Pipa: One of Our Most Incredible Trips

Pipa was one of the most incredible trips we’ve ever taken, and we can’t wait to go back!

There are transportation options in Pipa for every budget, from cheapest to priciest — vans, buses, taxis, buggies, or you can just choose where to stay based on which beach you’d rather be near.

The name “Pipa” (which means “kite” or “wine barrel” in Portuguese) comes from the colonial era, when a rock shaped like a wine barrel served as a landmark for sailors navigating the coast. That rock sits below Chapadão, at Praia do Amor, though it’s not particularly famous or worth a special visit today.

Getting to Pipa from Natal

From Natal airport: we’d recommend a taxi, Uber, or transfer service. If you’d rather rent a car, it’s about 100 km and 1h40m without stops: follow Estrada do Aeroporto and Avenida Vereador Aldo Mendes da Silva to BR-226/BR-304 in Macaíba, then BR-304 and BR-101 to Goianinha, and finally RN-003 into Pipa. Google Maps route

Where to stay in Pipa

We stayed at Pipa Hostel in a private room. The building has two floors with ten rooms and a pool on the ground level, plus a barbecue area nearby — though breakfast isn’t included. The owners, Álvaro and Janete, are wonderfully friendly.

What to do in Pipa

Since we spent ten days in the area, we had plenty of time to explore Pipa’s beaches and take in some incredible day trips nearby. Pipa has several beaches, but our favorites were Golfinhos (Dolphins) and Giz — more on those below.

Praia do Madeiro

A beautiful beach, though the surf is quite rough, so we wouldn’t recommend swimming unless you’re there to surf. There are kiosks and restaurants all along the beach at every price point, though most charge a fee for umbrellas and chairs — and it can get a little steep.

After a long staircase winding through the trees, you’ll reach a beach considered one of the most beautiful in Brazil.

Cacimbinhas Beach sits right next door — the two are separated by dark, oddly shaped rocks, and depending on the tide, crossing between them isn’t always easy.

Praia de Cacimbinhas

With fewer kiosks, this one was actually our favorite over Madeiro. There are several lookout points up along the cliffs, perfect for photos of the deep blue water.

It’s popular with kitesurfers, but given the strong winds and deep water, only experienced swimmers should venture out.

On the dunes near the cliffs, you can try sandboarding — locally nicknamed “esqui-bunda” (“butt skiing”) — which is a lot of fun, wipeouts included.

Praia do Amor in Pipa

Unlike the beaches above, this one is close to downtown. Along the path, you’ll pass an “I Love Pipa” sign and several restaurants — but once you see Praia do Amor from up on Chapadão, you’ll definitely want to head down for a closer look.

A rustic staircase leads down to the beach, where you’ll find coconut palms and well-set-up kiosks with chairs and umbrellas for rent. The waves are strong here too, so we wouldn’t recommend swimming — but it’s a great surf spot.

From the top of Chapadão, the bluff overlooking the area, you get a clear view of the whole coastline.

Praia dos Golfinhos (Dolphins Beach)

This is, in our opinion, the most beautiful beach here — named for the dolphins that show up close to shore, the real stars of the show, leaping and putting on a display for anyone lucky enough to be watching. The cliffs framing the beach round out the scene perfectly!

To get there, just walk along the shore at low tide from Praia do Centro, keeping to the left. It’s a short walk over a few dark rocks to reach a secluded, stunningly beautiful beach with no infrastructure at all.

To check if the tide is low enough, consult a tide table so you can plan your visit accordingly.

There’s minimal infrastructure — just a few drink stands and vendors selling snacks and empanadas.

The water is crystal clear and the tide is calm, making it very easy to swim here.

There are two ways to explore the area further: a boat tour at high tide, or a kayak trip around Dolphin Bay to spot the animals and take in the water’s color.

Santuário Ecológico (Ecological Sanctuary)

Away from the busier beaches and back to Pipa’s natural side, the Ecological Sanctuary is ideal if you want to get closer to nature and enjoy some trails. It includes reefs, cliffs, dunes, forest, a waterfall, and an orchid garden — we loved it.

There are 3 sections and 16 easy trails open to the public, each lookout more beautiful than the last, with views over Praia dos Golfinhos. Admission is charged, but it’s absolutely worth it. R$10.

Praia do Centro in Pipa

This is the busiest beach, lined with restaurants and places to eat and drink — for us, it mostly served as a pass-through on the way to Praia dos Golfinhos. That said, we’ve heard that at low tide, the reefs and rocks form natural pools, great for families with young kids.

Sibaúma

A beach set apart from the town center. Most people get there by buggy or 4x4, but we ran there from town — about 10 km, passing right by Chapadão. We saw plenty of low-clearance cars get stuck in the sand dunes along the way, so choose your vehicle carefully.

There’s not much going on here, so the beach is quieter, with a small riverside village nearby. We didn’t stay long.

Along the way, there are several lookout points worth stopping for photos. Closer to town, the road gets pretty rough, and you’ll need to cross it to reach the next beach, Barra do Cunhaú.

Barra do Cunhaú

Getting here is a bit different — you cross a small ferry over the river that separates it from Sibaúma. We actually took off our shoes and waded across ourselves!

The road to the beach is quite rough! Once you arrive, there are restaurants and vendors near the shore. The natural pools are really nice, and the water was warm the day we visited.

The Curimataú River flows into the ocean here, making Cunhaú a great spot both for calm-water lovers and for kitesurfing, windsurfing, and regular surfing fans.

Chapadão

This spot blew us away for the view over Praia do Amor! It genuinely feels like you’ve been transported somewhere else entirely. We read that the sunrise here is incredible, though we saved that for next time. Honestly, a sunrise is worth catching anywhere you can!

Praia do Giz

A short, beautiful beach with bungalows and a restaurant, a bit further from the center, just past Cacimbinhas. We visited during a day pass at Ponta do Pirambú, and it’s definitely worth checking out — one of those spots people don’t talk about enough!

Tibau do Sul

Close to Pipa, this town sits where the waters of Lagoa Guaraíras meet the Atlantic, so you get both river and ocean in one place.

The calm waters here, protected by a natural barrier that softens the ocean waves, make it a favorite with local families. You’ll also find plenty of restaurants serving great seafood.

Lagoa Guaraíras and Creperia Por do Sol

Lagoa Guaraíras has calm waters, and the area offers full-day boat, speedboat, and canoe tours.

The main draw here is the sunset, which we watched from Creperia Por do Sol after walking over from our day pass. The spot is beautiful, and even on a cloudy day it was well worth it!

To get back, we caught a van in town for R$3 per person — a taxi for up to 4 people would have cost R$100.

Day Use at Ponta do Pirambú

This is a day-use spot, no hotel attached. It has a restaurant, an infinity pool, beach chairs, hammocks, and outdoor showers.

It’s a gorgeous spot! We’d recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing day by the pool. When you arrive, you get a numbered wristband so they can track your orders. The food is good and reasonably priced.

Towel rental is available for R$5, though we brought our own from our hydration packs.

According to Andrey, it’s also a great spot to recover from a rough night out (R$60 per person, though we were told it drops to R$30 during the off-season).

Mirante Sunset Bar

This is, for me, the most spectacular spot in Pipa. So beautiful that we chose to spend New Year’s Eve here, and it turned out to be the best decision we could have made.

We caught a sunset that was absolutely surreal! I was so happy that day! That night we came back for the fireworks and a show from Os Gonzagas, a fantastic band from Paraíba that I really hope makes it big across Brazil. Open bar, open food. We hope you get to ring in the new year somewhere as incredible and magical as this was for us!

An absolute must-visit! R$500 for the New Year’s Eve package as a couple, with variable pricing just to watch the sunset.

Downtown Pipa

Charming cobblestone streets, great bars and restaurants, simple and tidy little shops, and some of the town’s main hotels. After 9 PM, though, downtown transforms into a lively nightlife scene that runs until sunrise, full of parties.

There’s a main street with several themed side streets — the most famous being Rua Beija-Flor (“Hummingbird Street”), which feels like a slice of Greece.

Fun facts about Pipa

One fun fact: Pipa has a local visual artist, Rafa Santos, with a studio on the main street. His work explores urban awareness themes, and you’ll spot his playful yellow signs and sculptures scattered all over the beaches.

Hope you enjoyed these tips — be sure to check out our post on where to eat in Pipa, where we cover our own experiences and favorite spots.