If you’re a digital nomad like me then chances are that you’ve probably heard of the designated digital nomad village that has now been a hot topic. Yes, Brazil’s Paradise beach city is located next to Natal, Brazil which is known for its beautiful beaches. The island of Pipa is one of the main tourist attractions in Brazil if you are looking to party or even spend a relaxing weekend.

More specifically Pipa beach is located on Brazil’s northeastern coast in the state of Rio Grande do Norte and a couple of miles away from Tibau do Sul.

If you have had this village on your radar, do not worry because I have got you covered. I, as a digital nomad, have visited this very attractive destination and will share the gist of my whole experience so you can decide whether this is the right spot for your next stay.

 

Safety

As a digital nomad, safety is one of the most important aspects if you’re looking for a place to stay. You do not want to be mugged with all your precious tech equipment. In my experience, the place was completely safe and the locals were very welcoming creating an overall comfortable environment.

However, I have heard of robberies happening in this region, especially en route to or from Natal although the city is one of the safest in Brazil. With a recent large tourist influx, there is a chance that the crime rate might increase but in my experience, it felt safe and did feel like a tourist spot with all the diversity.

 

Residence and Food

One thing is for sure, this place is affordable. Given a beautiful beach and hotels with swimming pools, you can easily find decent hotels for around 45$ a night but there are better options like sharing space with a fellow digital nomad which you can pretty easily find here.

This will be much cheaper if you’re looking to stay over a couple of weeks. You might be thinking that the rent I have mentioned isn’t cheap but don’t forget these are the beach houses I am talking about.

As far as food is concerned you can find pretty much every cuisine around Pipa for me Italian stood out. And unsurprisingly the food is also very affordable and the portions are noticeably large.

There are a lot of restaurants and bars around this area as it is a tourist hotspot so prices might be slightly higher than in the rest of the nearby cities but are affordable considering you are living around a beautiful beach.

 

Internet

As a digital nomad, I know a stable internet is very important for work. However, I faced no problem here as average download speeds are pretty decent and there were no connection outages. Also, there are not any press restrictions or internet policing which can be a problem in some places.

 

Transportation

To get to Pipa from Natal airport took me about 25 minutes and cost me 50 bucks, which is over 90 kilometers.

There are all sorts of transport facilities available in Pipas itself like local cabs, car rentals, and even intercity buses that will cost you nothing but the condition of the buses is sometimes not the best.

Uber works pretty good in this regard, however, and you can also find cheaper a alternatives to the online taxi company.

 

Recreation

Pipa itself provides a very relaxing and laid-back atmosphere which I feel is perfect for digital nomads, this way you can get work done and relax. The beaches in Brazil are usually very overcrowded but that is not the case in Pipa. Apart from just chilling on the beach, there are a ton of activities that you can do here, some of which I have listed below.

Surf Up!

Ok so, first of all, it is important to know that the beach is not calm, the waves can be huge and the sea roaring. Even from a safety point of view I would not recommend going for a swim in deeper waters. But the active sea is a haven for surfers and you can get surf lessons here which I feel is a wonderful experience.

Beautiful views

Now the sandbars in most beaches are pretty narrow but you can find beautiful cliffs all around which have a great view, especially during sunsets and sunrises

Party

So the nightlife here is very active and you find nightclubs and bars easily where you can party all night and socialize with people from around the world as there are a lot of tourists and there is a chance you might find a fellow digital nomad.

Marine Life

Near Pipa, there is a beach called Baía dos Golfinhos which translates to a bay of dolphins. Here you can often spot dolphins and turtles. Also, you can get a boat tour which is very enjoyable apart from just the marine life. This beach is much quieter, the sea is calmer. I would recommend going for a swim.

 

Personal Opinion

Pipa beach no doubt was a great location for the formation of a digital nomad village and after experiencing the dynamics of Pipa beach it looks like this place will be growing for both the general tourists and digital nomads being the first village in South America.

All in all, it feels like the right place for a digital nomad and it is one of my most enjoyable stays. It is affordable and has all the facilities my work needed so I would recommend paying a visit especially if you are a thalassophile.

Most countries would need a tourist visa for you to travel here but that is not much of a hassle as it is easy to get a Brazil visa and processing costs are also low.