Santuário Ecológico de Pipa

Praia da Pipa

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This small, privately owned reserve, 2km west along the main road from the town center, does a valuable job of protecting at least some of the Pipa coast from development. Well-marked trails lead through secondary forest to impressive lookouts over Baía dos Golfinhos and Praia do Madeiro, from which you can often see large green turtles at high tide.

A leisurely stroll through the reserve takes two to 2½ hours and you can access Praia do Madeiro via some steps at the northwest end in order to cool off.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Praia do Madeiro

    Praia do Madeiro

    0.69 MILES

    Praia do Madeiro curves northward from the headland at the far end of Baía dos Golfinhos and is perhaps Pipa's most enchanting stretch of sand. It has a…

  • Praia de Ponta Negra

    Praia de Ponta Negra

    25.41 MILES

    Praia de Ponta Negra, at the far south end of town, is the nicest stretch of sand in Natal and one of the most appealing big-city beaches in the Northeast…

  • Praia do Amor

    Praia do Amor

    1.85 MILES

    This advanced surf beach is accessed off the eastern part of Av Baía dos Golfinhos. You can rent surfboards here and in town for around R$30 per hour (or…

  • Lagoa de Guaraíras

    Lagoa de Guaraíras

    4.2 MILES

    Lagoa de Guaraíras, behind the river mouth at Tibau do Sul, 8km northwest of Pipa, is one of the area's most stunning landscapes. A massive, dune- and…

  • Praia da Pipa

    Praia da Pipa

    1.23 MILES

    The main beach, Praia da Pipa, is about 1.5km long and has fishing boats, numerous bars and restaurants, and rock pools at low tide.

  • Maior Cajuiero do Mundo

    Maior Cajuiero do Mundo

    17.41 MILES

    Taking up an entire block in the pretty coastal town of Pirangi, 15km south of Ponta Negra, the world's largest cashew tree is a source of pride for the…

  • Morro da Careca

    Morro da Careca

    24.25 MILES

    At the south end of Praia de Ponta Negra is the Morro da Careca, a spectacularly high sand dune with a steep face dropping straight into the sea. Access…

View more attractions

Nearby Praia da Pipa attractions

1. Praia do Madeiro

0.69 MILES

Praia do Madeiro curves northward from the headland at the far end of Baía dos Golfinhos and is perhaps Pipa's most enchanting stretch of sand. It has a…

2. Praia da Pipa

1.23 MILES

The main beach, Praia da Pipa, is about 1.5km long and has fishing boats, numerous bars and restaurants, and rock pools at low tide.

3. Praia do Amor

1.85 MILES

This advanced surf beach is accessed off the eastern part of Av Baía dos Golfinhos. You can rent surfboards here and in town for around R$30 per hour (or…

4. Lagoa de Guaraíras

4.2 MILES

Lagoa de Guaraíras, behind the river mouth at Tibau do Sul, 8km northwest of Pipa, is one of the area's most stunning landscapes. A massive, dune- and…

5. Maior Cajuiero do Mundo

17.41 MILES

Taking up an entire block in the pretty coastal town of Pirangi, 15km south of Ponta Negra, the world's largest cashew tree is a source of pride for the…

6. Morro da Careca

24.25 MILES

At the south end of Praia de Ponta Negra is the Morro da Careca, a spectacularly high sand dune with a steep face dropping straight into the sea. Access…

7. Praia de Ponta Negra

25.41 MILES

Praia de Ponta Negra, at the far south end of town, is the nicest stretch of sand in Natal and one of the most appealing big-city beaches in the Northeast…