Pium de Cima is associated with rowing and a one-way hiking route with clearly named stops. The town became the venue for the 2026 Copa Norte-Nordeste de Remo; the hiking route starts here and continues via Lagoa Boa Água to Nísia Floresta. The wider destination of Nísia Floresta also offers coastal, lagoon and cultural attractions. When planning your trip, it is worth considering these larger destinations as separate areas of focus.
Rowing and the hiking route
The Copa Norte-Nordeste de Remo is one of the longest-running events on Brazil’s national rowing calendar. Its 2026 edition took place from August 14 to 16 at Clube União de Remo in the Pium de Cima area of Nísia Floresta. More than 100 athletes from 18 clubs took part, representing the Sub-15, Sub-17, Sub-19, Sub-23 and Sênior categories. The field therefore ranged from youth categories to the senior category.
A one-way hiking route is titled “Pium de Cima – Lagoa Boa Água – Nísia Floresta.” It starts in Pium de Cima, passes Lagoa Boa Água and ends in Nísia Floresta. The route, uploaded in October 2025, was recorded by users. Check route conditions before setting out. Its sequence of starting point, intermediate stop and destination clearly distinguishes it from the rowing regatta’s fixed venue.
Nísia Floresta as the wider setting
Landscape and activities
The wider destination of Nísia Floresta includes Floresta Nacional de Nísia Floresta, a 168.84-hectare protected area in the Atlantic Rainforest. Lagoa do Pium and Riacho Pium, a stream, are also located in the municipality of Nísia Floresta. They therefore serve as reference points at the municipal level. On the coast, Barra de Tabatinga offers a different landscape: the area is known for clear water and colorful cliffs, and the beach is suitable for seaside walks. From Mirante dos Golfinhos, on a cliff, you may be lucky enough to spot dolphins and sea turtles in the region’s waters; Barra de Tabatinga is also associated with paragliding.
At Praia de Camurupim, coral barriers and reefs shape the coast, forming saltwater lagoons at low tide. The water is considered calm and suitable for all age groups, though conditions depend on the tides. Lagoa do Carcará has fine white sand, clear water and a preserved setting for ecotourism. It is associated with stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking. Lagoa do Bonfim, in turn, is considered the largest surface freshwater reserve in the state of Rio Grande do Norte and a hub for water sports. Nísia Floresta therefore offers a range of nature and water-based activities rather than just one coastal focus.
A zipline is among the activities associated with Lagoa de Arituba. For travel from Natal to Lagoa de Arituba, the Rota do Sol (RN-063) or BR-101 can be used as road references. This route information relates to Lagoa de Arituba and should not be confused with the hiking route from Pium de Cima.
Culture, pilgrimage route and regional cuisine
Museu Nísia Floresta runs workshops on traditional forms of expression and skills, including Boi-de-Reis, Côco de Roda, Pastoril, toy-making and folk games. The museum also researches the municipality’s folk culture and produces image and audiovisual collections, postcards, photographic exhibitions and the Curta Nordeste audiovisual series. The Rota do Camarão Potiguar includes three historical and gastronomic stops in Nísia Floresta, Senador Georgino Avelino and Barra do Cunhaú. In Nísia Floresta, it includes guided visits to the museum and Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Ó. Estação Papary is one of Nísia Floresta’s tourist attractions; Casa de Pedra has been listed as a heritage site for its cultural significance to Rio Grande do Norte. The Caminho dos Santos Mártires do Brasil also runs along the coast of Nísia Floresta.
Regional cuisine includes Restaurante Sua Praia in Barra de Tabatinga. It serves typical dishes, fish baked in a roof-tile dish and shrimp; beachside service is also available. The combination of coastal scenery, culture and cuisine broadens the options for travelers whose stay is not focused solely on Pium de Cima.
Choose accommodation based on your travel focus
If you want Pium de Cima and the start of the hiking route to be the focus of your trip, pay attention to the specific location of your accommodation in relation to this destination. If you would rather visit a coastal stop, lagoon or cultural site in the wider destination of Nísia Floresta, base your choice on that specific plan.
Discover more destinations: Caicó, São José De Mipibu, Macaíba, Pipa, Parnamirim, São Tomé, Natal, Tibau.
View the broader travel guide: Rio Grande Do Norte.
