It is the main star of an exotic and paradisiacal beach scene that characterizes the coast of the community of Grossos. It is Areias Alvas, one of the most different and prettiest on the potiguar coast. It is a great reserve for tourism as a destination that is complete with beautiful salt mines, artisanal crafts, bottles of colored sands, gastronomy based of sea foods and archaeological sites.

Why is this exotic beach one of the most different on our coast? To start with, it does not have any houses on the beach. This is not due to lack of attempt. It is that the movement of dunes makes it impracticable for any construction project. Another reason: The jib of waters, when of the ebb tide is impressive, on this coast. The phenomenon is called "estiranço ", when the beach gains 500 to 600 meters. In this case, at low tide, you have to walk this distance to catch a wave. But on the way, with sands a shining gray tone, there are some options to refresh ones self. They are the small flat water swimming pools that are formed, in this emptiness and if they provide a great diversion for the children or as an option for those that do not want to walk all the way to the sea.

At high tide, this area is invaded by the water, but it has a very interesting detail. Any person can take bath in waist deep water in the waist with small waves, at a distance of 300 meters from the beach.

One another difference, is that at its edge of three kilometers it has a vegetation based on plants of caatinga and the sertão, with common species such as seda, algaroba, velame and carnaúba. And to complete, there are seven kilometers of mobile dunes, with approximately 15 meters in height. The example of dunes of Genipabu, from them emerges groves of coconut palms. There are also groves of immense carnaubais, covered because of the movement of the sands.

In historical terms, note that it was in Areias Alvas where Américo Vespúcio and Duarte da Costa had landed, after dinner, in the beach of the Marco, where was the landmark that proved ownership of the Portuguese kingdom in new lands, in 1501. On this landing, occurred the first act of cannibalism involving Christian Europeans, when naked Indians ate two sailors on the beach, an event registered in the log book of Vespúcio.

Adding a little to the fact of that Rio Grande do Norte has the largest cajueiro in the world, with a area of 7.500 square meters, on the beach of Pirangi, close to Natal (30 kilometers), Areias Alvas claims to have the second and the third largest cajueiros..

It is not located on the beach, but next to the site of the small fishing village and has approximately three a thousand square meters of pantry. Close, 500 meters before, is another great cajueiro, that already is being pointed at by the natives as the bronze medal. The cajueiro of Areias Alvas still is a bit rude for tourism. It is on the side of a highway and is surrounded by wooden props and barbed wire and does not have any indication that informs its importance. The age of it still is a mystery, but according to older inhabitants it has more than 150 years and was planted by a grandmother of one of the natives. At the time of harvest, the cajueiro is full of fruits, candies and without any rancid taste.