Enhance your experience of natural and man-made wonders with a one-tree forest and rocket launch centre beside pristine beaches.
Tall buildings make up an eclectic skyline in the centre of Parnamirim, while sandy beaches sprawl across the eastern outskirts. The city contains many intriguing sites, notably a rocket launch base, iconic sandy havens and the largest cashew tree in the world.
Enjoy the relaxed ambiance and picturesque views in the Pirangi Beach area on the eastern side of the city. Capture photos of the Pirangi River that divides the northern and southern sections of the beach. Ride a boat to the natural swimming pools and rent snorkeling and scuba equipment to delve into the ocean. Just to the north is Cotovelo Beach, which is known for its serenity and its large sand dunes.
Northwest of the beach is the Pirangi Cashew Tree, which entered the Guinness Book of Records as the largest of its kind in the world. Wander through the complex network of branches in search of the original trunk. Take a guided tour and let the kids clamber over the sprawling roots of the tree, which covers an area of 2 acres (0.8 hectares).
Make an appointment for a tour of the Barreira do Inferno Launch Centre, which dates back to the 1960s and has made hundreds of launches. It is part of the Brazilian Space Agency and supports launches in the Guiana Space Centre and the Alcântara Launch Centre. Local fishermen gave the base its name, which is Portuguese for Barrier of Hell, due to the red glow the sun leaves on its cliffs.
Purchase food and handicrafts from the stalls of the markets in the city centre. The city of Parnamirim borders the areas of Neópolis and Ponta Negra in the southern outskirts of Natal. Take a train between the two cities in 90 minutes or drive the journey in a third of the time. Buses regularly take passengers from Natal to Pirangi Beach. Southwest of the city is Mendes, while the beach of Pirangi do Norte and the Pirangi Cashew Tree are to the southeast.
