Natal

Natal is the capital of Rio Grande do Norte (Brazil), a city on the Atlantic coast. Natal has several famous beaches, historical sites and natural areas. It mainly attracts tourists with beach holidays and the nature of the state of Rio Grande to Norte.

Areas

• South: the richest area of ​​the city and also a tourist destination. This includes Ponta Negra Beach and most upscale hotels, shopping centers and restaurants. You can book a hotel in this area by booking, and compare prices from different sites here. By the way, you can immediately look for offers to rent private apartments - you can watch in this section travellask.
• East: includes the Historic Center of the city, important sights such as Forte dos Reis Magos and Ponte de Todos and beaches on which both tourists and locals relax, such as Praia do Mayo and Praia dos Artistas. Also includes the start of Park das Dunas.
• North: An industrial and work area that is currently the most populous in all of Natal. Includes Radinha Beach, which offers beautiful views of the city.
• West: For the most part, the area is poor and sometimes in decline, it includes an intercity bus station, from which you can reach other cities, such as Tibau to Sol.

About city

Natal was founded on December 25, 1599, hence its name (Natal means Christmas in Portuguese). Unlike other Northeastern capitals, this city did not really benefit from the economic boom that occurred as a result of sugarcane production in this region. On the contrary, it gradually and orderly developed, flourishing in the state livestock and oil production.

Nowadays, Natal is one of the 8 most visited cities in Brazil. Unlike other large cities in Northeast Brazil, such as Recife or Salvador, Natal does not have a spectacular historical center or vibrant nightlife. On the contrary, it is much calmer and safer than other large cities in the region, and has a high standard of living. Many wealthy Brazilians and foreigners have summer houses here.

One of the main reasons to visit Natal is to start exploring the wonderful state of Rio Grande do Norte, including the beaches of Pipa, Baia Formosa, Barra do Kunhau and Jenipabu and Lake Karkara and Cola Cola. In the city there are many housing options and good and reasonably priced restaurants.

How to get there

By plane

Starting May 31, 2014, the region is served by the new Natal International Airport (Governor Aluisio Alves), which was built instead of the Augusto Severo International Airport. Which airlines fly from Russia to Natal and how much the tickets cost, you can see here. The airport is approximately 26 km from the center of Natal.

To get to the city, take the Natal bus, which departs from the terminal. It costs 2.60 R $. To get to Ponta Negra, exit approximately 15 minutes after Natal Shopping (look for the sign “Via Direta Shopping”). This is one of the main places where buses are concentrated, and the flow of them moving in different directions is usually large.

When leaving the airport, cross the pedestrian bridge and catch any bus with the Ponta Negra sign (for example, 43, 56), it costs 2.20 R $. Buses arrive very often. There are several useful stops in Ponta Negre. On the way, you will see a small modern shopping center Praia Shopping within walking distance from the city center. This stop or the next one is located close to most tourist hotels.

A taxi to Ponta Negra costs approximately R $ 120 and takes approximately 45 minutes.

Currently (June 2014) there are two companies offering minivan services, for a price of only 25 R $ per person (55 R $ for two), which will take you to a hotel in Ponta Negra.

By bus

Natal Bus Station is located approximately 3 km southwest of the city center and approximately 5 km northwest of Ponta Negra Beach. The cost of a taxi ride to the last is approximately 25 R $. Bus number 66 travels approximately the same route for 45 minutes.

Flights to Fortaleza are organized by the Nordest bus company and depart 8 times a day (3 of them with a stop in Mossoro). The cost of R $ 35-150, the duration of the trip is 8-10 hours.

There are also buses of the company Guanabara

Flights to Recife are departed by Progresso R $ 42-60, the duration of the trip is 4.5 hours.

Buses run to Joao Pessoa every hour.

When is the season. When is the best time to go?

Natal - monthly weather

The main attractions. What to watch

Forte dos Reis Magos

Every day, 08-16. The star-shaped fortress is the oldest and most important historical building of Natal. It was built in 1598 to protect the coast from French pirates and during the colonial period was perhaps Brazil's most important security barrier. It is located in the water and can be reached by a walking path from Praia do Forte. For approximately 300 years she served as a military headquarters, administration office, prison, and also for some time was under Dutch control. The name of the fortress comes from the statues of the biblical Magi at the entrance. It costs 3 R $.

Pont Newton Navarro (Ponte de Todos)

An important bridge across the Potenji River, 1.8 km long and 100 meters high, connects the Northern and Eastern parts of the city and is a landmark that cannot be missed. It can be seen from the beaches of Fort and Redinha.

Parkue das Dunas, Tyrol

A natural park of 11.7 million square meters, located near the coast, dividing the Eastern and Southern parts of the city and known for its sand dunes. At the entrance of the park is Bosque dos Namorados with various places for relaxation and recreation.

Parkue da Cidade (Parkue da Cidade House Nivaldo Monte), Candelaria

640,000 square meters nature park located between the southern and western parts of the city. The main attraction is the "eye-shaped" tower, designed by the chief architect Oscar Niemeyer.

History Center

The Natal Historical Center is located in Zidad Alta e Ribeira and includes some of the buildings of Tirol e Petropolis. In 2010, this place was declared a national heritage site. Although the city was founded in 1599, most of the historic buildings were built in the 19th - early 20th centuries in various architectural styles including colonial, neoclassical, art deco and modern.

Camara Cascudo Memorial, Prasa Andre de Albuquerque

84 3211 8404 from Tuesday to Sunday from 08:30 to 18:00. The monument, built in 1875 in the neoclassical style. The monument is dedicated to the life and work of Luis da Camara Cascudo, the most famous anthropologist and folklorist Rio Grande do Norte, who lived in 1898-1986. Free admission.

Igreha de Santo Antonio (Igreha do Halo)

84 3211 4236, Monday-Friday from 08 to 16, Saturday from 08 to 14. The baroque church, built in 1976. She received the nickname because of the metal bird on the tower, "Igreha to Halo." It has a museum with works of art on the theme of religion.

Teatro Alberto Maranau, Praza Augusto Severo, Ribeira

84 3222-3669. The largest and oldest theater in the city, built in 1898 in the French style.

Solar Bela Vista, Giancueira Alves

84 3212-1904. The palace was built in 1907 as a residence, later it became one of the most luxurious hotels in the city. Now it is a center of culture.

Palacio Felipe Camarau, Rua Yulissis Coldas

Natal City Hall, built in 1922 in an eclectic style.

Rua Chile, Ribeira

Historic street with buildings from the 19th centuries. It was one of the former palaces of the regional government. Today, it has restaurants, museums, clubs and cultural centers.

Centro de Turismo de Natal, Rua Aderbal Figueredo

84 3211-6218. It works every day, from 09:00 to 19:00. Built in the 19th century, it was the first shelter and later a public prison. Now there are about 40 shops specializing in local crafts, as well as an art gallery, club and restaurant.

Beaches. Which are better

As in most of Brazil, you can use stalls and tables on the city beaches of Natal. They can be free if you buy something at kiosks or you can take a small fee from you (about 5 R $). This can be agreed on the spot.

Ponta Negra Beach is a favorite beach for tourists and the wealthiest locals. Excellent water quality and infrastructure, with many restaurants and shops right on the waterfront. The beach includes Morro do Kares, the highest sand dune of Natal and one of the most famous attractions of the city.

Via Kosteira, (you can get from the highway of the same name or walk from the beach of Ponta Negra). It consists of 10 km of beaches located on the east coast of the Park das Dunas, which connect the southern and eastern parts of the city. It is adjacent to the beach of Ponta Negra, so you can easily walk from one beach to another. It has virtually no infrastructure other than a university and several luxury hotels. For this reason, the beach is almost always empty.

Araya Preta - a beach in the Eastern region with darker sand than in other places. Buildings on its shore cast shadows on most of the beach during the day.

Praia dos Artistas is a beach in the Eastern region. Being a glamorous beach in the past, it is currently the most popular among locals. Despite this, it contains a decent tourist infrastructure, including hotels, bars and restaurants. Suitable for housing if you want to stay close to the Historic Center.

Praia do Mayo is adjacent to Praia dos Artistas and therefore has the same features.

Praia do Forte - adjacent to Praia do Mayo and located in the same place as Forte Dos Rice. It also offers views of the Ponte de Todos. The beach has almost no infrastructure, but it is practically never empty.

Redinha is the only beach in the Northern region. Mostly visited by locals and known for its cheap food. The beach also has a pontoon, and it offers magnificent views of the Ponte de Todos and the rest of the city.

What to see in the surroundings

In Extremos, in the suburban area of ​​Natal, there is the famous Jenipabu beach and the quieter Pitangui. Both beaches are surrounded by natural dunes, which makes it possible to do such things as sandboarding, camel rides and buggy trips.

In Parnamirim, on the territory with the Natal suburbs, there are frequently visited Bareira do Inferno, a rocket launch center, the largest cashew tree in the world and famous beaches like Piranga do Norte.

Nisia Floresta has 22 transparent lakes and beaches of Praia de Buzios, the most famous and popular in the country.

In Tibau do Sol, there are several kilometers of amazing beaches surrounded by cliffs, including Praia de Pipa, one of the most famous in northeast Brazil. If you have time, it’s worth staying longer than one day.

Canguaretam has a beautiful Barra do Kunhau beach.

Ceara Mirim is a historic coastal city that flourished in the past during the Sugarcane era.

Baia Formosa, bordering Parabia, is the most unspoiled and pristine paradise on the south coast of the Rio Grande de North.

Food. What to try

Along the beach are many seafood restaurants and Abade is one of the best restaurants in town.

If you like pizza, there are three main pizzerias that offer a fixed-price menu (approximately $ 15), and you can eat whatever you want: Bella National, located in the Zidade Jardim and Vila Mangiare shopping centers and Cantina La Nonna, located on Salgado Filho street.

Typical beach food includes "ginka kom tapioca" and the best is on sale at the Radinha market (I do not recommend going there on Sundays, very crowded).

Recommended Places

Among the most interesting restaurants are:

• Camaroes, Roberto Freire 2610, Ponta Negra, Natal. An excellent shrimp restaurant. The only drawback is the long line of people waiting for a free table from 18:30 to 21:00. There are 3 other restaurants in this chain in Natal.
• Cantina de Praia, the coastline of Ponta Negra. Lunch, dinner and all this you can eat, enjoying the beautiful view.
• O Boadeiro, the coastline of Ponta Negra. Lunch and dinner. Fatty steaks, standing within 30 reais.

Security. What to watch out for

Natal used to be the safest capital of Brazil, but recent statistics have shown that this, unfortunately, is no longer the case. Still, Natal is much safer than other tourist cities in Northeast Brazil, especially such as Recife, Fortaleza and Salvador. Pickpockets often haunt tourists, but violent attacks are still quite rare. Tourism is very important for the city, and this forces the government to spend more money on ensuring an adequate level of security in the most popular places. Therefore, compliance with basic precautions will allow you to have a good time and avoid any difficulties.

To visit Forto dos Reis Magos, I strongly recommend taking a taxi and not walking along Praia Forte - the number of robberies and attacks on tourists on the beach in the direction of settlements has increased sharply lately (in Fort you should also not go because it is far - approximately 3 km from the nearest hotel or bus stop).
Ponta Negra beach and its boulevard are also unsafe. An armed attack on the beach can occur in the daytime. Do not bring anything of value with you when you go to rest. Also, be prepared for the harassment of taxi drivers trying to offer you a ride, having homeless people hanging around, or strolling drunk bumping into you.

Things to do

• Hire a buggy with a driver and travel along the coast, north and south. The coast of the state of Rio Grande do Norte provides a rare combination of dunes, lagoons, cliffs of sandstone and intermediate vegetation. A typical all-day buggy ride costs around 360 R $. A driver (bageiro) will pick you up at your hotel and drive you to the dunes. There will be many stops for photos along the way. In the middle of the dunes there are small craft markets and bars, many of them full of fun and fairly inexpensive. There is also the opportunity to do zipline (rapid flight over the gorges in a special saddle on a rope), sandboarding, swimming and absorbing coconut juice. If you are going to participate in all this, be sure to put on a swimsuit and take a towel with you. The trip will take at least half a day or almost all day, depending on how much time you spend on stops. This is a popular and fun activity, aimed to a large extent at local tourists. For this reason, many buggy drivers do not speak English, although it is not difficult to understand their speech regardless of language. Definitely highly recommend.

• Enjoy the sunset by the Potenji River. Good location near the military base. There are also several ships on the river.
• The Toa Boat Cruise on the Potenji River is a great place to watch the sunset. You will see the city from various angles, the path runs through historical places and areas, mangroves, river beaches. An audio guide is available in English and Portuguese.
• Forro Com Tourista, Rua Aderbal Figuiredo, 1980, Petropolis (at the Centro de Turismo), 84 3211-6218, Thursday. The weekly party, which is held every Thursday in the old prison (Centro to Tourism) and also every Tuesday during January, attracts many tourists. On it you can learn how to dance forro - one of the most popular musical styles in northeast Brazil.

Shopping and shops

• The Alekrim district (near Alekrim station) on the east coast, is the main center of the popular street in Natal, where at least 40% of the city’s shops are located. It houses the most famous farmers' market, which is open every Saturday from 06:00 to 15:00, at the intersection of the Coronel Estevam and the Presidential Quarezhma, and where more than 400 sellers trade.
• Midway Mall, Avenida Bernardo Vieira, 3.775, Tyrol. By far the largest shopping center of the city, it contains 270 stores, 7 cinemas, 4 gourmet restaurants and one theater. On the territory there are a huge number of ATMs.
• Praia Shopping, Enheneiro Roberto Freire, 8790, Ponta Negra (In the Southeast side of the Park Dunes). A shopping center with 100 shops, whose great advantage is the location in Ponta Negra, where most visitors flock. It is located approximately 750 m from the beach, but since it is located in the north of Ponta Negra, it is far from getting to it.

• Shopping de Artezanato Portigur, Av Eng Roberto Freire, 8000, Ponta Negra, 84 3219-3207. A commercial center with 164 stores, mostly selling local products. Located next to Praia Shopping.

Clubs and nightlife

The nightlife of Ponta Negra is concentrated along the Rua Manoel Aroju, also known as Salsa Street - these are several blocks inside the beach near kiosk 11. At night, taxi prices in Ponta Negra jump to 50 R $. Buses 46 and 54 run approximately every 45 minutes.

Buraco de Catita, Ribeira - one of the pleasant night places of the city. Open from Wednesday to Saturday from 19:00 - until midnight. On most nights, live music is played here.

How to get around the city

Taxi. What features exist

The cost of a taxi per kilometer is 2.15 R $ (level 1) or 3 R $ (level 2).

Public transport

Buses: cost $ 2.20 and are very full at rush hour.

City trains: very cheap (0.50 R $), but unfortunately do not reach the main tourist attractions.

Vehicle rental

Car rental is suitable for you if you, like many visitors, plan to stay in Natal and make daily trips near the city limits. Indeed, it is hard to get to the beaches in the neighboring areas of Parnamarim and Extremoz by public transport. Prices are 110 R $ per day or 80 R $ per day for frequent trips. Sometimes a car can be provided by the hotel. You can get acquainted with the prices for rental cars and conditions, for example, by clicking on the link.

Buggy

You can ride on the coast right on the beach, and not on the road, using special buggy cars for driving along the sand with a driver. They usually cost 320 R $ per car or 80 R $ per person if you join a group. You may find cheaper, but beware of unlicensed drivers: accidents sometimes occur due to their low qualifications.

Ski vacation

Watch the video: NATAL RN - Um destino no BRASIL que amamos. Vlog do Num Pulo (April 2024).