Red cliffs
Above the sea.
Pablo Soares — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Kidamv28 — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Helder da Rocha — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Adrian Michael — CC BY 2.5 · Katita Alves — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Helder da Rocha — CC BY-SA 2.0
Ponta do Mel is a village and beach in the municipality of Areia Branca on the northern coast of Rio Grande do Norte, near the city of Mossoró. It is known as the place where «the sertão meets the sea»: the dry caatinga scrub of the semi-arid interior grows right down to the edge of the cliffs and the sand. The scene brings together red cliffs that reach about a hundred metres in places, white sand dunes and the blue of the ocean, a rare combination on Brazil's coast. Wide moving dunes lie in the surrounding area, among them the Dunas do Rosado, known for their pinkish tones. The village is small and quiet, and visitors come for photographs, walks along the beach and sunsets from the clifftops. It lies about an hour's drive from Mossoró. Take care near the edges and bring water and a hat, as the sun is strong and shade is scarce.
Above the sea.
Down to the beach.
From the clifftops.
Areia Branca municipality, northern coast of Rio Grande do Norte
About an hour by car.