7 days

The best beaches from Natal to Fortaleza (or from Fortaleza to Natal) by buggy

Do you dream of going far from the madding crowd? Wide open spaces? Adventure? Do you like the sun, the sand and the sea? Then this tour is made just for you. Off the beaten track normally taken by tourists, we invite you to discover one of the most beautiful and best preserved Brazilian coastlines. Here, each day Nature unveils before you a different spectacle. In absolute safety, with an experienced chauffeur, you can drive across 600 km of dunes, beaches, roads and tracks, and free to stop wherever you feel like for a swim, to take pictures or just to admire the scenery.

You will love... the heady feeling of adventure and freedom, different landscapes each day, beaches of your dreams, fishing villages lost in the back of beyond, grilled lobsters, sunsets on the dunes and temperature of the sea 28° C!

Day 1: Welcome at Natal airport, transfer to your hotel. Afternoon and evening free.

Day 2: Natal – Arraial do Marco

The “buggeiro” (buggy chauffeur) will come to pick you up at the hotel in Natal (the time may be adjusted depending on the tide). Set out for the Genipabu dunes, huge mountains of sand. At Muriú, cross the river on a makeshift ferry and head towards São Roque Cape. The real trip begins after the beach at Jacumã and its fishing villages: Ponta Gorda and its oasis of coconut palms, Maracajaú and its natural swimming pools, Zumbi and his superb beach, Perobas, Touros, São Miguel do Gostoso... and finally Arraial do Marco where you spend the first night, gently rocked to sleep by the sound of the waves. Night at a simple pousada.

Day 3: Arraial do Marco – Galinhos

After breakfast and with the tide ebbing, take the buggy to start one of the best parts of this trip – you will be dazzled by the turquoise sea and stretches of sand populated here and there with little thatched cottages. In front of them, fishermen, lost in the vastness, cast their nets. At the tip of the 30 km sandy peninsula, cut off from the world at high tide, discover Galinhos, a charming little village where donkey drawn carts double as taxis. To make the most of the peace and quiet of this little piece of paradise, stay there the rest of the day and spend the night. Night at a pousada.

Day 4: Galinhos – Ponta do Mel

On the third day, the track goes inland, encircling an extensive region of mangroves, lagoons and salt marshes. Drive along impressive salt mounds and then through 70 to 80 kilometres of tarred road edged with widespread oilfields. Finally, reach the Porto do Mangue beach and immediately after that Ponta do Mel. Here the Sertão joins the Ocean and the “sertanejos” (villagers from Sertão), fishermen, donkeys, goats and “jangadas” (traditional fishing vessels of the region) share space. Night at a pousada.

Day 5: Ponta do Mel – Canoa Quebrada

On the fourth day, the white sand dunes will slowly make way for the long stretches of sand with towering brown, white, yellow or red hills unfolding a colourful fireworks display to the eyes. Late in the afternoon reach Canoa Quebrada. In the 1970's, it´s moonscapes attracted a whole community of hippies from Brazil and other countries. Today, Canoa Quebrada is one the most popular beaches of Ceará. Fortunately, this vast beach, its dunes and red sandstone cliffs have retained a little bit of the original magic. Night at a pousada.

Day 6: Canoa Quebrada – Fortaleza

The fifth and last stage of your trip. After Canoa Quebrada, the hills disappear and dunes are few and far between. Beaches are turned into football fields, families bathe in fresh water streams. At Morro Branco, high tide will force you to drive along the coast on the rocky ridge for 2 kilometres. Then, late in the afternoon, you reach Fortaleza, finally back to civilisation. Night at a pousada.

Day 7: Free day at Fortaleza and transfer to airport.

Prix du séjour : nous contacter

Included: A buggy with chauffeur and gas for the whole trip between Natal and Fortaleza; 6 nights in hotels or simple pousadas ²  ; 6 breakfasts.

Not included: Your return international flight; local flights; airport taxes (international and national) ; individual equipment; compulsory individual insurance; lunches and dinners (calculate at the rate of 3 to 15 Euros/person/meal).

On request: list of accommodations; custom-made quotation, etc.

Note: For this 7-day trip, we request that you carry only one piece of baggage maximum weight 10 kg and not a suitcase but a back-pack or sports bag.

Remarks:

For security reasons, alter-nativ Brésil only hires out buggies with a professional experienced chauffeur. This format may appear restricting to some, however, it is in fact a better deal than without “buggeiro” as he will help you discover charming little spots which are hard to find. Besides, if you wish, you can take the wheel occasionally on long deserted beaches where there is no risk (decision at the discretion of the “buggeiro”).

We would like to underline that the Buggy Boogie programme is an “off the beaten track” tour and there are no luxury hotels or restaurants in the places visited. Therefore, arrangements are made for accommodation for certain nights and meals in simple places where the services are good.

Our buggies, specially designed for long distance travel, can carry up to 4 passengers (excluding the chauffeur). You will be comfortable on proper seats and protected from the sun and the wind.