Pipa’s Ecological Sanctuary

If you are a lover of natural beauty and enjoy ecological travel, be aware that you can visit several ecological parks in Brazil. And if you think that in the northeast you can not find this type of place, that the region has only backwoods and beach, you need to know the Ecological Sanctuary of Pipa, about 80 km from Natal (RN).

For those who like eco tourism, Pipa is a great destination and you can visit the region at any time of the year. The Pipa Ecological Sanctuary welcomes tourists in all seasons. However, on holidays and weekends, the place usually gets more frequented.

Pipa's Ecological Sanctuary is one of the most sought after places by tourists coming to Rio Grande do Norte. This is because, in addition to the lookouts of enchanting beaches surrounded by incredible cliffs, the sanctuary's fauna and flora enchant everyone for its diversity.

The park is fully preserved, with numerous trail options (14 in total) that can be explored according to the degree of difficulty the visitor chooses, from Easy (1 and 2), Medium (3) to Hard (4 and 5).

Don't miss Prainha and Turtle lookouts, both with breathtaking sea views! At high tide it is quite possible to see sea turtles in the water! In addition, there is a 150-step staircase that leads to Madeiro Beach. Visitors may have the chance to follow some tamar project activity such as the release of turtles into the sea from Feb to June, see the Pipa Ecological Sanctuary Facebook program.

History of the Ecological Sanctuary of Pipa

Before leaving for the visit it is important to know a little about the history of the Pipa Ecological Sanctuary. The area where today is an ecological reserve, was heavily exploited by timber prosecutors and then used for cattle grazing and mowing. From 1976 the forest begins to recover and in 1980 the site was leased and became the resting place and search for balance of engineer Charles Capelle.
For years Mr. David Hassett has been the guardian of the Ecological Sanctuary and has made no effort to keep the Kite preserved. He conserved about 90 hectares of Atlantic Forest and ensured that beaches such as Dolphin Bay and part of Madeiro Beach remained almost wild.
Pipa Ecological Sanctuary currently receives visits every day, offers environmental education activities for public and private schools, and opens its space for the development of scientific research, such as the partnership between Tamar and ICMBio projects.
The small entrance fee (R $ 15) charged to visitors is the main source of resources for the maintenance of the Sanctuary and ensures that everyone who visits Pipa has a chance to enjoy the lush flora and if they are lucky they can see a member. of the local fauna. It is quite possible to find animals such as marmosets, iguanas, timbus, herons, among others.

Knew the rules of behavior

In order to continue preserving the beauties of the place, visitors should follow some rules, check out:

• Appropriate clothing;
• Trash in the trash;
• No pets allowed;
• Do not throw dirt on water sources;
• Be careful not to cause fires;
• Walk with care;
• Respect the fences and gates;
• Follow the guidelines of the guide;
• Do not deviate from the trails;
• Respect for the forest.

Ecological Trails

The ecological trails available to tourists are as follows: Jacú Way, Pirate Way, White Girl Path, Boa constrictor, Peroba Walk, Old Castle Stairway, Armadillo Trail, Firefly Flight, Chameleon Trail, Trail da Aventura (for children only), Descent of Maracajá and Caminho do Chorró.

How to get

Getting to the Pipa Ecological Sanctuary is very easy, the entrance is on the RN 003 road a few kilometers from the center of Pipa. It has on-site parking for those coming by car, but is also practical for those coming by bus or local transport. If you need information on how to get to Pipa, see here.

Ecological sanctuary opening hours

The opening hours of the reservation are from 08h to 17h, every day of the week. However, it is recommended that visitors leave the beach at 4 pm to close the gates at the exact closing time of the activities.

Without a doubt it is a tour that is very worthwhile. Visit the Pipa Ecological Sanctuary, take lots of photos and then share with us!