If you haven’t hit up Ponta Negra in Natal lately, you’re honestly missing out. This beach is looking better than ever—like, straight-up glow-up vibes. If you remember squeezing onto a tiny patch of sand while dodging rogue waves, forget it. That’s ancient history now. The city really went all in with this restoration thing, and wow, you can actually breathe out there! There’s so much sand you could build a sandcastle empire, not just a sad little mound.

Seriously, the ocean used to nibble away at the beach year by year, and it was starting to look kinda grim. Every high tide, you’d see the barracas (those little stands) and restaurants inching closer to the water, like, “Please, Poseidon, spare us.” Morro do Careca, that iconic dune everyone’s always snapping pics of, was getting threatened too. Beach days turned into a game of “find a spot, or go home.”

But hey, fast-forward to now—December 2024 rolled around, and boom, they dropped a massive sand-nourishment project. I’m talking about a beach that’s now up to 100 meters wide at low tide. That’s, like, enough room for everyone and their grandma to sprawl out. You want to play volleyball? Go for it. Sandcastles? Build the whole kingdom. Or just lay there and roast yourself into a golden croquette—no judgment.

The vibe’s totally different now. Locals are stoked, especially since the Morro do Careca is safe for the foreseeable future. Resorts aren’t stressing about the sea eating up their front yards anymore, so you get a chill, upgraded experience. Honestly, there’s this buzz in the air—more events, more people, just general “let’s-live-our-best-beach-life” energy.

So, if you’re thinking, “Is it worth checking out again?”—uh, yeah! Whether you’re a die-hard Natal beach bum or you’ve never set foot there before, this is the time. Pack way too much sunscreen, grab those knockoff Ray-Bans, and just go already. The new Ponta Negra? It’s not just a beach. It’s a flex.