What do I need to know before moving to Praia da Pipa?

When we asked people what advice they would give someone preparing to move to Praia da Pipa, they said...

"Praia da Pipa is a beautiful beach town in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte. It is a popular tourist destination and a great place to live. Before moving, you should know that the climate is tropical with average temperatures ranging from 25-30oC, and the area is prone to occasional droughts and floods. The official language is Portuguese and the local currency is the Brazilian Real (BRL). You should also know that Praia da Pipa is a warm and friendly community and very popular among surfers and kite surfers. Public transportation is available, but it is recommended to rent a car to get around. Safety is generally good but common sense should still be practiced. Lastly, there are plenty of activities, festivals and events in the area to explore and enjoy, from music festivals and street parties to turtle nesting sites and natural parks," mentioned another expat when asked about moving to Praia da Pipa, Brazil.

"Do lots of research as it is available on line. Include in your research a local attorney who speaks English and is a member of either Briton's legal Bar Association or the ABA in the States. It is always nice when the local attorney is licensed in one of those countries because unethical practices could get them barred. With their membership in one of the Bar Associations there should be available info on whether any complaints have been filed against them in the past. These local attorneys act very much like the Title companies in the States. They do all the research to ensure free and clear property and titles. Make sure that you visit the area and the home to ensure it is what you hoped it to be. I would also recommend staying at least 2 weeks and spend time knowing the area. THE MOVE: Moving from the UK or USA is probably not a big deal. However, to get your household goods into Brazil.....well that's another matter. For instance, the USA moving company needs a 3rd party in Brazil to facilitate receiving your container and moving it to your new home. They will need paperwork that to us seems highly unusual and bureaucratic. Brazil is after all a highly bureaucratic place to live and if you haven't lived here then your in for a surprise. One of the documents that I needed was my original boarding pass from the airline that I flew from Miami to Recife. The 3rd party Brazilian company stated that without the boarding pass to prove how I arrived in Brazil then the container could not be received in Brazil (my federally stamped passport and my federally stamped Entry Card does not count). The boarding pass along with a number of other paperwork had to be notarized at one of the local Cartarios and returned to the 3rd party company. It will require several hours of standing in line to get 5 minutes of work completed. If your moving to Brazil this is how they do things and all the complaining from me or you will not change it. With all this said, I will say now that after all the standing in line waiting, jumping through hoops and getting mad, after returning home to our villa and seeing the sunset from our roof top........PRICELESS," commented one expat who made the move to Praia de Pipa, Brazil.

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