Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SANDBOARDING AND SKIBUNDA
Sandboarding down the mountainous dunes near Pipa on surfboards is big business and
lots of fun (the sport originated in Brazil). Most of the action takes place at Praia Cacimbinhas,
beyond Praia do Madeiro. If the prospect of wiping out puts you off, Brazilians have developed
skibunda (literally “bottom-skiing”), where you sit on the board (like a sledge) and zip down the
slope in a controlled manner. For sandboarding, real surfing and kite-surfing, contact Trieb
Club (
W
triebclub.com.br).
becoming popular as a
kite-surfing
destination, however. A further 10km south from
here, through sugar-cane plantations and really only accessible by buggy, you'll find the
Lagoa de Coca Cola
; this black lake, made acidic by the specific plantlife here, is part
of a nature reserve where there are cashew trees as well as fragrant bark trees which are
used to make some perfumes.
To get away from people, you have to travel further south to
Praia Sagi
, which lies
almost on the border with Paraíba state, some 120km from Natal. The latter is
particularly inaccessible and can only be approached by four-wheel-drive vehicles
or on foot, but as a result is virtually untouched.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
PRAIA DA PIPA
By bus and minibus
Oceano (
T
84 3311 3333,
W
expresso-oceano.com.br) runs buses between Natal and
Pipa (6am-6.10pm; Mon-Sat 12 daily, Sun 6 daily; 2hr),
terminating on Av Baía dos Golfinhos. Coming from João
Pessoa you'll have to change in Goianinha and take one of
the local vans that zip over to Pipa every few minutes
(5am-midnight; 50min). Local minibuses run along the
coast between the main beaches (R$2).
By taxi
Taxis charge R$150 from Natal airport, but it's best
to arrange one in advance: try Taxi Pipa (
T
84 9996 6687).
Tourist information
There is no formal information
o
ce in Pipa, but
W
pipa.com.br is useful.
4
ACCOMMODATION
Media Veronica Hostel
Rua Albacora 555
T
84 9997
7606,
W
mediaveronicahostel.com.
Popular and chilled
out hostel 250m from the beach, with clean dorms and
doubles, free wi-fi, surfboard rental, large balcony with
hammocks, shar
ed TV
room a
nd kit
chen. Breakfast not
included. Dorms
R$25
; doubles
R$90
Pousada Berro do Jeguy
Rua das Pedrinhas 240
T
84 3246 2395,
W
berrodojeguy.com.br.
Brightly
decorated, comfy a/c chalets (with cable TV, free wi-fi and
terraces with hammo
cks) set
around a relaxing pool, 500m
from Praia do Amora.
R$170
★
T
84 3246 2261,
W
terradosgoitis.com.
Luxurious
chalets set within lush, tropical gardens, each one
featuring a blend of rustic and contemporary design with
canopy-style king beds, kitchen and dining area, and a
terrac
e with
sunbeds and hammocks. Small pool and free
wi-fi.
R$275
★
Sugar Cane Hostel
Rua Arara 19
T
84 3246 2723,
W
sugarcanehostel.com.br.
Justly popular budget option
with spotless dorms and private rooms, free wi-fi, kitchen,
TV room and breakfast included. Can arrange surf l
essons
,
board r
entals
and Portuguese lessons. Dorms
R$35
;
doubles
R$90
Pousada Terra dos Goitis
Rua das Acácias
EATING AND DRINKING
★
Cruzeiro do Pescador
Rua dos Concrizes 1,
Chapadão (near Praia do Amora)
T
84 3246 2026,
W
cruzeirodopescador.com.br.
Superb, no-nonsense
seafood, blending local, Brazilian and Portuguese
flavours and using rustic cooking methods (clay pots)
to cook paellas, shrimp, fresh fish, cod and also
steaks. Mains R$76-100 (for two).
Daily 1-4pm &
7-10.30pm.
★
knocking out exquisite fusion cuisine ever since, with Thai,
Morrocan (think chicken tajine), French, German and
Italian influences.
Tues-Sat 10am-10pm.
Macoco
Rua dos Bem Te Vis 32A
T
84 9445 8677.
Bright, colourful, Argentine-run place for soups, pastas
(fish ravioli), empanadas (onion with mozzarella, chicken
and tomato pesto; R$4) and perfectly roasted lamb.
Wed-Sun 5-11pm.
Tapas
Rua dos Bem Te Vis
T
84 9465 4468.
Excellent
Spanish-inspired restaurant serving not just traditional
small plates but Asian-influenced dishes such as curried
fish and sesame-encrusted tuna.
Tues-Sat 6.30-11pm.
Golde's
Praia do Centro (opposite the statue of São
Sebastião)
T
84 9415 0015.
This buzzy place was built
from scratch on the beach and opened in 2013 by Mattias
and Tom, twin brothers from Germany, and they've been
