema and Praia do Futuro; the seafood at the beach kiosks in Praia do Futuro; or the incredible arts, crafts, and clothing available for such great prices all over this region. For sure, the area’s beaches also rank among the top attractions. What these beaches may lack in clarity of the ocean water (compared to Natal’s beaches) is offset by their pristine conditions and the abundance of variety they offer. Indeed, in the 500 kilometers of coastline from Jeriquaquara to Canoa Quebrada, there are some 50 or so beaches worth visiting. The lack of a coastal highway linking these beaches keeps them pure and relatively unpopulated, if a bit more difficult to visit.

Most every coastal city in Brazil has an alternative beach village on the far outskirts of town with its own restaurants and hotels. In the case of Natal, this would be Pipa, about 85 kilometers to the south and well worth a couple nights’ stay. There, you can go diving, surfing, and partake of the excellent nightlife activities. It’s one of Brazil’s most charming beach villages; even dolphins and sea turtles come to visit. Fortaleza has two villages on the outskirts, one in each direction. Canoa Quebrada lies to the east and Jeriquaquara is way out on the western shores. Both are worth overnight visits.

If you want for adventure, then a trip from Natal to Fortaleza might be in order. You can also travel south to see the highlights of the city of João Pessoa on an overnight excursion. But the greatest highlight of this area is the famous island paradise of Fernando de Noronha, where the beaches are perfect, the water is as clear as any in the southern hemisphere, and 1,000 dolphins come to visit every morning at sunrise.