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Nísia Floresta, located in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, is a tourist destination known for its beautiful beaches and lagoons. The town offers a combination of coastal landscapes and inland waters that attract visitors in search of relaxation and adventures in nature.

The town is named in honour of the writer and educator Nísia Floresta Brasileira Augusta (1810-1885), one of the pioneers of feminism in Brazil and a defender of women’s rights and education.

The town has a history dating back to the colonial period, with records dating back to the 18th century. Originally known as Papary, the town was renamed in 1948 to honour Nísia Floresta.

In addition to the beautiful beaches, Nísia Floresta also has an immense lagoon complex, with more than 20 lagoons.

The beach of Pirangi do Sul, where the parrachos are located, is already part of the municipality of Nísia Floresta, to which the beaches of Pirambúzios, Búzios, Barra de Tabatinga, Camurupim and Barreta also belong.

In addition to the beautiful beaches, Nísia Floresta also has an immense complex of lagoons, of which there are more than 20, including the Arituba, Bonfim and Carcará lagoons.

Access to the municipality of Nísia Floresta, which is 43 kilometres from Natal, is easy.

Tours of the beaches and lagoons can be made by buggy, hired car via the Rota do Sol, or even by public transport, using inter-municipal lines that leave from Natal and Parnamirim.

See the tourist map of Rio Grande do Norte

Like Pirangi do Sul, Pirambúzios has calm waters and is more frequented by water sports enthusiasts, such as kitesurfing and windsurfing.

The beaches of Búzios and Tabatinga, on the other hand, have strong waves that should only be tackled by more experienced surfers.

Bathing is not recommended and there is a high incidence of drownings in this area.

On Búzios beach, however, there are several stalls by the sea that invite you to sample the town’s prawn-based cuisine.

There are also lagoon formations where children can enjoy themselves more safely. But you can’t be too careful.

If you’re travelling by buggy or 4X4, you can take a ride through the dunes of Búzios, which also hide the seven lagoons. The recommendation is to end the tour at sunset, which is even more beautiful from the dunes.

The Praia de Tabatinga is known for its Dolphin Lookout, which is located on top of the cliffs. The dolphins there have a “strong personality” and sometimes insist on not appearing.

Even so, a stop there is a must, as it offers one of the most beautiful panoramic views of the south coast.

For bathers, adults or children, Camurupim beach is paradise.

The reefs that line the entire length of the beach are a natural barrier to the waves and at high tide beautiful natural pools are formed.

At low tide, Pedra Oca, a cave under the reefs, becomes the beach’s main attraction.

Camurupim beach has a few bars and restaurants along the seafront.

Barreta beach is the most deserted of all, with a little more movement during the summer. The sea is rougher and bathing requires attention in some areas due to the reefs.

Between Barra de Tabatinga and Camurupim is the Lagoa de Arituba.

With crystal-clear waters, surrounded by dunes and lots of greenery, the lagoon also offers a good leisure structure, with tents, pedal boat and kayak hire, and a zip line, known here as an “aerobunda”.

The Carcará Lagoon is among the most incredible scenery in Rio Grande do Norte.

Bonfim Lagoon is a seaside resort surrounded by private properties and there is practically no public access. The lagoon, however, is the most important in the municipality, as it is the largest of them all and has a catchment system that supplies water to a large number of towns in the Agreste, Trairí and Potengi regions.

Videos – “Beaches and Lagoons of Nísia Floresta RN”

Tourist Attractions in Nísia Floresta RN

1. Bilro lace or cushion lace handicrafts

The largest concentration of people dedicated to bobbin lace or cushion lace – and one of the few that exist today in the state of Rio Grande do Norte – is in the community of Alcaçuz, next to the lagoon of the same name, in the municipality of Nísia Floresta.

A technique brought over by Portuguese colonisers and very common throughout the Iberian Peninsula, it was widely spread along the Brazilian coast.

It is often associated with the fishing activities of the lace makers’ husbands and has been taught from one generation to the next for centuries.

Used both in garments and home furnishings, the beauty and quality of the lace patterns produced throughout the state of Rio Grande do Sul led to its great acceptance by consumers, even from abroad, in the 1970s and 1980s.

Since then, the activity has undergone an accelerated process of disappearance, due to the great amount of time spent making the delicate work. In recent years, due to the growth of tourism, the decline has been reversed, reinvigorating this ancestral knowledge.

2. Labyrinth Lace Handicrafts

The largest concentration of women dedicated to producing lace using the Labyrinth technique is in the Campo de Santana community, in the rural area of the municipality of Nísia Floresta.

They are representatives of a centuries-old tradition, passed down from generation to generation.

The works of great beauty and plasticity are the result of a hybrid between embroidery and lace, brought by the Portuguese colonisers and spread throughout the north-east of Brazil.

At first, it was seen as something sacred, used only to make ecclesiastical vestments.

Over time, it began to decorate household furnishings, such as table centres, banquet tablecloths and tray cloths. More recently, it has been used to decorate garments worn at events such as baptisms, weddings, graduations, etc.

Depending on the size of the piece, it can take days, weeks or months to complete.

Due to the beauty, creativity and expressiveness of the motifs created by the craftswomen, the funds generated from sales, especially to tourists, are decisive for the perpetuation of this knowledge.

3. Centenary houses

The layout of the village of Papary, now the town of Nísia Floresta, began to form at the beginning of the 18th century, in the 1700s.

As a result, its small urban area has several historic buildings, the most important of which is the Mother Church of Nossa Senhora do Ó.

4. Papary railway station

Papary Railway Station was completed in 1881, when The Great Western of Brazil Railway was built.

Listed by the Rio Grande do Norte State Historical Heritage in December 1984, the structure is now home to the Marina Camarões Restaurant.

5. Dolphin Lookout

This is located at the top of the cliffs of Tabatinga Beach. As the entire coast along the municipality of Nísia Floresta is an important nursery for sea turtles and jumping dolphins, it is quite common for groups of the latter to come out to show off, always arriving in the late afternoon.

6. Hollow Rock

A cave carved out by the force of the water in the barrier reef of Camurupim Beach. At low tide, you can visit its interior, where you can fit a person standing up. It is, perhaps, the most visited and most enjoyed spot on the whole of the extensive coastline of the municipality of Nísia Floresta.

7. Church of Our Lady

The construction of the Church of Our Lady of Ó began in 1702 by Portuguese families. The work was only completed five decades later, in 1755.

This is undoubtedly the oldest and most important building in the town of Nísia Floresta.

Its high altar, adorned with gold pieces, houses images of the saint honoured and of São Benedito, pieces imported from Portugal, back in the days of colonial Brazil.

Also on display are the vestments worn by the priests after the work was completed.

8. Beaches of Nísia Floresta RN

8.1. Barreta Beach

A marvellous, different landscape. Like its neighbours, the natural pools formed after the tide goes down are a highlight. They are ideal for those looking to relax in warm waters.

The protection of the reefs makes it very safe, especially for children.

8.2 Búzios Beach

With its sea favourable for swimming, it is one of the busiest in terms of visitors. This is helped by the excellent leisure facilities, from simply enjoying the sun to practising sports on the sand.

There is a good infrastructure of stalls, kiosks and restaurants.

8.3 Camurupim Beach

A long stretch of solid sand on which you can travel by buggy or jeep, for example, without fear of getting bogged down.

Protecting it from the rougher sea, and during low tide, the barrier reef forms a sequence of natural pools, a paradise for children.

8.5 Pirambúzios Beach

A quiet place, marked by the meeting of the river and the sea and not very popular. The necklace of natural pools formed at low tide is unrivalled in its beauty.

It’s a great place to take the kids, but young people, adults and even the elderly will be enchanted.

8.6 Pirangi do Sul Beach

One of the busiest on the Nísia Floresta seafront, with many groups of young people.

The main attraction is its waters, which are ideal for swimming and snorkelling. It has a strong structure with stalls, kiosks and restaurants serving local cuisine.

8.7 Tabatinga Beach

A beach of golden sands, adorned by the most beautiful cliffs in the municipality of Nísia Floresta.

Its waters are visited practically every day by groups of dolphins in the late afternoons. Strong, long waves invite you to surf.

8.8 Waterfalls of Barreta Beach

A spectacle created when the tide starts to rise and the waves overtake the barrier reef along Barreta Beach.

The water is thrown over the large expanse of rock, sliding slowly, like a veil, down the side facing the strip of sand.

9. Lagoons of Nísia Floresta RN

9.1 Youth Lagoon

Legend has it that its crystal-clear waters are rejuvenating. Very good for snorkelling, and equipment can be hired nearby.

Still a fairly untouched area, it is gradually gaining infrastructure to cater for tourists.

9.2 Alcaçuz Lagoon

One of the most beautiful of the 26 lagoons in the municipality of Nísia Floresta.

Surrounded by white sandy beaches, its crystalline waters vary in colour from light green to dark blue. Good for diving and refreshing, relaxing baths.

9.3 Arituba Lagoon

A beautiful place, likened by visitors to a veritable oasis.

The water is not very deep, perfect for those who don’t like waves and another attraction for families and their children. Its large expanse of water is surrounded by soft white sandy beaches.

One attraction is the Aerobunda.

All you have to do is climb a metal tower up to 10 metres high, sit in a chair with a seat belt and slide down on pulleys. Then comes the most enjoyable part: before you reach the other side, still in the middle of the journey, throw yourself into the lagoon.

9.4 Boágua Lagoon

Its name says it all: excellent, clear waters, with shades varying from light green to dark blue, depending on the depth of the place. The banks are covered in white sand. An ideal environment for swimming, contemplating nature, diving and observing the bottom…

9.5 Bomfim Lagoon

Also known as Lagoa das Sete Pontas, it is one of the largest in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. During the rainy season, in the months of May, June and July, the volume of water that accumulates there increases greatly, doubling compared to the rest of the year.

9.6 Carcará Lagoon

Its name comes from the name of a bird of prey common in the region: the carcará.

Similarly, another nearby lagoon is called Urubu. Both are part of the Lacuste Bonfim System, which also includes the Arituba, Alcaçuz, Ferreira Grande and Redonda lagoons.

It forms part of a triangle, the northern end of which is the Pium River, the southern end of which is the Trairi River and the eastern end of which is the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.

Its border of soft sand surrounds a wide stretch of shallow, warm, crystal-clear waters, varying in shades of blue and green, excellent for swimming.

One of the most paradisiacal places in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, but difficult to access.

It’s a place to go pedal boating, paddle kayaks, balance on stand up paddle boards and enjoy windsurfing.

Equipment can be hired from local kiosks and restaurants.

History of Nísia Floresta

The Nísia Floresta Museum was inaugurated in 2012 in a 19th century mansion in the 1800s, in the centre of the town of Nísia Floresta. Its main objective is to collect, catalogue, exhibit and preserve documents and objects related to the unique life story of the most illustrious personality ever born there.

This is the writer Dionísia Gonçalves Pinto, who came into the world on 12 October 1810, in Sítio Floresta, in the rural area of what was then Vila de Papary.

In her childhood and youth, contrary to what was usual at the time, her parents encouraged her formal education, including an appreciation for reading.

At the age of 21, married and living in the city of Recife, the capital of the Pernambuco Captaincy, she began publishing articles in newspapers.

To circumvent barriers imposed on women, she signed her texts with a pseudonym: Nísia Floresta Brasileira Augusta, under which she became known.

To create it, she used creativity, a characteristic that was always present in her work: Nísia, the end of Dionísia; Floresta, the place of her birth; Brasileira, a nationalist reference; and Augusta, referring to her husband, Manoel Augusto de Faria, father of her children Lívia and Augusto.

When her first work was released, it was praised by few and criticised by many. Remarkable for some; unseemly for others. This was because she defended the Republic in a Monarchy, respect for the natives by the colonisers and freedom for the slaves within a slave system.

But perhaps the biggest shock came from her quest for social, economic and political equality for both sexes in a society in which women were only given the chores of the home and family – which is why she is considered the pioneer of feminism in Brazil.

Dionísia Gonçalves Pinto, or Nísia Floresta Brasileira Augusta, not only defended this new role, she practised it. She launched herself as a writer and poet and became an educator.

A widow with young children, she swapped the heat of the north-east of Brazil for the colder climate of the south.

She moved to Porto Alegre, the capital of the Captaincy of Rio Grande do Sul, where she set up and ran a school for girls.

The outbreak of the Farrapos War in 1835 interrupted her plans, prompting her to settle in Rio de Janeiro, the nation’s capital.

These disappointments did not discourage her and, as an entrepreneur, she founded and ran Colégio Augusto and Colégio Brasil. Before long, both were known for their high standard of teaching.

On the verge of completing 15 years in Rio, fate forced her to make another radical change.

In 1849, her daughter Livia suffered a serious accident and, on medical advice, Nísia Floresta Brasileira Augusta took her to Europe. She spent 28 years, most of them in Paris, the capital of France.

Several times, she faced long journeys to come to Brazil.

Always faithful to the ideals she had expressed as a young woman, she remained in the country between 1872 and 1875, in the midst of the abolitionist struggle led by Joaquim Nabuco.

Returning to Europe, he stayed there for another decade, but died of pneumonia on 24 April 1885.

At the time, he was living in the town of Bonsecours, in the Normandy region of eastern France.

His remains were returned to his homeland on 12 September 1954, six years after the old town of Papary was renamed the town of Nísia Floresta on 23 December 1948.

Beaches and lagoons of Nísia Floresta in Rio Grande do Norte