Nature & Wild

The nature of Rio Grande do Norte is out of proportion to the size of the state. In under four hours of road you cross four completely different landscapes: the living dunes of Genipabu that reshape with each season; the coral belt of Maracajaú with natural pools 7 km offshore; the pink cliffs and Atlantic forest patches at Pipa with dolphins visible at dawn; and the sandy peninsula of Galinhos, car-free, with pink salt pans and zero light pollution overhead.

Dry season — July to January — is best for buggy rides on the dunes and clear-water snorkeling. The shorter rainy season (April to July) does not kill the trip: it turns the sertão green, fills the freshwater lagoons and opens the best bird-watching windows. Guided trails at the Lagoa do Bonfim state park and the southern coast Atlantic forest get little press, but they are worth the detour.