Situated not far from Baia Formosa beach, the reserve 'Mata da Estrela' is the biggest space in the state still preserved of Atlantic Rain Forest (mata Atlantica).
It occupies dunes on a little more than 2 miles hectares along the coast, and shares the space with about twenty lakes in crystal clear waters, the most famous being the lake of 'Coca Cola'.
The Atlantic Rain Forest (Mata Atlantica) is a vegetation native of the region, that, when the Portuguese first arrived in Brazil covered all the coast line from the actual state of Rio Grande do Norte until Santa Catarina, around four thousand km long. Nowadays, only 7% of the original forest remains.
It constitutes one of the richest ecosystems in the world in term of biological variety.
It is important for the regulation and the stream of the fauna, for the fertility of grounds, but also controls the climate of the region and protects from the mobility of the dunes.
In 2000, it was classified 'Private Reserve of Natural Heritage' which allows the owner of the land, The Baía Formosa Distillery' to develop preservation and protection activities for the local fauna and flora.
Municipality : Baia Formosa Distance from Natal : 98 km
How to come : BR101 then RN062 to Outeiros until Baia Formosa
With the explosion of the ecotourism and the presence of a very rich fauna and an exuberant flora, the 'Mata' is a privileged ground of environmental scientific researches but also educational and ecological tourism with numerous roads for the ride and the discovery.
The flora contains examples such as : 'Orchids', 'Bromélias', 'Po-brasil', 'Palm trees', 'Peroba', 'Sucupira', palmeiras 'gameleira' of which an enormous specimen 30 meters of height.
You will observe also monkeys 'Sagüi', 'macaco guariba' and numerous sorts of reptiles, insects and birds.
Baía Formosa
Where to sleep
Where to eat and drink
