Extremoz



Extremoz (or Estremoz) is a municipality of Rio Grande do Norte, located in the metropolitan area of Natal. Its main attraction are its fields of sand dunes and its beaches, including Genipabu, one of the most famous of the state and easily accessible from Natal.

Understand
In the XVII century, jesuits constructed a church in a native Brazilian tribe in the area where the town of Extremoz sits now. The tribe would be destroyed, and the church left in ruins, but in 1758, the village of Extremoz, the first of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, would be founded.

Extremoz grew with the expansion of Natal in north direction, but it remains as a small and quiet town. The beaches are actually far from the town itself, and contain coastal suburbs, where many Natalenses keep vacation houses.

By bus
The Santa Rita and Genipabu beaches may be reached from Natal by buses 160A and 160B operated by Expresso Oceano. Both buses depart from the East region of Natal.

By car
Santa Rita beach is reached by taking Av. Litorânea, in the northeast of Natal. But you cannot cross to Genipabu beach by car due to the dune park (although you may leave the car at Santa Rita and just walk to Genipabu). To go directly to the Genipabu and Pitangui beaches, you need to take Estrada do Genipabu, from the northwest of Natal.

By buggy
Most visitors go to the Genipabu and Pitangui beaches by dune buggy rides along the coast. Such rides are offered by various tourism agencies; your hotel will probably be able to provide you the phone number of one.

Do

 * At Parque Turístico Ecológico Dunas de Genipabu, it possible to do
 * Trekking with a guide
 * Dromedary rides from 9h until the sunset
 * Buggy rides from 8h to 19h
 * Ride a paddle boat or do nautical sports in the lake
 * Simply sliding down on the dunes, an activity known as eski-bunda
 * Watch the sunset

Buy
A local handcraft are pots with dune sands, colored to make pictures.

Eat

 * Cheap snacks can be found around the Santa Rita bus terminal
 * Cheap snacks can be found around the Santa Rita bus terminal

Sleep
There is a sizable amount of accommodations on the coast of Extremoz, mostly bed & breakfast or budget hotels. However, most visitors stay at Natal.