Cruises from Natal

Natal is a medium sized, modern city, with a population of 600,000. It sits on the banks of the Rio Potengi. Portuguese navigators founded the city on Christmas Day 1599 and so they named the settlement Natal, which, in Portuguese, means Christmas Day. The city is no longer dependent on agriculture, as it was when under the French and Dutch influence. Today, the tourists, who flock here every year for sun, fun and surfing, generate the main source of income for the area.

Natal is one of the best-known beach destinations in northern Brazil, with its bright shiny sand and huge dunes, the city draws in a million tourists annually. For a clean, safe environment, with friendly locals, you cannot hope to find anywhere better. As an added bonus, unlike many modern cities, there are no high-rise buildings to block the sun and traffic is sparse.

Natal is small, but has a big heart and a playful spirit. It is a great place for surfing the waves and just offshore, there are underwater reefs and aquatic life to keep you company while snorkelling in the deep blue waters. Diving is safe, but if that is too strenuous then do what a lot of locals and tourists do, just sunbath, read a book, rent a dune buggy or sit and do nothing, but people watch.

The city of Natal, known variously as the ‘City of the Sun’, ‘City of Dunes’ or ‘Bride of the Sun’, is where you can count on 10hours of sun daily. It is on the northeastern edge of Brazil, about 15º from the equator, which is the reason why the sun shines 3,000hrs every year. It is like being on daylight savings time all year long. The water is usually about 26º C, while the air temperature averages 38º C in the summer months. The best time to go is between November and February or in July. There are few storms in Natal and dodging such conditions is normally not a concern.

There are nice hotels near the beaches, but booking is difficult in peak season and prices increase. To ensure you stay at one of the four or five star hotels that have private beaches and an ocean view, you must make a reservation far in advance. You can also find budget hotels, which are clean and safe, along the beach strip. Regardless of the beach you choose there are hotels and villas for sale, rent, lease or timeshare.

You will find many restaurants, bars, clubs and other entertainment venues close to all the beaches. Among the best places to eat are the Canto do Mangue, in the bairro of Ribeira. The Municipal fish Market, located at the corner of Rua Coronel Flaminio and Rua São João is great. While the food is excellent, this particular neighbourhood is not, so travel by taxi and never walk alone.

Among the favourite dishes are peixe ao molho de tapioca: fried fresh fish that comes with tapioca, served with a coconut sauce: Caranguejada, crabs that are cooked in coconut and spices and Pagoca, which is made of thin strips of carne de sol meat mixed with onions and manioc flour.