Natal is the beach capital of northeastern Brazil. The main reason to come is to tan, swim, and have fun, but the city earns its time more than the typical beach resort: the Forte dos Reis Magos is the oldest fort in South America, the Natal Dunes State Park is one of the largest urban dune ecosystems in the world, and the Museu Câmara Cascudo gives a serious grounding in the region's history and popular culture.
The beaches stretch over 9 km from the fort to the lighthouse. The surf is reliable, the water is warm year-round, and Ponta Negra at the southern end is the liveliest stretch, backed by the Morro do Careca sand dune. Buggy tours are a Natal institution — hire a driver and spend a day at the Genipabu dunes to the north, where enormous sand hills meet a freshwater lagoon. South of the city, Praia de Pipa is one of the best beaches in Brazil.