At the south end of Praia de Ponta Negra is the Morro da Careca, a spectacularly high sand dune with a steep face dropping straight into the sea. Access to the dune has been closed off to prevent further erosion and damage to the primary Atlantic rainforest that covers it.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
23.69 MILES
Praia do Madeiro curves northward from the headland at the far end of Baía dos Golfinhos and is perhaps Pipa's most enchanting stretch of sand. It has a…
1.37 MILES
Praia de Ponta Negra, at the far south end of town, is the nicest stretch of sand in Natal and one of the most appealing big-city beaches in the Northeast…
25.31 MILES
This advanced surf beach is accessed off the eastern part of Av Baía dos Golfinhos. You can rent surfboards here and in town for around R$30 per hour (or…
9.18 MILES
The fort that got Natal started in 1598 still stands in its original five-pointed star shape on the reef at the tip of the peninsula at the north end of…
24.25 MILES
This small, privately owned reserve, 2km west along the main road from the town center, does a valuable job of protecting at least some of the Pipa coast…
21.36 MILES
Lagoa de Guaraíras, behind the river mouth at Tibau do Sul, 8km northwest of Pipa, is one of the area's most stunning landscapes. A massive, dune- and…
7.45 MILES
Praia dos Artistas is an urban beach with good surfing waves. It used to be the hub of Natal nightlife but is now pretty sketchy after dark.
24.75 MILES
The main beach, Praia da Pipa, is about 1.5km long and has fishing boats, numerous bars and restaurants, and rock pools at low tide.
Nearby Natal attractions
1.37 MILES
Praia de Ponta Negra, at the far south end of town, is the nicest stretch of sand in Natal and one of the most appealing big-city beaches in the Northeast…
6.91 MILES
Taking up an entire block in the pretty coastal town of Pirangi, 15km south of Ponta Negra, the world's largest cashew tree is a source of pride for the…
7.45 MILES
Praia dos Artistas is an urban beach with good surfing waves. It used to be the hub of Natal nightlife but is now pretty sketchy after dark.
7.74 MILES
Praia do Meio is a fairly ordinary urban beach with reefs and a lot of people getting drunk. When the tide is right, the water forms large pools behind…
9.18 MILES
The fort that got Natal started in 1598 still stands in its original five-pointed star shape on the reef at the tip of the peninsula at the north end of…
21.36 MILES
Lagoa de Guaraíras, behind the river mouth at Tibau do Sul, 8km northwest of Pipa, is one of the area's most stunning landscapes. A massive, dune- and…
23.69 MILES
Praia do Madeiro curves northward from the headland at the far end of Baía dos Golfinhos and is perhaps Pipa's most enchanting stretch of sand. It has a…
8. Santuário Ecológico de Pipa
24.25 MILES
This small, privately owned reserve, 2km west along the main road from the town center, does a valuable job of protecting at least some of the Pipa coast…