The region's HISTORY is truly old and dates from before the French & Dutch invasions of the northeast coast.
After the indigenous Indians came French pirates looking for wood (“pau brazil”), exotic species of bird, animal skins & other offerings from Mother Nature.
For many years the region was settled by the Dutch who were finally expelled by the Portuguese in 1654 after decades marked by war and strife.
These new settlers quickly introduced agricultural crops, including the now ubiquitous coconut & sugar, and slowly transformed the urban and rural landscapes.
Tibau do Sul was officially founded 200 years ago and kept its original Indian name. Tibau do Sul means “between two waters”: the town is situated between the Guaraíras Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean.
Originally governed by the Municipality of Goianinha, Tibau do Sul gained its independence on the 3rd of April 1963. The words “do Sul” (south) were added to differentiate it from another Municipality of the same name in the north of the state.
Until the late seventies Tibau do Sul & Pipa remained a small and quiet picturesque community of fishermen living in wattle & daub homes with dirt floors, no electricity after 8pm and a communal television in the main square.
Fishing was the principal industry. When the wind and tides were right the men would venture out to sea in their small boats leaving their womenfolk to look after the homes and children, fetch fresh water from the “caçimbas” and wash their clothes in the rivers.
Such was life until the coastline and its waves were discovered by surfers. As the popularity of the area increased amongst the Brazilian surfing community, word spread and slowly Tibau do Sul & Pipa became the developed, international tourist destinations they are today.
As surfers, tourists and a more permanent variety of visitor arrived, hotels, guest houses, restaurants and bars gradually emerged to service the population's explosion. Today, Pipa & Tibau do Sul boast some of the best modern hotels & guesthouses in Brazil; restaurants flaunting a truly global menu; a massive variety of tours and activities; artist colonies; exclusive shops and boutiques; and, a notorious nightlife. The small fishing villages of Tibau do Sul and Pipa have transformed themselves into international destinations visited by celebrities who stop here to enjoy the tranquillity offered by this marvellous place..

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..
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