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Voykit pocket guide · Brazil
Canguaretama
Skip unless you have a specific reason (family visit, kitesurfing, or the July martyr festival): the town has one beach and a few colonial ruins, best as a half-day stop en route to Baía Formosa or Pipa.
Canguaretama is a quiet agricultural town 77 km south of Natal with a single beach (Barra de Cunhaú), a 17th-century sugar mill ruin and two annual festivals. Most travellers pass through to reach Baía Formosa or Pipa. The town itself offers little for a dedicated trip beyond kitesurfing or the July 16 Festival of the Martyrs of Cunhaú.
- Country
- Brazil
- Best months
- Aug–Dec (dry, less rain)
- Avoid
- Mar–Jul (rainy season, heavy showers)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BRL
- Money
- Currency is the Brazilian real (BRL, R$). About R$5–5.8 per US dollar in 2026 — check. Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere, even at beach kiosks.
- Daily spend
- Budget R$ 80–150 excl. bed · Mid R$ 150–300 excl. bed · High R$ 300+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vivo, Claro and TIM cover the country; buying a prepaid SIM needs a passport and sometimes a CPF — an eSIM before you fly is easier.
- Emergency
- Police 190 · Ambulance 192 · Fire 193
- Plugs
- Types N, C · 127 V (Rio, São Paulo) or 220 V (Brasília, much of the Northeast) · Check the voltage on the socket; most chargers are dual-voltage.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10% service (serviço) usually on the bill; optional but normal.; Beach kiosk / bar: Often included; round up.; Taxi / Uber: Not expected; round up.; Guide: US$5–15 per person per day.; Hotel staff: Small tip for porters.
- Water
- Do not drink tap water; filtered water is provided in most homes and hotels.
- Toilets
- Put toilet paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (cafézinho) | R$ 4–7 |
| Beer (garrafa 600 ml) | R$ 6–10 |
| Simple lunch (prato feito) | R$ 18–30 |
| Taxi town centre → Barra de Cunhaú | R$ 25–35 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- NAT · São Gonçalo do Amarante – Natal International Airport
- 77 km (48 mi) north; about 1 h 15 min by car or bus48 mi (77 km) north; about 1 h 15 min by car or bus
Typical fares
- Natal airport → Canguaretama (bus)
- about R$ 25, 1 h 15 min (check)
- Canguaretama → Pipa (taxi)
- about R$ 60–80, 40 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Town is walkable; to reach Barra de Cunhaú Beach you need a car or taxi (about 5 km (3.1 mi)). Buses from Natal stop at the centre.Town is walkable; to reach Barra de Cunhaú Beach you need a car or taxi (about 3.1 mi (5 km)). Buses from Natal stop at the centre.
See and do
Known for
- Barra de Cunhaú Beach
- Engenho Cunhaú (colonial sugar mill)
- Festival of the Martyrs of Cunhaú (July 16)
- Windsurfing and kitesurfing
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Baía Formosa | Car or taxi, about 15 km (9.3 mi) southCar or taxi, about 9.3 mi (15 km) south | About 20 min |
| Praia de Pipa | Car or taxi via RN-003, about 30 km (19 mi)Car or taxi via RN-003, about 19 mi (30 km) | About 40 min |
| Natal | Bus or car north on BR-101, 77 km (48 mi)Bus or car north on BR-101, 48 mi (77 km) | About 1 h 15 min |
Sleep
- Town centre
- Basic pousadas and guesthouses; limited dining options.
- Barra de Cunhaú area
- Closer to the beach and kitesurfing spots; quieter.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Good day | Bom diabohm DEE-ah |
| Thank you | Obrigadooh-bree-GAH-doo |
| How much is it? | Quanto custa?KWAN-too KOOS-tah |
| Where is the beach? | Onde fica a praia?ON-jee FEE-kah ah PRY-ah |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, hug or cheek kiss (one in São Paulo, two in Rio); avoid: Being stiff with new acquaintances
- Gestures: Use thumbs-up freely; avoid: The OK hand sign (it is rude)
- Language: Try Portuguese; say obrigado/obrigada; avoid: Defaulting to Spanish
- Time: Expect relaxed social punctuality; avoid: Being late for tours and flights
- Beach: Bring only a towel, cash and a copy of your ID; avoid: Leaving things unattended
Scams and watch-outs
- Rainy season (Mar–Jul) can make dirt roads muddy and limit beach access.
- No ATM in town? check; bring cash from Natal.
- Festival dates (July 16, December 8) fill local accommodation early.
Canguaretama is generally safe during the day; avoid walking alone on the beach after dark. Keep valuables out of sight in the town centre.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Canguaretama yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Barra de Cunhaú Beach
- Engenho Cunhaú (colonial sugar mill)
- Festival of the Martyrs of Cunhaú (July 16)
- Windsurfing and kitesurfing
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Canguaretama, revision 5321525 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5321525
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/canguaretama). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.