A Complete Travel Guide for Visiting Natal in Brazil
Have you ever heard of Natal in Brazil? Well, while the south steals a lot of the spotlight for the best places to visit in Brazil, there are so many incredible places to explore in the north, especially in Rio Grande do Norte.
I first visited Natal in 2017 to visit one of my friends that I made working on cruise ships, and after my first visit I fell in love. Ever since, I have visited a couple of more times, exploring new things each trip!
In this article we're going to share all of the best things to do in Natal, Brazil, how to get around, and everything else you need to know to have an epic trip. Let's dive right in!
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๐ Where is Natal in Brazil?
Natal is the capital city of Rio Grande do Norte. It is located along the coast of Brazil, all the way in the north west corner of the country.
Natal is located in the north east corner of Brazil.
How to Get to Natal in Brazil
Now that you know where Natal is in Brazil, let's look at the different options for getting there.
โ๏ธ Does Natal, Brazil Have an Airport?
Natal in Brazil has its own airport, which is around 30 km west of the city, and around a 45 minute drive. We always fly direct to Natal, but there are also a few other options that you can look at if the flights for your dates seem too expensive.
Joao Pessoa is the next closest airport, lying 175 km south of Natal. The other two further options are Fortaleza and Recife. While they require a long bus ride or a rental car, often these airports have more flight options than Natal or Joao Pessoa.
Flight Tip:ย Using Skyscanner you can put from "your city" to "Brazil". This way you can see which is the cheapest airport in the area to fly to. Also, you can check the calendar to see which are the cheapest dates for each destination!
Search for a flight to or near Natal in Brazil:
How to Get to Natal from Joao Pessoa
The airport of Joao Pessoa is 175 km south of Natal, and there are three options for getting from the Joao Pessoa airport to the city of Natal. You can either bus from Joao Pessoa to Natal, rent a car at the Joao Pessoa Airport, or take aย direct shuttle from Joao Pessoa Airport to Natal.
๐ Take a Bus from Joao Pessoa to Natal
The bus from Joao Pessoa to Natal takes around 3 hours, and leaves from Rodoviaria de Joao Pessoa. This station is located closer to the city center, which is about 25-30 minutes east of the airport. So if you get bus tickets, you'll have to get a taxi to the station first.
๐ Rent a Car from Joao Pessoa
If you are flying back out through Joao Pessoa, then renting a car will be better because it will give you more flexibility and save you time, but if you plan on leaving from Natal or continue traveling up the coast of Brazil, then taking a bus will probably be the better option.
๐ Get a Shuttle from Joao Pessoa to Natal
If you don't want the hassle of renting a car, or having to take a taxi to the bus terminal, you can also book a direct shuttle from Joao Pessoa Airport to Natal.
How to Get to Natal from Recife
The ride to Natal from Recife is between 5 and 7 hours, depending on the time of day and the traffic situation. There are a variety of buses from Recife to Natal, from early in the morning, or an 11:55 pm overnight bus that arrives to Natal at 5:20 in the morning. If you are planning on traveling back to Recife after, then a good option could also be to rent a car from Recife airport.
How to Get to Natal from Fortaleza
The last time that we were in Natal, we wanted to visit Jericoacoara, so we took an overnight bus to Fortaleza. The seats reclined all the way back, and the ride was very spacious and comfortable. Not only that, but it saved us money by not having to pay for an extra night at a hotel!
Fortaleza has a lot more flight options than Natal does, so flying to Fortaleza and then taking an overnight bus to Natal may end up being a much more budget-friendly option. Overnight buses from Natal can be booked right in the station, or you can get bus tickets online in advance to make sure you don't risk the buses becoming fully booked.
Entry Requirements for Brazil
Whenever traveling to a new place, it's important to know the requirements for visiting the country. Here are a few of the things you need to know for visiting Natal, Brazil.
๐ Visa Entry Requirements for Brazil
US citizens used to need a visa to visit Brazil, but now it is no longer necessary, and all you need to visit is your passport.ย
Other countries that are exempt from needing a tourist visa in Brazilย includeย Andorra.ย Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia, Canada,ย Chile,ย Colombia,ย Costa Rica,ย Denmark,ย Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany,ย Greece, Japan, Iceland, Ireland,ย Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Morocco, Namibia, The Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay,ย Peru, Philippines,ย Portugal, San Marino, South Africa, Spain,ย Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago,ย United Kingdom,ย Uruguay, and Venezuela.
People that are a part of the Mercosur region don't need to bring their passport in order to visitย Brazil, and they just need to bring their ID card. The countries that are included in the Mercosur region are Argentina,ย Uruguay, andย Paraguay.
Local Adjustments for Natal in Brazil
Whenever traveling to a new destination there are certain things you may need to adapt to such as the language, electrical outlets, or the tipping culture. Here are some of the local adjustments to keep in mind when traveling to Natal, Brazil.
๐ฃ What Language is Spoken in Natal, Brazil?
The official language in Natal, as well as the rest of the country, is Portuguese.ย
๐ถ Currency Used in Brazil
The currency used in Brazil is the Brazilian Real. Currently (October 2024) the exchange rate is 5.18 Brazilian Real to every 1 USD or Euro.
Most places in Natal accept credit cards for payment, so you won't have to carry too much cash on you. We do suggest having a bit of cash for people selling things on the beach, or for activities such as boat rides.
๐ Electrical Outlets in Natal, Brazil
Brazil uses the same electrical outlets as Europe, which are for plug types C and N. The country operates on a 127/220V supply voltage and 60Hz.
๐ฐ Does Natal in Brazil Have Potable Water?
Overall the water in Brazil really isn't suitable to drink from the tap. We suggest buying big bottles of water and then refilling your own water bottle.
๐ธ Tipping in Natal, Brazil
The tipping culture in Natal is similar to other areas of Brazil, which is on average an extra 10%.
Things to Do in Natal, Brazil
Now that you know almost everything you need to know about the basics of visiting, here are the best things to do in Natal, Brazil.
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๐ Hit the Beaches
There are no shortage of beaches in Rio Grande do Norte, and Natal is home to many of them! Long stretches of golden sand, turquoise waters, and palm trees line the coast, making Natal in Brazil a great beach destination.
There are a ton of beaches, many of which you can find tables and chairs with umbrellas for shade, as well as fresh coconuts, snacks, and souvenirs being sold by local vendors.
Tabatinga Beach
One of our favorite beaches that is outside of Natal is Tabatinga. It has a few beach clubs for relaxing and grabbing a bit to eat, as well as natural pools formed by the rocks in the ocean. This is where our friend has her beach house, and is somewhere you'll find more locals than anything.
Tabatinga is a great beach that is outside of Natal.
Another thing that we love about Tabatinga is that there is an area of cliffs above the beach where you can have a picnic or enjoy the sunset.
Jenipabu Beach
Just north of the city, crossing the bridge out of Natal is the beach town of Jenipabu. It has beautiful turquoise waters, long stretches of sand, and plenty of amenities and tours offered along the beach and the area around it.
Janipabu is a great beach destination just north of Natal.
Morro do Careca
This is one of the closest beaches to the center of Natal that is on our list of favorite beaches in Natal. It is unique because there is a huge sand dune that slides right into the ocean, making it a distinguishable location to check out.
The beach offers a bunch of fun water activities, such as surfing or stand up paddle boarding, making it the perfect place to spend a beach day.
๐ธ Take a Picture at the Natal Sign
While this isn't normally something at the top of our list, you can't help but take a photo in front of the colorful letters of the Natal sign right next to the beach.
In addition, there is a set of colorfully painted stairs right across from it!
๐ Browse the Artisan Market
Want to grab something to bring home to your family and friends? Head to the artisan market where you can find local crafts and souvenirs! It is located right in the heart of Natal's Ponta Negra, and is easy to reach by foot from the beach.
๐ Explore the Lagoons
Another wonderful landscape that scatters the area of Natal in Brazil are a number of lagoons. Typically they are found with full beach clubs including hammocks, tables, chairs, umbrellas, food, drinks, and more. They are the perfect place to swim and relax. Here are a few of them to add to your list.
Lagoa de Arituba
This lagoon is located south of Natal, and makes for a perfect place to check out if you are heading to the other beaches south of the city such as Pipa Beach.
Lagoa de Jacuma
Located in the dunes of Jacuma, this lagoon is packed full of fun activities like zip lines, slides, and sand boarding!
Lagoa de Jenipabu
This lagoon is located right inside the dunes of Jenipabu. We took a tour here, but you can also easily walk up to it from the beach of Jenipabu. It has a swing at the top, and beautiful views of the lagoon below. It is one of the few lagoons that you only admire from a distance, rather than relaxing or swimming inside.