Hotels in Rio Grande do Norte, Brasilien

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Rio Grande do Norte

Rio Grande do Norte is located in the northeastern part of the country and is considered by NASA, no less, as having the second purest quality of air, after Antartica.

Its 410 kilometers of sand, endless sun, coconut palms and lagoons are responsible for the fame of beaches, such as the secluded white sandy shores of Praia de Cajueiro, Genibapu (to the north of the capital, Natal), with sand dunes reaching 50 meters of height.

The Praia de Baía Formosa beach, the prettiest of the south coast, has “falésias”, stretches with reefs and very popular for surfing.

To the south, the beach of Praia do Sagi, a little more rustic, has clear waters and small dunes.

In Natal, beside the beaches, there are other tourist attractions, such as Fortaleza dos Reis Magos and the Parque das Dunas, the second largest urban park in the country

Gastronomy The best restaurants specialized in the traditional Brazilian northeastern, exquisite sea food, the famous sun dried meat, pizzas, buffets, etc.

Enjoy the variety of the local gastronomy!

History The first European to reach the region may have been the Spaniard Alonso de Ojeda in 1499. The northeastern tip of South America, cape São Roque, 20 miles to the north of Natal, was first officially visited by European navigators in 1501, in the 1501-1502 Portuguese expedition led by Amerigo Vespucci.

The Vespucci expedition also named the Potengi (Tupi-Guarani for "River of Shrimps") river, whose considerably large mouth contrasted with the nearby bodies of water, "Rio Grande" (Portuguese for "Great River"), after which the Captaincy, Province, and State were named.

For decades thereafter, no permanent European settlement was established in the area, inhabited by the Potiguar tribe. In the 16th century (between 1535 and 1598), it was explored by French pirates in search for Brazil wood.

In 1598, the Portuguese built the Forte dos Reis Magos and, in the following year, founded the city of Natal. Raising cattle and sugarcane plantation lifted the local development and economy.

In 1633, the area became a battleground between the expansionistic Portuguese, seeking to take more land for their Brazilian territories, and the Dutch, who gained a foothold in South America.

After a short period of peace and prosperity in Olinda and Recife, the sugar prices went down in the market of Amsterdam and the region entered into a serious economic crisis.

The economical problems lead the Portuguese settlers and native Brazilians to revolt against the Dutch in what is known today as the massacres of Cunhaú and Uruaçu. The religious confrontations (the Portuguese-Brazilian Catholicism and the Dutch Calvinism), Portugal's restoration of the throne in 1640 and the reconquest of Maranhão in 1643 lead the Portuguese-Brazilians to the 1645 uprising, lead by André Vidal de Negreiros and João Fernandes Vieira.

The governor of Bahia promised new Portuguese troops, but most of the rebels were Africans and Amerindians. In 1654, the Dutch were finally cast out.

Activities Here you will find warm water white sand beaches, sand dunes, sweet water lagoons, preserved atlantic forest, dune buggy rides, historic momuments, archeological sites with ancient inscriptions, thermal waters, all kind of accommodations, aquatic amusement parks, charm inns, resorts, handicraft, the best of the regional Brazilian northeastern cuisine and marvelous sea food... All this under a Sun that shines no less than 300 days an year!

Rio Grande do Norte state and its capital, Natal, offer a wide variety of attractions for the whole family and all kinds of budget.

A little further from the coast, the city of Mossoró is considered the capital of irrigated fruit-growing, supplying more than 70% of the domestic market for melon. Besides that fruit, the State is famous for its mango and cashew plantations. The latter led the State to be entered in the Guinness Book.

Located on the Pirangi do Norte beach, the largest cashew tree in the world with 500 meters in circumference and 92 years of age, covers a 7.300 m2 area. Its crown is equivalent to a grove of 70 cashew trees. Pirangi do Norte is also the center for the handcraft production of bilro and labyrinth lace.

The lace makers patiently and quickly weave the fine cotton yarns until tablecloths, bedspreads and clothes of all kinds emerge.

Besides all that, the Barreira do Inferno is also located here, which was the first rocket launching base in Latin America. Warm waters, the shade of palm trees and a gigantic cashew tree are waiting for you in Rio Grande do Norte.

Come on, you’ll become a fan!