The sandy surroundings of Natal equate to lots of beaches along the sea and fun inland dunes ideal for exploration. Driving little buggies around the sand dunes is the major outdoor activity in Natal, but you can also surf, snorkel, go sailing or bungee jumping to round things off. Brazilians love kids, so your children will be thoroughly welcomed and entertained everywhere you go.

Beaches
There are dozens of beaches around Natal, including several right on the city. At the southern end of Natal is Ponta Negra, the city’s most popular beach. Praia dos Artistas is known for its surf, while Praia de Areia Preta is part of an eight- kilometre stretch of sand lined with hotels and lots of outdoor activity operators. Nearly every beach around Natal offers fun and relaxation.

Buggying
Natal is surrounded by sand dunes so buggying has evolved into the sport of choice for action-lovers on holiday. It’s easy to rent a buggy (and a driver if you prefer) and head up the beaches to explore for days on end. Head inland and you can check out prehistoric dinosaur footprints, or go for the ultimate adventure and try the 800-kilometre Natal-to-Fortaleza Buggy trail, which passes 85 beaches and countless dunes.

Bungee Jumping
Jacuma Lake is a fun place to go if you want a little excitement in your day. One of the sand dunes rises 60 metres, and is located at the foot of a large lake. A zip line has been rigged at the top of the dune that whizzes you down and into the cool waters of the lake. A man with a donkey cart waits at the shore to ferry you back to the top for another go for a paltry US$1. It’s low-tech fun at its best.

Sailing
One of the best ways to experience the offshore reefs of Natal is on a traditional raft called a jangada. The narrow rafts made from balsa wood have a single triangular sail and are a tranquil way to get out onto the sea. These cute little boats are still used by local fishermen, who are happy to supplement their income by taking you on a short cruise around the coast. Genipabu Beach is the best place to find them.

Sand Boarding
When you live surrounded by sand dunes, it’s only natural someone will strap a piece of wood on their feet and try to ride down one. Sand Boarding is a popular activity at Natal, and actually quite fun. It’s similar to snowboarding, but with less glide; head to Genipabu Beach to rent the gear and see how it’s done.

Surfing
There is a decent surf scene around Natal, especially along the beach at Ponta Negra. Natal is a great place to learn the sport, as there are a couple of surf schools and some mellow waves. But it’s also a good spot for experienced surfers because a couple of the breaks get quite big when the swell is up.

Natal is decidedly more about outdoor and evening fun than rich cultural attractions, but there are still a few activities that will give you a better sense of how this Brazilian town gets on. The Camara Cascudo Museum is your best bet for learning about the roots of Natal, and the folklore show at Zas Tras is very entertaining. There’s also fantastic nightlife at Ponta Negra and some charming traditional towns like Pipa just down the coast.

Camara Cascudo Memorial
Right across from Natal’s central church is this memorial to one of Natal’s most-loved residents, Camara Cascudo. He was a famous journalist, professor and author of the country’s best-known collection of Brazilian folklore stories. The museum is small, but its staff is wonderful and passionately proud of the man. 
Phone: +55 84 3202 6425

Camara Cascudo Museum
The only real museum in Natal presents the natural and cultural heritage of this area through some decent exhibits and reproductions. You can see original jangada rafts, walk in a fisherman’s hut, and check out reproductions of real archaeological sites. It’s certainly worth an hour of your time to learn about the roots of this part of Brazil. 
Phone: +55 84 3212 2795

Cidade Alta
High above Natal’s port is the lofty Cidade Alta, a wonderful section of the city known for its pretty squares and decent array of shopping, eating and drinking options. The best place to start your explorations is at the main Rua Santa Antonio Square, which is actually a montage of four different squares that seem to meld into each other. The entire area is excellent for casual strolling and people-watching.

Folkloric do Zas Tras
Natal’s best folklore show is a great way to spend an evening, especially if you have children along. Set in a traditional night house, this is the place to watch, listen to, and even dance with regional musicians and groups specialising in folklore dances such as the frevo, samba and carimbó.

Natal Nightlife
The Ponta Negra area is the undisputed centre of Natal’s nightlife scene. The Alto de Ponta Negra is the best neighbourhood, full of pleasant cafés, bars, craft shops and little discos. It’s a great place to stroll, and the sleaze factor is minimal. Down on Ponta Negra Beach, the partying happens at the far end of the sand. It’s bustling, interesting and crawling with prostitutes (a legal activity in Brazil).

Pipa
Just below the Tibau do Sul is the tiny town of Pipa, one of the real gems around Natal. Pipa used to be a fishing village, but since the development of Natal it has evolved into a trendy travel destination known for its incredible fish restaurants, boutique shopping and beaches where dolphins are seen frolicking on a daily basis.

Natal’s local cuisine is slightly different from the fare found in the more mainstream parts of the country, but you can be sure that you’ll still find all your favourite Brazilian dishes here alongside some new ones.

Local specialties include acaraje, deep-fried balls of black-eyed peas served with a spicy peanut-shrimp paste in the centre; carne del sol, seasoned meat dried naturally in the sun; churrasco, Brazil’s version of the kebab; and feiloada, an amazing stew made from pork, beef, various sausages and black beans.

There are plenty of drinks, and reasons to drink, in Natal. Two of the favourites are cachaca, distilled sugarcane juice, and caipirinha, a traditional cocktail made from cachaca, crushed limes and ice. Seafood restaurants with outdoor seating are excellent in Natal, and can be found along every beach. Ponta Negra and Praia dos Artistas have the best concentration of Brazilian restaurants, but you also find international cuisine at a number of places.

Most travellers don’t plan a trip to Natal for the shopping opportunities, but there are a handful of shops around town that sell some interesting local handicrafts worth taking home. Vilarte and ArtesaNat are regarded as two of the best stores to find a good range of handicrafts; the latter is run by the local government.

For more conventional shopping, everyone heads to the air-conditioned comfort of Natal Shopping, where you can find dozens of shops carrying top Brazilian brand name goods. Praia Shopping is a smaller venue, but it also has lots of great Brazilian shops and it’s more centrally located (near Ponta Negra).