Pipa is another hidden gem of the North East coast. This place is somewhat undiscovered by Western tourists (like most of the North and North East) and this is what makes Pipa so wonderful. Getting here is easy, if you are coming from the North it is a 2 hour public bus from Natal. From the South, another option is to travel from Recife and catch a bla bla car or bus to Goianiniha. You then catch the public bus to Pipa. You can also catch a bus from Joao Pessoa, which is the nearest city.
My experience with bla bla cars was perfectly safe and also cheaper and faster than catching a bus! Booking buses can be a little complicated in Brazil as some debit cards do not work and also you need a CPF number. There is always a way around these things though and most sites let you use Paypal. If you want any more information about this, then get in touch with me! The best site to use for booking buses in Brazil is ‘Click Bus’.
Pipa has some of the nicest beaches I have seen in Brazil. Playa de Amor and Madeira are the two main ones. If you like to surf then this is a good spot for you. For me the waves were a little too strong!
The vibe in Pipa is amazing, it has a laid back atmosphere with many bars and restaurants. They have an awesome beach party on some Saturdays, which is right on the beach next to the surf shop. Similar to Jericoacoara, there is a place where most people go to each night and it is themed around the type of music. I was lucky enough to be there when there was a Fohor night.
For me, the best thing about Pipa was the hostel- ‘Lagarto Na Banana’. This is my favourite hostel ever! It is not just a hostel but a space where you feel totally yourself. Similarly to Jeri, people never want to leave this hostel and stay for months!
At Lagarto, Effi (the owner) has designed a beautiful place where people can express themselves through creativity. There is a strong sense of spirituality through offering meditation and yoga. The hostel is unique in itself as the whole place is run by volunteers. The volunteers do everything, from cleaning, checking guests in, partying with guests and the cooking! The food is all vegetarian and it is some of the best veggie food I have had on my travels.
Another special element to this hostel is that every night a volunteer will run a class, guests even have the opportunity to teach a certain skill they may have. In my stay there was an arts and crafts class, a funk (dance) class, quiz and a sustainability workshop. But the most beautiful thing about this place is the welcoming presence of the owner. Effi gets stuck in with everything and makes a concerted effort to get to know every guest. It is my dream one day to open a hostel and Effi has really inspired me with his vision. Thank you so much Lagarto, I will definitely be back!
Romy's Roamings 