The Parque das Dunas, to give it its simpler local name, is an extraordinary thing: a vast dune field with native forest right in the middle of a Brazilian state capital. The park covers over 1,100 hectares on the eastern edge of Natal, between the Via Costeira coastal avenue and the city's upmarket neighborhoods.
Walking trails wind through the dunes and restinga forest. The most popular is the Trilha dos Camaleões, about three kilometers and suitable for casual walkers. Guided ecotourism tours run in the mornings and the park is well managed by the state. The Morro do Careca — the tall sand dune at the southern end that overlooks Ponta Negra beach — is technically within the park and the main visual landmark from the beach, though access to the dune itself is restricted to protect the vegetation.