Barra do Cunhaú Jeep Tour: Cliffs, Dunes & Sunset

Explore hidden landscapes beyond the city’s reach as the sun sets over dunes and cliffs

A six-hour jeep tour from Natal to Barra do Cunhaú and the surrounding coast, with a Portuguese-speaking guide and hotel pickup. You drive the clifftop road past Chapadão's desert-on-seashore formation, swim in Sibaúma's natural pools, sand-surf the dunes of Cacimbinhas, and watch the sun set from Tibau do Sul over Guaraíaras Lagoon. Lunch is at your own cost.

Step-by-step itinerary

Jeep tour exploring Pipa area

• Start city and nearby area tour
• View Chapadão cliffs and Praia do Amor
• Drive along sea cliffs, stop for photos
• Swim and relax at Sibaúma beach
• Cross Catu River to Barra de Cunhaú
• Enjoy lunch by the sea (not included)
• Visit dunes of Cacimbinhas, sand surf
• Watch sunset at Guaraíaras Lagoon
• Return to hotel for rest

The experience

The tour covers ground a walk cannot reach: the stretch from Praia das Minas to Sibaúma, the clifftop road with its reddish clay and turquoise water 180 degrees below, the dunes on the far side of Pipa village. Chapadão is the centerpiece: a desert formation perched on seashore cliffs where the wind shapes the vegetation and the light turns the photos golden. You stop to swim in Sibaúma, a small beach where the Catu River meets the sea and natural pools form at low tide. The guide describes the quilombola history of the place: a community founded by enslaved people who survived a shipwreck offshore.

After Sibaúma you cross into Barra do Cunhaú and have time to explore the beach. The tour then heads to Cacimbinhas, the dunes on Pipa's far side, where the jeep descends its boards and you try to stand while surfing the white sand. From the top you see the bays that ring Pipa Beach: Madeiro, Dolinhos, Porto, Santo, Centro. The light turns reddish as the afternoon ends and the sun reaches the horizon at 17:15, the same time every day year-round.

The final stop is Tibau do Sul, on the banks of Guaraíaras Lagoon, to watch the sunset sink into the water. The tour ends there. You return to your hotel with time to rest or head out for dinner. Lunch during the tour is not included and is at a restaurant of your choice along the route.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup.
• Portuguese-speaking guide.
• access to Barra do Cunhaú, Chapadão, Sibaúma, Cacimbinhas dunes and Tibau do Sul.
• swimming stops and time to explore beaches and natural pools.
• sunset viewing at Guaraíaras Lagoon.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:30

AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Senior (60 to 90 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (2 to 11 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 11 · max 8 per booking

Live guidePortuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 21 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Operated by Pipa Aventura

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to cover the coast beyond what walking from central Pipa reaches: the clifftop road, the far dunes and the lagoon sunset all fit into one afternoon. The jeep is built for the terrain and the timing. You arrive at Tibau do Sul exactly as the sun hits the water.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Chapadão and why does the tour spend time there?

Chapadão is a desert formation that sits on top of seashore cliffs, giving a 180-degree view of the sea below. The reddish clay, wind-combed vegetation and turquoise water make it the tour's main photo stop, and the operator describes it as something you cannot see on foot from the center.

Do I swim during the jeep tour?

Yes, you stop to swim in Sibaúma, a small beach where natural pools form at low tide. You also have time to explore Barra do Cunhaú beach itself before moving on to the dunes.

What happens at Cacimbinhas?

Cacimbinhas is a dune field on the far side of Pipa village. The jeep lowers its boards and you try to stand while surfing the white sand. From the top you can see all the bays that make up Pipa Beach and the surrounding coast.

When does the tour end and where?

The tour ends at sunset, which occurs at 17:15 year-round. The final stop is Tibau do Sul on Guaraíaras Lagoon, where you watch the sun sink into the water before returning to your hotel.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included. You eat at a restaurant along the route at your own cost, though the operator notes the menus and service are good and you can eat while looking at the sea.

How long is the tour and what time does it start?

The tour runs six hours. Hotel pickup is included, and the guide speaks Portuguese.