Baía Formosa
Baía Formosa is the most eastern city of the Brazilian state Rio Grande do Norte and is located close to the border with neighbouring Paraíba. The name Baía Formosa literally means "Beautiful Bay" and refers to the particularly scenic location of the main village. Boasting not only great beaches and lakes but also unspoiled rainforest and mangroves, this place is well worth a visit. Although the bay has become a popular destination for day trips from Natal and Praia da Pipa (in Tibau do Sul), it remains a fairly quiet place.
Get in
By car
Baía Formosa is about 96 km from both Natal and 110 km from João Pessoa. From either city, it can be accessed by taking BR-101 and thereafter the local road RN-062.
By dune buggy
Those staying in Natal or Praia da Pipa (in Tibau do Sul) may consider charter a dune buggy (or a 4x4 vehicle) and enjoy the view of the coast instead of a boring road. Chartering a buggy including driver, with capacity for four more people, costs about R$ 400 from Natal and R$ 270 from Praia da Paipa.
By bus
Since 2010 there are no more regular bus lines between Natal and Baía Formosa. The alternative are bus tours provided by various tourism agencies. Your hotel can certainly indicate one.
Get around
The village of Baía Formosa is small and can easily be explored on foot. To get around the rest of the municipality a dune buggy or 4x4 is advised, as there are no paved roads other the one that gives access to the village.
See
- Lagoa da Coca Cola (Lagoa Araraquara) (South of the main village). One of the most famous sights of the state, Lagoa da Coca-Cola is a lake with "cola soft drink"-like color, due to the soil rich in iodine and iron. With clean and warm waters, it is perfect for swimming and believed by the locals to have rejuvenating properties. To get to the lake, it is necessary to take a dirt road from a deserted beach between the Baía Formosa and Sagi villages. Naturally, it is necessary to use a buggy or a 4x4 vehicle.
- Igreja Nossa Senhora de Conceição, At the main village. The small but pretty church was founded with the Baía Formosa village in 1892.
- Cachoeirinha (Between João dos Santos and Urubu beaches). It is a seasonal waterfall that forms in the dunes, during rainy periods.
Do
Beaches
- Porto (Picão) (Just northwest of the main village). Located in the "beautiful bay" that gives the name of the municipality, and where various fishing boats can be seen. With strong waves but few rocks, it is recommended for beginner surfers.
- Pontal (Just north of the main village). Considered to be one of the best 7 surfing points of the country, and part of the national surfing circuit. Due to the amount of rocks, it is suited for intermediate and advance surfers.
- Sagi (South of the main village, division with Paraíba). A long beach with strong waves, hosting a small village but practically deserted on most of its extension. Only accessible by buggy.
- Farol.
- Bacopari.
- Desert beaches (Between the main village and Sagi). The beaches of Barreirinha, Peroba, João dos Santos, Urubu and Cotia host no coastal communities and are practically deserted year-round. They are accessible by buggy.