Northeast
RN
Rio Grande do Norte
Cashew country and giant sand dunes
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Rio Grande do Norte is a northeastern state famous for its towering golden sand dunes, warm turquoise waters and the best wind conditions in Brazil for kite surfing. Natal, its capital, sits near Genipabu — where enormous dunes meet the Atlantic — and the state's coast stretches north past the remote beaches of Touros and Ponta do Mel to some of the least-visited shores in the Northeast.
Capital
Natal
Region
Northeast
Estado
RN
Top Highlights
- 1Genipabu dunes — towering orange sand dunes and iconic beach buggy tours near Natal
- 2Pipa beach — cosmopolitan surf village with dolphin watching and sea-turtle nesting
- 3Maracajaú reefs — snorkeling above vast coral gardens accessible at low tide
- 4Galinhos — remote sandbar village accessible only by boat, with no cars and turquoise waters
Best Time to Visit
July to January for the wind season, kite surfing and consistently blue skies.
Traveller's Tip
Genipabu's dunes are within a protected area — only licensed operators are permitted to run dune buggy tours.
Videos from Rio Grande do Norte
No geolocated videos from this state yet.