This guide is for you if you are in Natal and want the dunes and the reefs north of the city in one day. Most of the choices on this day are yours to make on the spot: a buggy or not, the zip line or not, a boat to the reefs or not. This guide helps you make them before you go, with the tide, the rules on the dunes and the season in mind.
When to go
The north coast follows Natal's seasons. On long-term averages, March to July is the wet part of the year, with April the wettest month, and August to January is dry, with September to November the most reliable.
For the reefs, the water matters as much as the sky. It is usually clearest from December to March. Combine that with the dry season and the end of the year is the strongest window, as long as you accept the busier December weeks.
The tide decides the reef trip on the day. The natural pools at Maracajaú form mainly at low tide, and on a high tide the boats may not go out at all. We check the tide table and can swap the order of the day so you reach Maracajaú at the right time.
The dunes at Genipabu: rules worth knowing
Genipabu lies about 25 km from Natal, in the municipality of Extremoz. The dunes sit inside a state environmental protection area created in 1995 and managed by Idema, the Rio Grande do Norte environment agency. Some of the dunes are fixed and act as natural lookouts. Others move with the wind.
Only accredited buggy drivers may drive over the dunes, and the state tourism department keeps the official list. The buggy is not part of the tour: you hire an accredited driver directly.
A buggy carries four passengers besides the driver. Before you set off, the driver will ask whether you want the ride com emoção or sem emoção. With emotion means sharp turns and drops on the moving dunes. Without means flatter routes over the fixed dunes and along the edge of the beach. If anyone in the group is nervous, older, pregnant or carsick, choose sem emoção and say it clearly.
Two more things you may see. Dromedaries have carried visitors along the tops of the fixed dunes since 1998, on a ride of about 20 minutes. And swimming in the Genipabu lagoon is not allowed under environmental rules. The lagoon for swimming on this day is Jacumã.
Jacumã and its slides
The Lagoa de Jacumã sits below the dunes. There are three ways down into it, all ending with a splash: the esquibunda, sliding down the sand seated on a board; the aerobunda, a zip line from the top of the dune; and the kamikaze, sliding face-down. Carts take you back up the dune. Each one is paid on the spot. You can also just swim and watch.
The reefs at Maracajaú
Maracajaú is a beach in the municipality of Maxaranguape, around 55 to 60 km north of Natal. The reefs, known locally as the parrachos, lie several kilometres offshore. They are part of the Área de Proteção Ambiental dos Recifes de Corais, created by the state in 2001 and covering sea areas off Maxaranguape, Rio do Fogo and Touros. Idema monitors visits.
Only accredited boats go out, visitor numbers are limited, and there is a fee for the protected area. The crossing takes around 15 minutes by speedboat or catamaran. Packages usually include a mask, snorkel and life jacket. In the middle of the reefs there is a platform with a snack bar. Plan on about two hours in the water.
The boat trip is not part of the tour; you book it with the operator on the beach. If the tide is wrong on your day, it is better to stay ashore, have lunch on the beach, and save the reefs for another day.
How the day fits together
You are collected at 07:00, cross the Potengi and reach Genipabu in under an hour. The dunes and Jacumã take the morning. You reach Maracajaú before midday for the reefs and lunch, and start back at around 14:30. You are at your hotel at about 16:00.
The car takes you between the stops; the buggy and the boat are your choice. The price covers the vehicle, the driver, fuel, tolls and parking, and depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page. Buggy rides, the zip line, boat trips to the reefs, lunch and drinks are paid on the day.
There is a public bus from Natal's bus station to Maracajaú, and from there you take the boat like everyone else. It works for the reefs alone. It does not link up with the dunes at Genipabu, where you would still need a car to reach the drivers.
What to bring
- Swimwear, a towel and a change of clothes. Jacumã and the reefs both get you wet.
- Sunglasses for the buggy ride.
- Sun cream, a hat and water.
- Local cash or a card for the buggy, the slides, the boat, the protected-area fee and lunch.
- A waterproof pouch for your phone on the boat.
Who it suits, and who should think twice
It suits families with older children, groups of friends, and anyone who wants a day of things to do rather than things to look at.
- You have only half a day. Genipabu alone works as a half day. Message us through our contact page for a price.
- You do not like speed. Choose sem emoção, or skip the buggy and look at the dunes from the beach and the lagoon.
- You want a quieter beach further north. Our São Miguel do Gostoso day goes past Maracajaú to a village with more wind and fewer activities.
For all five of our days from the city side by side, read our guide to day trips from Natal.
Questions people ask
Can we touch the corals?
No. The reefs are a protected area, and handling or standing on coral damages it. Float above it.
Do we have to take a buggy?
No. You can see the dunes from the beach and from Jacumã. The buggy is how you get on top of them.
Can we cancel?
Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before pick-up and you are refunded in full. See our cancellation page.
Booking the day
Check the season, ask us about the tide for your date, and decide in advance how much excitement you want on the dunes. The stops and booking form are on the Genipabu and Maracajaú private tour page.
