Brazil > Fernando de Noronha

Top Things to Do

Dolphin Bay at the crack of dawn is a playground for these energetic acrobats. They can only be viewed at that time from a cliff high above the Bay, so be sure to bring binoculars or a camera with a zoom lense to watch the dizzying performance. You will want a Dune Buggy to make the early morning drive to the head of the Sancho-Dolphins Bay Viewpoint trail. If you are not up for sunrise, the dolphins can also be seen on a boat ride later in the day. This allows you to get a closer look as the dolphins play with the boats and jump their wakes.

70% of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago has been declared a National Marine Park, which has helped to maintain the underwater ecology. The warm currents around the island and its distance from the mainland have created a unique marine ecosystem with a rich marine life and astounding visibility, making for some of the best diving in Brazil and, some say, in the world. The surrounding waters are home to dolphins, turtles, rays, 14 species of reef sharks and some of the largest fish you will ever see. Tourists are required to be guided by a local agency and most of the dive sites are only reachable by boat. With only 3 dive shops permitted to operate on the island, you are less likely to run into the ‘war of the dive boats’ – where dive boats race to be the first one at a site and divers spend most of their underwater experience dodging the bubbles created by fellow divers.

Snorkeling can be easily accessed from the beaches around the island. Try Baía do Sueste which has shallow waters that are protected from the winds. Local guides are also available who will be able to take you to the best spots and point out sea turtles which are often camouflaged in the emerald waters. A more adventurous option is the "aquasub", which is used by local biologists to study and mark sea turtles. Snorkelers are pulled by boat around the secondary islands of the archipelago, so they can explore greater distances (and more marine life) without getting tired.

Boat tours run along the inner coast of the Island through to Ponta da Sapata (a landmark where a hole on the rocks form a map of Brazil). Tour boats leave from the harbor and cost the same no matter which one you choose. This is a great way to see the Spinner Dolphins up close.

A great way to see the island and get some exercise while you’re at it. Tours last 2-3 hours and run twice a day from the harbor (8:00am and 3:00pm). Tours are accompanied by a motor boat that holds cold drinks and any equipment you wish to bring. The afternoon ride allows you to see the spectacular island sunset.

Surf season runs from December to March. The best beaches are Cacimba do Padre, Bode, Boldró, Conceição, and Meio.

The island is filled with tons of pristine, secluded beaches, some of which require a bit of effort to access. Since the number of visitors to the island is limited, it is rare to find a crowd on any of the beaches. Conceição is one of the longer and more popular beaches on the island. Porcos Bay is unique for its natural pools and provides breathtaking scenery. Leão beach is where the sea turtles lay their eggs -- a famous local event. Baía do Sancho may seem like an effort (after a short hike you literally have to climb down a 100-foot ladder that is bolted into the cliff, through a narrow passageway that finally leads you to the beach) it is well worth it. This stunning beach is one of the most picturesque on the island. Although everyone will have their Favorite Noronha Beach, nothing really compares to having an entire beach to yourself – here its possible. So, instead of heading to the most popular or recommended, keep driving till you find the most secluded. With a cap on the number of visitors and a local base of only 2,500, this isn’t tough to do…

The primary mode of transportation on the island is the Dune Buggy (pronounced boo-gey by the locals). Since there is only one main road on the island the majority of your exploring will be off-road and best accessed by buggy. This can be an adventure in itself – the buggies have no doors and rarely come with fully functioning instruments (speedometer, gas gauges etc. should not be trusted). We highly recommend renting one for the duration of your stay. Buggies rent for R$100 - R$150 per day, depending on the season. You may also want to hire a guide for a half-day or full-day. This will allow you to cover the island briefly by car and discover what is allowed and what is not, where to go at night, where to go for dinner, where to go for lunch, why certain beaches close at night, how to get to certain places, etc.

The TAMAR (which stands for Tartaruga Marinha, or Sea Turtle) Institute runs a project to protect the local sea turtles on the island. These famous turtles grow to weigh over 500 lbs when they reach adulthood, however the odds of them making it to this point are 1 or 2 per thousand eggs that are laid. From January to June/July supervised tourists can watch the sea turtles lay eggs at night. Reservations can be made at the Visitors Centre. Rates and number of tourists allowed vary. During this same period (the eggs generally take 7 weeks to hatch) it is also possible to watch the opening of sea turtles’ nests. Each nest holds about 100 little eggs and you will see the little turtles running to the water as they are released by TAMAR staff from the nests. This generally takes place at 5:00pm and TAMAR will post signs around town the morning it is scheduled to take place. Reservations are not required to observe this event.

Atalaia Beach is uniquely situated allowing water pools to form between the reefs creating a natural ‘aquarium’ when the tide is low, trapping tropical fish amidst its pools. Although it is a unique experience, it requires all the stars to be aligned and some ‘tourism patience’ to experience. The winds have to be just right, the tides at the perfect level, and you have to sign up first thing in the morning to be considered for the experience (only 25 people are permitted in the area at a time). If you’ve already applied sunscreen you’ll have to come back another time – the conditions are so precious they do not want to contaminate them in any way.