Cidade Turismo – Brazil
Rio Grande do Norte South Coast (Pipa and Rota do Sol)

RN · Brazil

Rio Grande do Norte South Coast (Pipa and Rota do Sol)

Northeast

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Red cliffs, Atlantic Forest that reaches all the way to the sand and dolphins showing up early in the morning: this is the southern coast of Rio Grande do Norte. Pipa is where the action is, with bars and restaurants along a single street, but walk a few kilometers and you will find empty beaches and freshwater lagoons. Late afternoon calls for the sunset over Lagoa de Guaraíras (lagoon), in Tibau do Sul.

This destination brings together 5 cities: Natal, Tibau do Sul, Nísia Floresta, Senador Georgino Avelino, Canguaretama.

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A look at the place

Rio Grande do Norte South Coast (Pipa and Rota do Sol) in pictures

These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.

Click the picture to enlarge it.

A cove of greenish water surrounded by red cliffs covered in forest.
A curving beach with a calm emerald-green sea.
A village of simple houses on top of a cliff.
A plateau of red earth on top of the cliffs.
An orange sunset over a calm lagoon with anchored boats and mangroves lining the shores.

One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

The local experience

Things to do in Rio Grande do Norte South Coast (Pipa and Rota do Sol)

Canguaretama · RN · beach

Barra do Cunhaú

A fishing village at the mouth of the Curimataú River, with natural pools surrounded by rocks and clear water. The meeting of the river and the sea and the surrounding mangroves complete the scenery.

Discover Barra do Cunhaú

Nísia Floresta · RN · lagoon

Lagoa do Bonfim

Also called Lagoa Sete Pontas, it has about 9 km² of clear water and lies in an Environmental Protection Area. Besides water recreation, it supplies the Agreste Trairi Potengi water pipeline system.

Discover Lagoa do Bonfim

Senador Georgino Avelino · RN · beach

Praia de Malembá

A little-visited beach with no facilities, of pale, soft sand, framed by coconut palms and dunes. The slightly choppy sea and the steady wind draw kitesurfers.

Discover Praia de Malembá

See 20 more places in Rio Grande do Norte South Coast (Pipa and Rota do Sol)
Senador Georgino Avelino · RN · park

EcoParque Guaraíras

A private nature reserve in Vila Surubajá, on the shore of Laguna Guaraíras, with trails of 1 to 4 km through the Atlantic Forest and views of the Malembá dunes. The full outing, with boat, trail and lunch, requires advance booking.

Discover EcoParque Guaraíras

Natal · RN · fort

Forte dos Reis Magos

A fortress built around 1600 at the mouth of the Potengi River, named (Fort of the Three Kings) because construction began on Epiphany. Reopened in 2021 after restoration, it has cannons and sentry boxes on the upper level, and access is by a walkway between the river and the sea.

Discover Forte dos Reis Magos

Tibau do Sul · RN · beach

Praia do Amor

It got its name (Love Beach) from the heart shape seen from above and is popular with surfers. Staircases between the cliffs lead down to the sand.

Discover Praia do Amor

Tibau do Sul · RN · viewpoint

Chapadão

A plateau of reddish earth on top of the cliffs, with a wide view of the whole coast. A traditional spot for sunsets and photos in Pipa.

Discover Chapadão

Nísia Floresta · RN · lagoon

Lagoa de Arituba

A lagoon of clear water with soft sand on its shores, near Tabatinga beach. It is popular for swimming and activities such as stand-up paddleboarding and pedal boats.

Discover Lagoa de Arituba

Natal · RN · park

Parque das Dunas

Created in 1977, Parque Estadual Dunas de Natal protects 1,172 hectares of dunes covered in Atlantic Forest right in the middle of the city. Visits center on Bosque dos Namorados, where the interpretive trails begin.

Discover Parque das Dunas

Natal · RN · monument

Ponte Newton Navarro

Opened in 2007, the cable-stayed bridge crosses the Potengi River and links the city beaches to the North Zone, at 1.78 km long with 103-meter towers. It is named after the artist and poet who portrayed the river's landscape and fishermen.

Discover Ponte Newton Navarro

Tibau do Sul · RN · beach

Praia do Madeiro

A calm, green, warm sea, ideal for a first surf lesson and for stand-up paddleboarding. It lies between the forest and the cliffs, reached by a trail or staircase.

Discover Praia do Madeiro

Natal · RN · museum

Museu Câmara Cascudo

Linked to UFRN (the federal university), it started in 1960 as the Câmara Cascudo Institute of Anthropology and became a museum in 1973. The collection includes pieces of paleontology, geology, zoology, ethnography and archaeology.

Discover Museu Câmara Cascudo

Natal · RN · monument

Centro de Turismo

The neoclassical mansion served as an asylum and a jail before becoming a handicraft center. The shops occupy the old cells, marked with their original numbers, and the upper gallery has views of the Potengi River.

Discover Centro de Turismo

Natal · RN · theater

Teatro Alberto Maranhão

Opened in 1904 in the Ribeira neighborhood, it is protected by Iphan (the national heritage institute) and got its current name in 1957, in honor of a former governor. Reopened in 2021 after restoration, it has a regular program of performances.

Discover Teatro Alberto Maranhão

Your base to explore

Where to stay

Where you stay is part of the trip. Choose the area that best fits your itinerary.

Canguaretama · RN

Filho do Vento Kitelodge

A kitesurfing-focused property on Avenida Beira Mar (RN-269), in Barra do Cunhaú, facing the sea. It has a kite school, a restaurant, a pool, a gym, a spa and yoga classes, and mainly caters to people who come to the beach to ride.

Natal · RN

Manary Praia Hotel

A 23-room boutique hotel on Rua Francisco Gurgel, on the edge of Ponta Negra beach, with balconies with hammocks and sea views in most rooms. It has a spa and a seafood restaurant and suits couples and travelers looking for a quiet stay facing the sea.

Nísia Floresta · RN

Pousada Praia das Tartarugas

A beachfront pousada on Avenida Beira Mar, at Tabatinga beach. It has a pool, a restaurant and direct access to the sand, is pet-friendly, and suits travelers who want to rest for a few days on Rio Grande do Norte's southern coast.

Tibau do Sul · RN

Toca da Coruja

A charming colonial-style pousada on Avenida Baía dos Golfinhos, in downtown Pipa, with 28 bungalows spread across large gardens of native forest where marmosets and birds appear. It has pools, a spa, a sauna and its own restaurant, and suits couples who want comfort close to the village's lively streets.

Nísia Floresta · RN

Colméia Chalés

Beachfront chalets at Camurupim beach, with kitchens and air conditioning; some have a bathtub facing the sea. There is a pool, including an indoor one, and stand-up paddleboards, and it suits families who prefer more independent lodging.

Natal · RN

Hotel Senac Barreira Roxa

Senac's teaching hotel on the waterfront along Via Costeira, reopened after a complete renovation, with 52 rooms, a pool, a gym and a game room. Hospitality and culinary students work in the service, and the Navarro restaurant uses regional ingredients; it suits families and people traveling for events.

Tibau do Sul · RN

Hotel Sombra e Água Fresca

A 28-unit hotel on Rua Praia do Amor, at the highest point in Pipa, with panoramic views of the village, Chapadão and Praia do Amor. It has two pools with sea views, massage services and a restaurant serving regional and international food, aimed mainly at couples.

Canguaretama · RN

Pousada Ventoria

A small pousada right on the sand on Avenida Gilberto Rodrigues, in Barra do Cunhaú, with the owners running the service. It suits families and couples who want to stay by the beach in a relaxed atmosphere.

Nísia Floresta · RN

Pousada Cabanas de Búzios

A chalet pousada on Avenida Coronel Paulo Salema, at Praia de Búzios, on the coast of Nísia Floresta. It suits travelers looking for rest in a setting surrounded by nature, close to Natal.

Canguaretama · RN

Pousada Caribe Sul

A small pousada on Avenida do Pontal, on Barra do Cunhaú beach, in Canguaretama. It suits couples and families looking for a quiet stay in the village, close to the natural pools of Rio Grande do Norte's southern coast.

Tibau do Sul · RN

Pousada Cavalo Marinho

A simple 23-room pousada on Rua da Gameleira, near Avenida Baía dos Golfinhos, in downtown Pipa, a short walk from the beaches and restaurants. It has a pool with a hot tub, breakfast with tapiocas and omelets, and is pet-friendly, a good option for staying downtown on a smaller budget.

Natal · RN

Pousada Manga Rosa

A 15-room pousada on Rua Erivan França, the seafront road of Ponta Negra beach, near Morro do Careca, with direct access to the sand and sea-view room options. It serves a regional breakfast and arranges trips to Genipabu, Pipa and Maracajaú, for travelers who want to stay on the boardwalk.

Flavors of the destination

Where to eat

Local flavors
Canguaretama · RN

Barraca Miramar

A beach stall on Rua Pontal, in Barra do Cunhaú, on the stretch where the Catu River meets the sea. It serves fish, grilled seafood and broths, with beef and chicken options, in a large area with bungalows and a natural hot tub, and caters to groups and families spending the day at the beach.

Local flavors
Natal · RN

Camarões

One of Natal's most traditional restaurants, on Avenida Engenheiro Roberto Freire, in Ponta Negra, and the first location of the Camarões group. The menu revolves around shrimp, in dishes such as camarão internacional and camarão à grega served in generous portions for sharing, and it appeals to families and groups.

Local flavors
Nísia Floresta · RN

Camurutaba Lagoa

A restaurant on the shore of Lagoa de Arituba, with views of the water. It serves regional dishes and seafood, such as freshwater shrimp, and caters to people spending the day at the area's lagoons.

Local flavors
Tibau do Sul · RN

O Tal do Escondidinho

A northeastern Brazilian restaurant on Avenida Baía dos Golfinhos, in Pipa, decorated like a country house with paintings that tell the story of the cangaceiros (backlands outlaws). The signature dish is escondidinho, cassava purée layered with shrimp or carne de sol (sun-dried beef), alongside baião de dois (rice and beans), shrimp bobó and cocada brûlée, for travelers who want regional food in the village.

Local flavors
Senador Georgino Avelino · RN

Surubajá Lounge Bar

The bar and restaurant of EcoParque Guaraíras, on Rua João Aureliano de Lima, in Vila Surubajá, overlooking Laguna Guaraíras and the Malembá dunes. It serves grilled fish, shrimp and meats to park visitors and to people who come to watch the sunset over the lagoon.

Local flavors
Nísia Floresta · RN

Palawan Bistrô

The bistro of a pousada on Avenida Beira-Mar, in Barra de Tabatinga, facing the sea. It serves Brazilian food and seafood, also offers day use, and caters to couples and families who want to spend the day at the beach.

Local flavors
Tibau do Sul · RN

Restaurante Caxangá

A seafood and regional restaurant on Largo São Sebastião, on the waterfront in downtown Pipa. It serves charcoal-grilled lobster, grilled fish fillet with shrimp sauce, shrimp in pineapple, stuffed crab shells and carne de sol skewers, for a lunch with a sea view.

Local flavors
Canguaretama · RN

Solimar

A beachfront restaurant on Avenida Gilberto Rodrigues, in Barra do Cunhaú, specializing in grilled fish, shrimp and lobster. It welcomes families and visitors passing through Rio Grande do Norte's southern coast, with a kiosk and hammocks facing the beach.

Local flavors
Natal · RN

Tábua de Carne – Via Costeira

The Via Costeira location of the northeastern Brazilian restaurant opened in 1990 in João Pessoa, which now has other locations in Natal. The highlight is the artisanal carne de sol (sun-dried beef) with cheese pirão (a thick, creamy side), alongside picanha (top sirloin cap), lamb ribs and grilled fish, for travelers who want to try regional cooking near the sea.

Local flavors
Canguaretama · RN

Barraca da Baiana

A beach stall said to be the oldest in Barra do Cunhaú, on Avenida Gilberto Rodrigues da Silva, across from the natural pools. It serves seafood and regional food, such as moquecas (stews), to beachgoers and families spending the day at the beach.

Local flavors
Natal · RN

Casa de Taipa

A tapioca and cuscuz (steamed cornmeal) spot on Rua Doutor Manoel Augusto Bezerra de Araújo, in Alto de Ponta Negra, built on the recipes of cook Dona Dúnia Milagres and decorated like a simple country house. It serves handmade tapiocas and beijus, from the traditional ones to fillings created by the house, and is a good choice for a light, regional dinner.

Local flavors
Tibau do Sul · RN

Cruzeiro do Pescador

A restaurant set in the owner's home, on Rua do Concris, in Chapadão, in Pipa. It serves slow-cooked fish and seafood, such as moqueca, smoked fish and charcoal-grilled dishes, on a veranda with personal service, and suits travelers looking for a dinner away from the main-street scene.

Local flavors
Nísia Floresta · RN

Tempero da Zefinha

A rustic beachfront restaurant at Ponta da Tartaruga, in Barra de Tabatinga, with natural pools in front. The menu centers on seafood and fruit juices, and it caters to people spending the weekend at the beach.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

How to get there

Fly into Natal Airport (NAT), in São Gonçalo do Amarante, then drive about 85 km to Pipa via the RN-063 (Rota do Sol) and BR-101.

When to go

From September to March, the drier period, with calmer seas for swimming and boat trips.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

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