Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
all the buses to the southern beaches, like Areia Preta
and Ponta Negra, can be caught from here or the
seafront; buses marked “Via Costeira” head along the
southern coastal road out to Ponta Negra. Several bus
routes run from the centre to the rodoviária, taking at
least half an hour and often longer because of their
circuitous routes; buses marked “Cidade de Esperança”
are the most direct.
By taxi
Meters start at R$4.15, and with things so spread
out, expect high fares. A trip between Ponta Negra and the
city centre will cost R$40-50, while trips between the
latter and the Forte dos Reis Magos are likely to run up
another R$20. If sightseeing by taxi, ask the driver to wait,
since other than at the main beaches it can be hard to hail
them on the street. Most Brazilian tourists take city tours,
use the bus, or drive their own cars.
ACCOMMODATION
THE CITY CENTRE
Hotel Sol
Rua Heitor Carrilho 107
T
84 3201 2208.
Good-value hotel right in the heart of the old city, with its
own restaurant and smallish but ple
asant r
ooms with
private baths, a/c, minibar and cable TV.
R$120
main action, this charming, gay-friendly hotel is set in
mellow garden terraces. They also operate minibus trips
into the
sertão
to visit local communities, archeological
sites and cave paintings. It has some rooms with hammock
balconies looking
over
the ocean and a large beach
terrace. Free wi-fi.
R$325
Pousada América do Sol
Rua Erivan França 35
T
84 3219 2245,
W
pousadaamericadosol.com.br.
Newish hotel near the beach with very comfortable rooms
overlooking the ocean and great service for the price. It
runs a reliable travel agency, too, organizing buggy rides,
boat trips and exc
ursions
as far afield as Fernando de
Noronha. Free wi-fi.
R$130
Republika Hostel
Rua Porto das Oficinas 123
T
84 3236 2782,
W
republikahostel.com.br.
Stylish
hostel in a quiet area a short walk high above the beach,
with an all-white-and-blue Mediterranean-like colour
scheme and cos
y com
mon area
s. Sma
ll, spotless dorms and
doubles. Dorms
R$35
; doubles
R$80
★
PONTA NEGRA
★
Albergue da Costa
Av Praia de Ponta Negra 8932
T
84 8869 8932,
W
alberguedacosta.com.br.
Noted
for the exceptionally friendly staff and good-value
dorms, with hammocks, free wi-fi, hearty breakfast, TV
room
with DV
Ds, and
a tiny swimming pool. Dorms
R$50
; doubles
R$140
Lua Cheia Youth Hostal
Rua Doctor Manoel Araujo
500, Praia Ponta Negra
T
84 3236 3696,
W
luacheia
.com.br.
This is a fun, HI-a
liated hostel with bunk-room
dorms, private doubles and family rooms. There's a lively
basement bar (the Tavern Pub) and the entire site is located
in a castle-like folly with a lovely central courtyard. Well
organized, offering airport transfers and its own souvenir
shop.
Free wi-fi. Pric
es for me
mbers are given
in brackets.
Dorms
R$59 (R$49)
; doubles
R$148 (R$128)
★
4
Visual Praia Hotel
Rua Francisco Gurgel 9184
T
84 3646 4646,
W
visualpraiahotel.com.br.
Large,
very comfortable resort-like option located right on the
beach, with several pools, a big terrace and a children's
play a
rea. Wi-fi
fi is free in rooms, and R$0.25/min in public
areas.
R$260
Manary Praia Hotel
Rua Francisco Gurgel 9067
T
84 3204 2900,
W
manary.com.br.
On a relatively quiet
part of the beach, just a few hundred metres from the
EATING
CITY CENTRE
Âncora Caipira
Av Campos Sales 474
T
84 3202 9364,
W
ancoracaipira.com.br.
A popular local restaurant
within striking distance of Natal's old centre, serving up
superb regional dishes (a good place to try
carne de sol
).
Tues-Sun 11am-5pm.
★
equally popular) with delicious specials such as shrimp
with quinoa, the signature
camarões potiguar
(shrimp
in a coconut milk sauce), and grilled fresh fish. Expect
to wait a bit for a table. Mains R$65-95.
Mon-Sat
11.30am-3.30pm
&
6.30pm-midnight,
Sun
11.30am-4pm, 6.30-11pm.
Casa da Taipa
Rua Manoel Augusto Bezerra de Araújo
133
T
84 3641 1085.
Rustic, open-air place specializing in
regional dishes such as couscous with shrimp but primarily
known for its tapioca stuffed with a variety of fillings, from
carne de sol
to cheese and chocolate (R$28) - and their
caipirinhas
are superb.
Daily 5pm-midnight.
Cuore di Panna
Av Engenheiro Roberto Freire 9028
T
84 3301 3332.
Best ice cream in the city (authentic
Italian
gelato
) in a variety of flavours from traditional to
tropical fruits, also serving tasty crêpes, good coffee and
cakes.
Daily 11am-11pm.
Marenosso
Rua Aderbal Figueiredo 980, Centro de
Turismo, Petrópolis
T
84 3211 4037.
Atmospheric
restaurant in the Centro de Turismo, high above the city,
serving traditional tapiocas (R$5-7), cold beers (R$4),
carne de sol
(R$31) and other local dishes (R$35-40).
Daily
9am-6pm (till 9pm Thurs).
PONTA NEGRA
★
Camarões
Av Engenheiro Roberto Freire 2610
T
84 3209 2424,
W
camaroes.com.br.
Long-standing
tourist favourite (its offshoot, Camarões Potiguar, nearby, is
