Genipabu

Genipabu is a coastal area in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte, situated north of Natal and near the municipalities of Extremoz and São Gonçalo do Amarante. The landscape is dominated by a chain of white sand dunes that run parallel to the Atlantic Ocean, separated from the sea by beaches and interspersed with inland lagoons. The best known is Lagoa de Genipabu, a shallow freshwater or brackish lagoon that, with the dunes, forms a distinctive dune-lagoon system.

The dunes are active and can reach significant heights, reshaped by prevailing winds. The site is a popular tourist destination, drawing visitors with dune buggy tours that traverse the dunes along the coast, as well as camel rides that navigate the sandy terrain. Some tours provide a route that moves from the beach to the lagoon, offering views of the dunes against the water.

Environmental management in the area emphasizes sustainable tourism; visitors are encouraged to use licensed operators, stay on designated tracks, and respect local flora and wildlife to mitigate erosion and habitat disturbance.

Genipabu is reachable by road from Natal and is commonly visited as a day trip as part of the region’s broader tourism circuit, which includes nearby beaches and the Natal dunes park system.