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Which is better: Alter do Chão or Natal?

Short answer

Alter do Chão is in the Amazon (PA), while Natal is on the Rio Grande do Norte Coast (RN): different regions of Brazil. Alter do Chão: the Amazon's Caribbean; Natal: the City of the Sun trades the clock for the rhythm of the tides, with dunes that run down to the sea and sunshine on almost every day of the year. For this month's weather, Natal has the edge.

Sources: INMET (updated 2026) · ANP · OpenStreetMap
Most reviewed activity in Alter do ChãoTapajós National Forest Tour★ 8.7 · 3 reviews · from US$ 77 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Most reviewed activity in NatalPipa Beach Day Trip★ 8.9 · 14 reviews · from US$ 24 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Alter do Chão Natal
Best time to visit Aug → Nov Sep → Dec
Weather this month 33° · 5 days of rain 30° · 5 days of rain
By car R$ 21 · from Santarém R$ 104 · from João Pessoa
Ideal stay 3–4 days 4–5 days
Best for Relax, Adventure, Family Family, Adventure, Relax
Choose Alter do Chão if

you want a trip for relaxation and adventure seekers: white-sand beaches and crystal-clear water that appear when the Tapajós River drops.

See guide
Choose Natal if

you want a trip for families and adventure seekers: the City of the Sun trades the clock for the rhythm of the tides, with dunes that run down to the sea and sunshine on almost every day of the year.

See guide
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Where to stay

Where to stay: Alter do Chão or Natal

The average nightly rate is around R$ 544 in Alter do Chão and R$ 571 in Natal; what changes in practice is each place's season. Check current prices for your dates before deciding.

Compare hotels and places to stay in Alter do Chão on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

See all hotels in Alter do Chão

Compare hotels and places to stay in Natal on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

Majestic Ponta Negra Beach, WorldHotels Elite in Natal 9.3 · 18 reviews Majestic Ponta Negra Beach, WorldHotels Elite See on Booking → Manary Praia Hotel in Natal 9.3 ★★★★ · 13 reviews Manary Praia Hotel See on Booking →
See all hotels in Natal

Rates change with the dates: confirm the price on Booking.com.

Frequently asked questions

Alter do Chão or Natal: which is better?
Alter do Chão is in the Amazon (PA), while Natal is on the Rio Grande do Norte Coast (RN): different regions of Brazil. Alter do Chão: the Amazon's Caribbean; Natal: the City of the Sun trades the clock for the rhythm of the tides, with dunes that run down to the sea and sunshine on almost every day of the year. For this month's weather, Natal has the edge.
What is the best time to visit Alter do Chão and Natal?
The best time to visit Alter do Chão is from August to November; for Natal, it is from September to December, based on INMET's climate normals (temperature and rainfall for each month). If your trip already has a date, check each destination's page for your month.
Which of the two is cheaper to get to?
By car, leaving from Santarém, Alter do Chão is 37 km (23 mi) and costs about R$ 21 each way (fuel plus tolls); leaving from João Pessoa, Natal is 185 km (115 mi) and costs about R$ 104 each way (fuel plus tolls). The calculation assumes a car that gets 11 km/L. Lodging and activities vary with each place's season.
Where does it rain less, Alter do Chão or Natal?
Averaged over the year, Alter do Chão has 14 rainy days a month and Natal has 11. Natal is the drier of the two over the year as a whole, but what decides the trip is the month: the rainiest month in Alter do Chão is March and in Natal, June. For temperature, Alter do Chão is the warmer one (average high of 31° versus 30°).
How many days should you spend in Alter do Chão and in Natal?
To see the main sights without rushing, Alter do Chão calls for 3–4 days and Natal, 4–5 days. These are distant regions: with a week or less, it is usually better to pick one of the two and make the most of it.
Alter do Chão or Natal with kids?
Both work with kids: Alter do Chão (Amazon's Caribbean, river beaches, and Borari culture) and Natal (sun all year; dunes and buggies; city beaches). The choice usually comes down to getting there, not to infrastructure. With small children, weather matters: Natal has fewer rainy days over the year.
What should you not miss in each?
In Alter do Chão: Ilha do Amor, Lago Verde, Floresta Nacional do Tapajós. In Natal: Ponta Negra Beach and Morro do Careca, Genipabu Dunes, Forte dos Reis Magos. These are the sights that show up most in first-trip itineraries for each destination; the full guide to each has the whole list.