Thrills or no thrills? The question every tour guide asks before each trip gives you some idea of what to expect in Natal and the Rio Grande do Norte coastline. Much more than beaches, sometimes deserted, other times packed with people; of fine and clear sands and the sky-blue sea, Natal is a huge open air park.
From “Aerobundas” and buggies, which cut across the dunes at high or low speed, depending on client tastes, to trotting of camels or dromedaries; almost all transform into unforgettable adventures sprinkled with large doses of adrenalin and gulps of coconut water. The region’s sun demands constant hydration and a sun block factor of at least 30. Between one kind of fun and other fun, the feeling of having your stomach almost in your mouth with a mixture of fear, happiness and euphoria is not rare.
The region is considered a kind of paradise for sports and sailing lovers. As the locals say: “It’s as if God connected a huge fan to the east, on the sea, and forgot to pull the plug out.” In São Miguel do Gostoso, a village located 112 km from Natal, the sails of windsurfers and kitesurfers help to colour the scene even more, when mixing with the blue sky and sea.
The entrance to Barra do Rio Potengi, which gives access to Natal, is very tranquil and easy to navigate. To get to Natal Yacht Club, tack the buoy channel. The club is portside of the channel much before you get to the port. Most boats remain moored to the anchors, located in front of the yacht club. The stay is tranquil, with calm, transparent waters most of the time. It is advisable to stay as close as you can to the peer. Otherwise, at low tide, if the dinghy has no motor, it can be difficult to disembark. Although the structure is not large, the club owns a ramp for possible emergencies. The high point of the place is the receptivity of the members in relation to who arrives by boat to the state.
The city requires a few days anchorage, to give you enough time to visit and get to know it, as well as the urban beaches and Morro do Careca – a 120 metre high dune, situated on Ponta Negra beach. In the past, there was a different way to have fun, in the form of an immense natural toboggan. However, the impact to the dune and caused it to be closed. Even so, it really is one of the Potiguar landscapes that deserves at least a photo to be kept as a keepsake.
There are some trips to the north of the beautiful capital of Rio Grande do Norte that are almost a must. One case being Genipabu. For this particular trip it’s best to leave the boat moored in front of the yacht club and rent a buggy to get to know the region. To cross the Dunes Park is simply exciting. By the way, this is the time in which you hear the question: “Thrills or no thrills?” - highlighted at the start of this report – at each huge up and down of the dunes. And there aren’t a few. Sometimes, the feeling is of being “pillowcased” in the middle of an enormous desert of fine, white sand.
The problem is that security is restricted to the buggy drivers’ skills. After moments of utter adrenalin, it’s worth relaxing and having a go on the “aerobunda”. A cable linking the top of the dune to the opposite bank of Lake Jacumã, in Genipabu, where tourists hang on and slide until they meet the lake waters.
Further north, it’s worth making an excursion to Galinhos, where it is possible to arrive by boat. However, entering the flats can be a little difficult. After crossing the flats, the waters become as calm as a swimming pool. However, it’s advisable to enter under the guidance of a fisherman from the region, who are available as guides. The town is tiny and can be walked in a short time. But the high point, for those who arrive in Galinhos by boat, is to charter a “jegue-táxi” and continue the trip in the cart to the beaches and restaurants.
Back in Natal, it’s well worth stopping the boat again in order to explore the southern coast. After Ponta Negra beach, Tibau do Sul, Pipa and Baía Formosa draw your attention. In Tibau, it’s possible to explore with the boat on Lake Guaraíras, but it requires your total care and attention as this area is not yet charted. Amongst the most interesting scenes is the possibility of swimming side by side with dolphins that invade the lake waters frequently. Another possibility, moreover, recommendable, is to explore the southern coast also in a buggy. It’s a journey of approximately 50 km by sand, full of landscapes, beaches and adventure. In case the enchantment is profound, then ok, collect the necessary information and take the boat up to this piece of paradise surrounded by beaches and multicoloured bluffs.
Tibau is the last place of respite before you arrive on one of the most popular beaches of the state’s coast. Another 7km to the south and you’re in Pipa. A kind of paradise, when the subject is beaches, bars and comfort, but with the sound of tourists’ cars listening to the music, with trios elétricos and lots of partying.
Potiguar, norte-rio-grandense or rio-grandense-do-norte is called someone who is born in the State of Rio Grande do Norte.
Jegue-táxi is an alternative transportation in which a donkey pulls a type of cart with capacity for four people.
"Trio Elétrico" or Electric Trio because there were two electric guitars and a singer. Nowadays, the name "Trio Elétrico" is used for the truck above which bands play on Carnaval in Bahia.
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