São Miguel do Gostoso
A small paradise in the northeast coast of Brazil
Photo © Revista Azul
Why visit São Miguel do Gostoso
São Miguel do Gostoso is located in the Northeast of Brazil, on the paradisiacal coast of the state of Rio Grande do Norte. The municipality is 102 km from the capital Natal and stands out for its rich culture, excellent cuisine, beautiful beaches, nature preservation and ideal winds for kitesurfing and windsurfing. Come enjoy the sun and the hospitality of our people!
Destination’s sustainability performance
Culture & Local Life
The economy of São Miguel do Gostoso revolves around three basic pillars: agriculture, fishing and tourism. For many years, the main livelihood of residents came exclusively from the cultivation of fruits and vegetables as well as fishing, traditional activities in the region.
In the 1990s, tourism activities started bringing economic benefits to the municipality. From 2000 onwards, Gostoso gained international recognition for his tranquility and ideal winds to practice sports such as kitesurfing and windsurfing, which brought tourists from all over the world. Today, tourism is a main factor in the development and growth of the city’s economy.
© Armando Boni
Getting there
São Miguel do Gostoso is 110km away from the capital Natal, where the nearest airport is located. Coming by car from Natal, you’d need to take the highway BR-101 and then the RN-023. By bus, the company that makes the route between Natal and São Miguel do Gostoso is called Expresso Cabral.
Getting around
São Miguel do Gostoso has only 10,000 inhabitants, so it is possible (and very easy!) to visit the city only on foot. To go to the beaches, you can also walk or, if you prefer, rent bikes, quads or buggy!
GOOD BUSINESSES
Discover accommodations, restaurants, shops and attractions that are commited to responsible development
Historic and cultural heritage
In addition to the beaches, take the opportunity to visit the Casa de Taipa Museum and the Church of São Miguel do Arcanjo.
PROMO CODE:
Historic and cultural heritage
In addition to the beaches, take the opportunity to visit the Casa de Taipa Museum and the Church of São Miguel do Arcanjo.
PROMO CODE:
Historic and cultural heritage
In addition to the beaches, take the opportunity to visit the Casa de Taipa Museum and the Church of São Miguel do Arcanjo.
PROMO CODE:
Historic and cultural heritage
In addition to the beaches, take the opportunity to visit the Casa de Taipa Museum and the Church of São Miguel do Arcanjo.
PROMO CODE:
Nature & Wildlife
The municipality of São Miguel do Gostoso is based on sun and beach tourism, thanks to its warm waters, beautiful lagoons, cliffs and sand dunes. The city is located in the Atlantic Forest biome, as well as almost all coastal cities in Brazil.
This biome, in the Northeast region, is characterized by great biodiversity of fauna and flora, humid tropical climate (high temperatures and a lot of rainfall throughout the year) and the presence of mangroves, in addition to dunes and sandbanks. The fauna in the Atlantic Forest of Rio Grande do Norte includes cougars, marmosets, white-eared opossums, owls, bats, coral snakes and lizards.
© Ricardo de Paula Ferreira
Sustainability
The municipality of São Miguel do Gostoso has set itself a goal in 2019 to be the most sustainable tourist destination in northeast Brazil, and we are working hard to achieve this! In recent years, we have been committed to seeking sustainable strategies, including: cleaning the water supply; awareness of sustainability through a local economic development project and an environmental project in schools; and implementation of new clean energy sources – such as solar – in the municipality.
Good Pratice Story
The good practice story of São Miguel do Gostoso is related to the benefits brought to the culture and community of Baixinha dos França, a district in the rural area of the municipality. A Community Based Tourism course by Senac was held with the community and covered topics such as ethics, the tourism market, entrepreneurship, sustainability, culture and heritage. The course resulted in greater empowerment of residents and a positive outlook on the creation of tourist activities in the region, bringing greater economic and social benefits.
Travel tips from our editors
Beaches in Gostoso
São Miguel do Gostoso has many beautiful white-sand beaches. There are four urban beaches: Praia do Ponta do Santo Cristo, Praia do Cardeiro (photo), Praia da Xêpa (where the touristic center is) and Praia do Maceió. Praia de Tourinhos and Praia do Marco beaches are a little further from the city, but are accessible for day trips. It is possible to go by bicycle or quad, or with hire a buggy trip.
Historic and cultural heritage
In addition to the beaches, take the opportunity to visit the Casa de Taipa Museum and the Church of São Miguel do Arcanjo (photo). The museum is a wooden house that portrays the history and customs of the people from the Northeast. The church has its history linked to the name of the city. According to a legend, in the 20th
Water sports
Praia da Ponta do Santo Cristo is considered one of the best Brazilian beaches for water sports such as kitesurfing and windsurfing. Due to its favorable location, on the ‘curve’ of the South American continent, the wind is perfect for sailing sports and the waters are warm. There are countless schools that rent equipment and give classes and instructions. It’s worth trying!
Sustainability Recognitions
São Miguel do Gostoso was selected in both the
2020 and 2021 Top 100 Destination Sustainability Stories
What does it mean?
1.They have shown at least 60% compliance with the Green Destinations Core Criteria.
2.They have submitted a story that was selected to the list for its innovative,
effective and / or transferable good management practice.
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