Activated carbon samples from coconut shells (Brazilian coconut species "Coco da Baía") were prepared by chemical activation with phosphoric acid as the activating agent. Samples were characterized by nitrogen adsorption isotherms at 77 K. Some samples were randomly chosen in order to perform methane adsorption experiments under pressures between 1 and 60 bar at 303 K. A close relationship between surface area, micropore volume and methane adsorption capacity for carbons prepared from the same starting material was observed. The highest methane storage capacity in the tested samples was found to be 95 v/v at 303 K and 35 bar, which is comparable to results obtained for commercial samples indicated for this application. A moderate concentration of phosphoric acid (around 35%) seems to favor high surface areas, micropore volumes and, hence, gas storage capacity. The inclusion of an acid wash step before carbonization and the use of inert gas flow during carbonization also seem to enhance the development of porosity. This result suggests that activated carbons prepared from "Coco da Baía" by chemical activation with phosphoric acid have potential to be used as a storage media for natural gas.