SugarCane Hostel Map

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Tibau do Sul and Pipa are in Rio Grande do Norte in the northeast of Brazil. Just off the BR-101 they are approximately 85km south of Natal and 160km north of João Pessoa, in Paraíba (Recife, capital of Pernambuco, is about 225km south of Tibau do Sul & Pipa). Arriving by car, once you arrive in Goianinha (60km south of Natal), simply follow the road signs for 25km to Tibau do Sul. Pipa is a mere 7km south on the same road. Be warned, the quality of the BR-101 is far superior to the Goianinha-Pipa road so careful with the dangerous curves, speed-bumps and ever-present potholes!

Despite the somewhat tricky nature of the drive to Tibau do Sul it remains a lovely drive. You pass tiny villages of wattle & daub houses, coconut plantations, prawn farms, awe-inspiring views & the great Guaraíras Lagoon. After Tibau do Sul you will see the first glimpses of the sea, and then the cliffs. You are now but a stone's throw from the paradise that is Praia da Pipa.

For the more adventurous it is possible to get to Tibau do Sul over the beach from Ponta Negra (just south of Natal). The journey requires either a 4x4 or a buggy and accurate information about the tides (the route is passable only at low tide). From Ponta Negra you pass through Cotovelo, Pirangi (dominated by the world's largest cashew tree), Buzios, Barra da Tabatinga and Barreta finally arriving at Malemba beach. From Malemba you can take a ferry across the estuary of the Guaraíras Lagoon to Tibau do Sul. It is very straightforward to find buggy drivers happy to take you a tour from Natal to Tibau do Sul or Pipa.