Swimming with Dolphins

View from hotel balcony
see all photos »

After a short drive, in which a lot of people slept off the night before, we arrived in Pipa, another beachside resort.  Pipa means Barrel in portuguese and refers to a rock on shipwreck beach that looks like a barrel of wine from a distance.  It also has the benefit or having great beaches (one of the top 10 beaches) and has cliffs and sand dunes.  Activity sports such as kite surfing, horse riding as also available and for the less adventourous boat trips to Baia de Golfinhos (Dolphin Bay) where it is possible to see and go swimming with wild dolphins.  On the night of arrival I lounged around the pool of our hotel, which is on the cliffs overlooking the bay with the sand dunes to the left (hard life, eh).  We were treated to some sighting of wildlife in butterflies, humming birds, a monkey and even a very large cane toad. It was then into town for dinner at one of the many restaurant, some definately more expensive than others, but one with a nice roof terrace.  The town itself consists of many one cobbled roads, with shops, restuarants and bars on either side and some side streets leading to the beach area.  At the restaurant we were treated to street music by three small children with drums although it sounded like a whole parade going on.

Fisherman Statue
see all photos »

Following day, headed out on a schooner boat trip to see the dolphins.  The boat took 60 people and a price of 20 reais for 1.5 hours was arranged with our group of 25.  The boat literally headed out to the Baia and we stopped and anchored allowing us to see the dolphins and swim with them.  In total there were about 4-6 dolphins playing in the area, although they weren´t very energetic in their activity mainly staying at water level. Other longer tours are also available with trips to nearby lagoons and beaches and come with complimentary drinks and food although these run in the afternoon.  After arriving back headed to surprise surprise a kilo bar for a quick lunch and then a bit of shopping around town and the internet before getting a take away pizza by the pool and having a pool party that night.