Exploring the Seridó of Rio Grande do Norte: Culture, Nature and Stories of the Northeastern Semiarid Region

The Seridó of Rio Grande do Norte is an important natural region of the semi-arid Northeast, standing out among other areas that make up the arid region of the Northeast.

Those willing to immerse themselves in the backlands of the Rio Grande do Norte – more precisely in the region known as the Seridó – will be surprised by the unique beauty of the landscape and the rich culture of this area, which can be reached by car from Natal.

Historically marked by raising livestock, mining and cotton growing, the towns of the Seridó have much to offer:

• Natural attractions (reservoirs and mountains)
• Fine cuisine (Cheese, butter and carne-de-sol)
• Handicrafts (embroiderers and sculptors)
• Lively festivals (Quadrille festival)
• Archeological sites, mines and sanctuaries

Physical and climatic aspects

The Seridó has specific physical and climatic characteristics:

• Climate: very hot and semi-arid, with average rainfall of 550 mm/year and average sunshine of 3,000 hours per year.
• Temperatures: always above 22°C.
• Vegetation: Low, with sparse cacti and scrub.
• Soils: Mostly stony, shallow and susceptible to erosion, resulting in limited agricultural suitability.

The region is made up of 28 municipalities distributed in three homogeneous zones: Caicó, Currais Novos and Serras Centrais.

Although it lacks the infrastructure of the capital, the sertão does have towns such as Acari and Caicó, which offer a reasonable range of accommodation and food and serve as starting points for day trips to neighbouring towns.

Video about Seridó in RN

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Seridó - Sertão do Rio Grande do Norte04:34

Seridó no RN12:44

Conheça o cânion dos Apertados em Currais Novos

Mina Brejuí em Currais Novos RN

Castelo Di Bivar - Carnaúba dos Dantas RN

See the tourist map of Rio Grande do Norte

Main towns of the Seridó in RN

1. Acari

210 kilometres from Natal, Acari is surrounded by a mountain range and has the Gargalheiras reserv, which stands out in the landscape.

The reserve is famous for its rock inscriptions and the presence of swifts, which migrate between April and October.

The Historical Museum of Acari, housed in a townhouse built in 1887, presents local history through objects and photographs.

The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary (1738) has beautiful images of 18th century saints.

2. Caicó

A municipality since 1868, Caicó is well structured, with a lively nightlife and important reservoirs such as the Itans.

It is famous for its cuisine, including carne de sol and cheese. The Seridó Embroiderers Association offers handmade embroidery.

The Augusto Frade Public Butcher‘s is famous for its carne-de-sol (sun-dried meat), cut by experts from the region.

3. Currais Novos

Located 187 kilometres from Natal, Currais Novos is known for its annual Quadrilha Festival, which takes place in June.

The town is home to the now-defunct Brejuí Mine, which was the largest scheelite mine in South America, and offers tours through an extensive underground tunnel.

4. Carnaúba dos Dantas

Founded in 1860, it is famous for its archaeological sites. The most important is Xique-Xique, with its cave paintings.

The Monte do Galo, with its image of Christ, is a place of pilgrimage associated with local mysticism.

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