By Alexander Garrett
For many, a holiday home abroad means looking at Spain, France, Portugal or Cyprus. But when Paul and Gail Hesten decided to find themselves a place in the sun they decided to look further afield – to Brazil, to be precise. The couple live in the small Channel Island of Jersey, where Paul is a social worker, and the one thing they were clear about was not wanting to be among skyscrapers and neon lights.
In 2007, when Paul (52) and Gail (43) first discovered Pipa in north-east Brazil, it was the natural setting away from the masses that really attracted their interest.
Paul says: "Brazil appealed to us as it was something different, boasted an idyllic climate and beaches and it also seemed to be well-placed to survive the global recession." On arrival in the region's gateway city Natal, however, they found it was too big for their taste and largely geared up to package tourism with high-rise hotels.
On the advice of British agents uv10, the couple headed 80km south to Pipa Beach and found a small but vibrant resort that hadn't been spoiled by mass tourism. The area is renowned for its spectacular beaches, including Praia do Amor (Love Beach) – which is a favourite with the surfers, and Baia dos Golfinhos (Dolphin Bay) – a child-friendly beach where you really can swim with dolphins.
Pipa is a strict conservation area where the Atlantic forest and native dolphin and marine turtle populations are all fully protected, and strict building controls mean buildings can't be higher than two storeys and must occupy a maximum 25 per cent of land available.
The development that caught their eye was Morada dos Ventos, a small community of 16 homes set in a quiet residential district of Pipa Beach, created by Scotsman Archie Galbraith and his Brazilian wife, Tania, which uv10 was selling off-plan. The condo-style apartments with their hexagonal facades are set in lush tropical gardens with free-form pools, all with 24-hour security.
The Hestens paid £54,000 for a two-bedroom apartment, which was completed late last year (2008). Paul says the apartment was exactly what the couple looking for, and they were particularly impressed with the quality of finishes. With a floor space of 102 sq m, he adds, "it is positively palatial for a holiday home."
Another attraction is that the property is fully managed for maintenance, maid service and so on, and there is a concierge service to arrange activities such as horse riding, kayaking, hang gliding and beach buggy trips as well as car hire.
The couple spent their first holiday there last winter, which is summer in Brazil, and plan to visit at least once a year, but they are also hoping their apartment will prove a good investment. They are making use of the on-site lettings management, and are hopeful this could earn a return of up to eight or nine per cent a year. "With the World Cup coming in 2014, and both Natal and nearby Recife on the shortlist as host venues, we'll certainly hang on to our investment for a good few years and I'm sure it'll pay us back with attractive dividends," says Paul.
At the same time, the Hestens are clear they don't want the area to be over-developed or otherwise spoilt. As Paul puts it: "We're banking on the fact that most Brits arriving in Natal won't be bothered with a taxi ride through ramshackle villages to discover Pipa."
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Alexander Garrett is a freelance property writer who contributes regularly to The Observer and British Airways' Business Life.
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