Pirangi Cashew Tree: The World's Largest Cashew Tree

The Pirangi Cashew Tree spreads across roughly 8,500 square meters — about the size of a football pitch — making it the largest cashew tree on Earth. It sits in Pirangi do Norte, part of Parnamirim, around 25 km south of Natal in Rio Grande do Norte, and has held a Guinness World Record since 1994. Entry costs R$10 as of late 2025, and most visitors spend 30 to 60 minutes walking the elevated boardwalk beneath the canopy.

What surprises people is the scale of a single organism. The tree was planted around 1888 and carries a genetic mutation that makes its branches grow outward instead of upward; wherever a branch touches the soil, it roots and sends up another trunk-like shoot. Walk inside and you will count what look like dozens of separate trees. They all belong to one root system. Local guides like to point out that the canopy now equals roughly 70 normal cashew trees.

Getting There and Orientation

From Natal by car or rideshare

The drive from Ponta Negra takes about 30 minutes via the Rota do Sol (RN-063), the coastal highway heading south. From Natal's international airport, allow 30 to 40 minutes. Uber and 90-minute taxi round trips are both workable; a negotiated return taxi from Ponta Negra often runs under R$100, though prices vary. If you drive yourself, expect to pay around R$10 for parking in the lots surrounding the attraction.

By bus

Viação Campos operates buses between Natal and Pirangi beach. They leave from the downtown terminal and the Rodoviária (intercity bus station), and you can also catch them in Ponta Negra. The trip is cheap but slower than a car, and you will still have a short walk from the beach stop to the tree. Check current schedules with the company before you go — Sunday and holiday frequencies drop noticeably.

Organized tours

Most hotels in Natal sell day tours that combine the cashew tree with other south-coast stops: Barreira do Inferno (South America's first rocket launch site), the Tabatinga viewpoint, Lagoa de Arituba, Camurupim beach, and the Búzios dunes at sunset. A 4x4 version covers more ground, including Lagoa do Carcará. Tours range from about US$16 for shared group options upward. The trade-off is timing: you arrive with a crowd, and the tree visit is capped at roughly 30 minutes.

Where to enter and what is on site

There is one main entrance, next to a craft market selling hammocks, cashew products, and local ceramics. Inside, a wooden walkway loops through the canopy with interpretive signs on the local flora and fauna, benches for resting, restrooms, a hydration station, and a 360-degree viewing platform that gives you the full aerial picture. Staff at the platform explain the tree's growth anomaly, and some speak English. I found the market worth 15 minutes on the way out — the cashew nuts sold there are fresher than what you find in Natal's supermarkets.

What to See and How to Visit

The boardwalk and the original trunk

The elevated path keeps you off the roots and lets you move through what feels like a small forest. Look for the original trunk near the center — it is now partly obscured by the newer growth, and many visitors walk past it without realizing. The perimeter of the canopy measures about 500 meters, so the loop is not long, but the shade keeps it comfortable even at midday. Photographers should head to the viewing tower first, before tour groups arrive, then work back through the walkway.

Cashew season and fruit

Flowering and fruiting run roughly from November to January, when the tree carries red and yellow cashew apples. Visitors are generally allowed to pick and eat fallen fruit in season. Outside that window the tree is green but bare of fruit; the structure of the branches is the attraction. If tasting cashews straight from the tree matters to you, plan a visit between late November and early January.

Crowds and timing

Morning visits, ideally right at the 8am opening, are the calmest. Tour vans typically arrive between 10am and 2pm, and the walkway can feel cramped then. The attraction operates daily from 8am to 5:30pm, with reduced hours (10am to 5:30pm) on January 1 and December 25. Allow an hour if you like photography and the market; 15 to 20 minutes is enough for a quick look.

Nearby add-ons

Pirangi do Norte beach is a two-minute walk away, with a long boardwalk and calm water at low tide. The reef pools (parrachos) only work at low tide, so check a tide table before combining the two. Lagoa de Arituba, a freshwater lagoon with kayaks and kiosks, is a 15-minute drive inland and pairs naturally with the tree on an independent half-day trip.

Practical Details for Your Visit

Tickets and discounts

The standard ticket is R$10, updated in November 2025. Half price (R$4) applies to visitors over 60, teachers with ID or a pay stub, and students with ID or enrollment proof. Public school students from Rio Grande do Norte and registered tour guides enter free. Payment can be made electronically, and prices are subject to change — check the official Idema or state tourism channels for current rates.

Best time of year

September to February is the dry season, with stable sunny weather and temperatures in the high 20s to low 30s Celsius. Rain is possible from March to August, though showers are usually short. The tree is visitable year-round; weather affects your beach time more than the tree itself. March is the warmest month, August the coolest, and the difference between them is only a few degrees.

Accessibility and facilities

The wooden walkway is mostly flat and manageable for strollers and wheelchairs, though some sections have slight inclines. There is no elevator to the viewing platform — access is by stairs. Restrooms and drinking water are available near the entrance. Bring sunscreen and a hat; the shade is generous but the walk from the parking area is exposed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to visit the Pirangi Cashew Tree?

Entry is R$10 for adults, with half price (R$4) for seniors over 60, teachers, and students who show ID. Guides and Rio Grande do Norte public school students enter free. Parking nearby averages another R$10.

What are the opening hours?

The attraction is open daily from 8am to 5:30pm. On January 1 and December 25, hours are reduced to 10am to 5:30pm. Arriving at opening avoids the tour-van rush that builds from mid-morning.

How do I get there from Natal without a car?

Take a Viação Campos bus from the Natal bus station or Ponta Negra toward Pirangi beach, or book a rideshare, which takes about 30 minutes from Ponta Negra. Organized day tours are the simplest option if you also want to see the surrounding lagoons and beaches.

When can I see cashew fruit on the tree?

The fruiting season runs from about November to January, when the tree produces red and yellow cashew apples. Visitors may pick and eat fallen fruit during those months. Outside this period the tree has no fruit but remains open for visits.