ATV Riding Genipabu Dunes from Natal: Buggy on Sand

Drive your own buggy across two kinds of dunes and a lagoon famous for filming.

A three-hour buggy ride from Natal through Genipabu's dunes, where you operate an authorized vehicle across both soft, shifting sand and compacted terrain. The tour includes private transportation from your hotel, a live guide in English or Spanish, and optional stops at a camel ride, the Genipabu lagoon, and a small aquarium. You choose the intensity level (with or without the high-speed runs), and the return route follows the beaches of Santa Rita and Redinha at low tide.

Step-by-step itinerary

Buggy ride and dune exploration

• Depart from Natal to Genipabu
• Pass urban beaches of Natal and Ponte Nova
• Optional walk with dromedaries
• Visit Aquarium (optional)
• Ride authorized buggy on dunes with or without emotion
• Explore Furniture and fixed dunes
• View Genipabu lagoon
• End walk on Genipabu beach
• Return via beaches of Sta. Rita and Redinha

The experience

You leave Natal with a driver who takes you through the city's urban beaches and across Ponte Nova toward Genipabu. Once there, you get behind the wheel of an authorized buggy and drive it yourself across two distinct landscapes: the furniture dunes, which are packed and stable, and the free dunes, which shift constantly underfoot. The Genipabu lagoon sits at the edge of the fixed dunes (the body of water you see in soap operas and international commercials), and marks the turning point before the ride ends on Genipabu beach.

The tour runs three hours total and lets you set the pace. If you want speed and adrenaline, you take the high-emotion route. If you prefer a steadier drive, the without-emotion option keeps things controlled. Along the way, optional stops let you walk with dromedaries, visit the small aquarium, or simply stand on the dunes and look out. The return to Natal follows the beaches of Santa Rita and Redinha, a route that only works when the tide is low and the sand is firm enough for the buggy to grip.

The operator has run this tour for twenty years with accredited vehicles and guides who speak English or Spanish. Transportation from your hotel is included, so you do not need a car or directions to the dunes.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your hotel in Natal to Genipabu and back.
• authorized buggy for the dunes.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.
• choice of intensity level for the buggy ride.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to Saturday

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 5 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Kleyton juvencio

Is this one for you?Book this if you're staying in Natal without a car and want to drive yourself across the dunes rather than ride as a passenger. The included hotel pickup means you start from where you're staying, and the three-hour window fits between a morning beach swim and an afternoon meal.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What is the difference between the furniture dunes and the free dunes on this ride?

The furniture dunes are compacted and solid, so the buggy grips easily. The free dunes shift constantly, which is where the high-emotion driving happens. Both are part of the same tour.

Can I choose how fast or intense the buggy ride is?

Yes. The tour offers a with-emotion option for speed and adrenaline, and a without-emotion option for a steadier pace. You pick at booking.

What is the Genipabu lagoon and why does it matter?

The Genipabu lagoon is a body of water at the edge of the fixed dunes that has been used as a filming location for Brazilian soap operas and international advertisements. It is a natural landmark and a visual centerpiece of the ride.

How do I get to the dunes if I don't have a car?

Private transportation from your hotel in Natal is included in the booking. The driver takes you through the city's beaches and across Ponte Nova to Genipabu, then back to your hotel at the end.

Are there other activities besides the buggy ride itself?

Yes, but they are optional. You can walk with dromedaries, visit a small aquarium, or simply explore the dunes on foot. The buggy ride is the main activity. The stops are add-ons you choose.

What happens if the tide is high when we return?

The return route along the beaches of Santa Rita and Redinha only works at low tide, when the sand is firm. If the tide is high, the driver takes an alternate route back to Natal.