Beach Holidays at Christmas - Natal, Brazil

-->It's coming up to Christmas, its freezing cold, the rain seems to be unrelenting and its light seemingly for just 5 hours a day. So it's no wonder we all want to get away for a week or two and get some winter sun. And Brazil has got to be fairly high on the agenda for a memorable beach holiday. I previously talked about Fernando de Noronha as a great beach destination off the beaten track off the coast of Brazil. Natal is the capital of Rio Grande do Norte, a state in the North East of Brazil. The town was founded on Christmas day in 1599 and is named "Natal" as this is the Portuguese word for Christmas. It enjoys the benefit of having the best climate in the whole of Brazil - it sees only very minor seasonal vaiations as it is near the equator which means it is perfect for a Christmas holiday getaway.
Natal is growing in popularity as a top holiday destination - foreign tourism has increased by 134% between 2002 and 2005. Plans are underway to build the largest airport in South America and the 8th biggest in the world as a result of this tourism boom. This is for a variety of reasons - for example its climate, and its accessability - the area is the closest point of Latin America from Europe meaning it is quicker to reach by plane than other areas like Rio. Natal is also a gateway for the beaches around the region - some of the most popular include Ponta Negra which runs along the coast for much of the city, and Via Costeira, famed for its clear waters. The region as a whole is blessed with countless beautiful beaches, including Pipa, one of the most famous beaches in Brazil.

Best Beach Holidays - Fernando de Noronha

Beach holidays are by far the most popular type of holidays - the words 'beach' and 'holiday' go hand in hand. The trouble is, there are so many destinations to choose from so deciding where to go is tricky.

Fernando de Noronha, off the coast of Brazil, is regarded as one of the top beach destinations. The fact it is not well known and barely spoken about adds an air of mystery to the location. It is an archipelago comprising of one large, 11 square mile volcanic island, as well as 20 smaller ones. The main island is reachable by plane from inland, and is definitely worth the effort. As your plane descends from the sky, you can see the beautiful turquoise sea and golden beaches and you just know this is somewhere very special.


Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

Scuba diving and snorkeling are two must-do activities here, as well as the sun bathing obviously. The range of aquatic life is spectacular - there are more species of animal here than you can shake a stick at. The dolphins are also a highlight of the islands - the 'spinner' species present here can be regularly spotted leaping from the depths acrobatically.

A holiday here is probably out of the price range of the majority of tourists, but would be excellent as a romantic holiday destination or for in love honeymooners. The best time to go is between September to March, when the weather is best. Brazil's Fernando do Noronha is certainly a top beach holiday destination and a jewel in Brazil's crown.