10 most beautiful beaches in Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
The island of Fernando de Noronha is known for its pristine tropical beaches with clear turquoise waters teeming with marine life. Not only are they some of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil, but one of them has even been voted the best beach in the world.
During our week-long stay in Fernando de Noronha, we explored almost all of the beaches on the island and in this post, I’m sharing my favorite ones.
There are 14 beaches in Fernando de Noronha. Some are located within the Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park and require an entrance ticket while others are free to visit. Some beaches also have specific opening times and rules to follow, which I will go through in this blog post.
Whether you want to relax with a cold drink in your hand, catch waves on a surfboard or snorkel in the shimmering blue waters and spot marine life, this Fernando de Noronha beaches guide will help you decide which beaches to visit. At the end of this post, you’ll also find a map with the locations of each of these beaches.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links from which I may make a commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase.
Best beaches in Fernando de Noronha
1) Praia da Conceição
Requires marine national park ticket: No
Facilities: Chairs and umbrellas for rent; a few beach bars and restaurants
Praia da Conceição, or Conceição Beach, is definitely one of my favorite beaches in Noronha. We liked this beach so much that we came here three times during our stay.
It is located close to Vila dos Remédios, the main village on the island, and has an incredible view of Morro do Pico mountain. The combination of golden sand, bright turquoise ocean and the majestic mountain in the background creates a setting that looks like something out of a tropical dream.
It’s the perfect place to relax because you can rent chairs and umbrellas, and get drinks and snacks delivered to you from the beach kiosks. Depending on the day (and the season), the water here can be very calm and perfect for swimming, or it can have big waves attracting a lot of surfers.
I didn’t snorkel at this beach because the waves were a bit too big, but I’ve read that people have spotted lots of fish, rays and turtles while snorkeling here. We did see a nurse shark swimming very close to the shore here though. They are common in Noronha and are considered harmless.
Conceição Beach is also one of the best spots for watching the sunset on the island. Many people gather here in the evenings to have a drink and watch the sun drop into the sea. On the far right side of the beach is the famous Bar do Meio. It’s one of the best (and most expensive) restaurants/bars on the island with amazing ambience and a view of the beach.
Accommodation tip: If you’d like to wake up with this dreamy beach on your doorstep, consider staying at Casa Conceição.
2) Baía do Sancho
Requires marine national park ticket: Yes
Facilities: None on the beach; toilets, showers and a snack bar at the park entrance
Baía do Sancho, or Sancho Bay, is one of the most famous beaches in Fernando de Noronha. This secluded beach has golden sand, neon blue water and no commercial development, which gives it a really untouched and idyllic feel.
It has been voted the best beach in the world for six years by TripAdvisor’s Travellers Choice and it ranks 35th in The World’s 50 Best Beaches list. It’s unquestionably a gorgeous beach, but to be honest, I personally wouldn’t rank it quite as high.
With its warm clear water and vibrant marine life, Sancho Beach is also one of the best places for snorkeling in Fernando de Noronha, especially the right side of the beach, where there are some rocks and coral reefs. I was lucky to see a giant moray eel here and many different types of fish.
In the trees along the beach, you’re also likely to spot red-footed boobies, a species of large seabirds with bright red feet.
As Sancho Beach is bordered by steep cliffs, it’s a bit tricky to access it – you have to climb down two vertical ladders in a narrow crevice in the cliff to get to the beach. I found it safe and easy but if you have limited mobility, you’re claustrophobic or you’re with small kids, this could be challenging. It’s also possible to access the beach by boat, for example by joining this 3-hour boat tour.
As the path with the ladders is so narrow, there are specific times for going up and down. You can see the ladder timetable on the national park’s website. The beach is open from 8am to 6pm and you have to go through the PIC Golfinho-Sancho national park checkpoint to get there.
There are also some nice viewpoints and walking trails along the cliffs above Sancho Beach, which are worth checking out, especially the Morro Dois Irmãos viewpoint.
For information on how to buy the marine national park ticket and other fees you have to pay on the island, be sure to read my detailed guide to visiting Fernando de Noronha.
3) Praia do Bode
Requires marine national park ticket: No
Facilities: A few chairs and umbrellas for rent; a beach bar
Praia do Bode (Goat Beach) is a quiet lesser-known beach that, for some reason, doesn’t receive many visitors. It has a wide strip of soft sand, clear blue water and a beautiful view of the Morro Dois Irmãos rock formations, one of the most famous landmarks of Noronha.
At the right side of the beach, natural pools are formed during low tide, which makes for a perfect spot to relax if the sea is too rough for swimming. Right next to the pools, you can climb to the top of a small cliff that gives you a more elevated view of the beach. From there, you also have a good chance of spotting sharks in the water below.
With its unobstructed views of the ocean and the Morro Dois Irmãos in the background, Bode Beach is a fantastic spot for watching the sunset.
4) Praia do Cachorro
Requires marine national park ticket: No
Facilities: Chairs, umbrellas, kayaks and water bikes for rent; a beach bar
Praia do Cachorro, which translates to Dog Beach, is a small sandy cove bordered by volcanic rocks and palm trees. It’s located close to Vila dos Remédios, near many hotels and guesthouses and can therefore get pretty busy.
On the far right side of the beach, there are three small natural pools that can be accessed during low tide by scrambling over some rocks. Note that during the swell season (December to March), it’s forbidden and impossible to access these pools.
The first natural pool is called Buraco do Galego and is extremely popular. There’s always a queue of people waiting to get a photo, so I recommend skipping it. The second one, which doesn’t have a name, looks very similar to Buraco do Galego and has no people. The third one is called Lasca da Velha and is a long narrow pool hidden between tall cliffs.
The climb to the last two pools is a bit sketchy as the rocks can be sharp and slippery, so please be careful if you decide to explore these pools.
5) Baía dos Porcos
Requires marine national park ticket: Yes
Facilities: None
Baía dos Porcos (Bay of Pigs) is a tiny bay with incredibly blue water and big volcanic rocks sheltering it from waves. It also has an up-close view of the Morro Dois Irmãos rock formations. Many people consider it one of the most beautiful beaches in Fernando de Noronha.
I went snorkeling here, but apart from a few red crabs, I didn’t see any marine life. However, I’ve read that others have seen rays, turtles and various fish here, so maybe you’ll have better luck than me.
Although it’s a gorgeous place, we didn’t spend much time here because the beach is really small and therefore gets very crowded.
The only way to access Baía dos Porcos is via a trail on the far left side of Cacimba do Padre Beach. The trail is short but on uneven rocky terrain, and you’re required to wear a helmet provided by the national park staff at the entrance. The beach is only open during low tide. Find the opening times on the park’s website.
6) Praia do Leão
Requires marine national park ticket: Yes
Facilities: None on the beach; toilets and a shop at the park entrance
Praia do Leão (Lion Beach) is a large beach on the more isolated southern coast of Noronha. With its orange sand, electric blue water and rolling hills in the background, the scenery here is amazing.
Above the beach, there’s a boardwalk leading to a viewing platform that offers a fantastic panorama of the ocean and the beach below. Most people who come to Praia do Leão only visit the viewpoint, which means that if you decide to head down to the beach, you’ll most likely have it all to yourself.
Although swimming is allowed here, it is not recommended as the waves and ocean currents are very strong. However, on the far right side of the beach, there’s a natural pool with calmer water. From December to June, green turtles come to this beach to lay their eggs.
The beach is open from 8 am to 6 pm.
7) Praia da Cacimba do Padre
Requires marine national park ticket: No
Facilities: Chairs and umbrellas for rent; a few beach bars and a restaurant
Praia da Cacimba do Padre, which can be translated as the Priest’s Well Beach, is a long beach with a huge stretch of golden sand. Even though it’s a popular beach, there’s so much space that it doesn’t feel crowded. It often has big waves, which makes it popular among surfers but not ideal for swimming.
The best thing about Cacimba do Padre Beach is its epic view of Morro Dois Irmãos from the left side of the beach. It’s a nice photo spot with the two giant rock formations as a backdrop. The beach is also a great place for watching the sunset.
Be sure to also visit the rocky headland at the far left side of the beach for some lovely views of Baía dos Porcos, Cacimba do Padre Beach and Morro Dois Irmãos. You can access the headland via a short trail just before getting to Baía dos Porcos.
8) Praia do Porto de Santo Antônio
Requires marine national park ticket: No
Facilities: Chairs, umbrellas, kayaks and water bikes for rent; a few shops, bars and restaurants
Praia do Porto de Santo Antônio, or simply ‘the port’, is a popular beach located right next to the island’s harbor. This is where all the boat tours, scuba diving tours and Hawaiian canoe tours start in Noronha.
It’s probably the least beautiful beach on the island but the reason I included it in this post is its impressive underwater world. It’s one of the top snorkeling and scuba diving spots in Noronha and you can expect to see lots of marine life as well as an old shipwreck. If you’re lucky, you might even encounter some dolphins.
Although the clarity of the water wasn’t great when I snorkeled here, I saw many fish, a nurse shark and a group of 10 turtles feeding together. Note that the best snorkeling spots are quite far from the shore. If you don’t feel confident swimming that far out on your own, you can join a guided snorkeling tour, where you’re provided with a life jacket.
Out of all the beaches I visited in Fernando de Noronha, Praia do Porto de Santo Antônio had the calmest water, so if you’re looking for a relaxing swimming experience or you’re traveling with small kids, this beach is your best choice.
9) Praia do Boldró
Requires marine national park ticket: No
Facilities: A few chairs and umbrellas for rent; a small beach bar; a restaurant above the beach
Praia do Boldró is a very quiet, almost deserted beach with lots of space and no people. It’s the perfect place for those looking for some tranquility and a sense of isolation. Waves tend to be pretty strong here, so usually it’s not a great beach for swimming, but during low tide, you can find some natural pools where the water is calm.
I didn’t go for a dip here, but I flew my drone above the sea and could see several turtles, sharks and schools of fish swimming in the beautiful crystalline water.
Projeto Tamar, a local marine life protection organization, sometimes releases baby turtles on this beach. If you’d like to witness this event, you can contact them to hear about any upcoming turtle releases.
Tip: During low tide, you can walk along the coast all the way from Praia do Boldró to Praia da Cacimba do Padre.
10) Praia do Sueste
Requires marine national park ticket: Yes
Facilities: Toilets, a kiosk and a small shop at the park entrance
Praia do Sueste is a scenic crescent-shaped beach with white sand, turquoise water and green hills surrounding the bay. It used to be a popular snorkeling beach, but swimming here is no longer allowed. This is because of the presence of tiger sharks in the bay and a shark attack that happened here in 2022.
It’s still worth visiting because you can walk along the beach to enjoy the beautiful landscape and see small lemon sharks feeding along the edge of the water. There’s also a small mangrove area close to the entrance of the beach, which is the only mangrove of the oceanic islands in the South Atlantic.
The beach is open from 9 am to 4 pm.
Accommodation tip: One of the island’s most luxurious hotels, Nannai Noronha, is situated just a few minutes walk from Praia do Sueste and offers a phenomenal view of the beach.
Other beaches on the island
The Fernando de Noronha beaches that didn’t make it to my top ten list are the following:
- Praia da Atalaia – Atalaia Beach is located in the marine national park and requires scheduling a visit on the park’s website beforehand. It’s known for its tide pool, where you can snorkel with various fish, including small sharks. However, as the pool suffers from silting, it is sometimes closed for snorkeling because it gets too shallow. This was the case during our visit, and after hiking 1.5 km (1 mi) to the beach, we were only allowed to observe it from the shore, which wasn’t very exciting. You can find updates on whether snorkeling is possible during your visit on the park’s website. If it’s not, skip this beach.
- Praia do Meio – A less popular and quiet beach with just a few chairs and umbrellas. It’s a nice beach, but I found the beaches next to it (Praia da Conceição and Praia do Cachorro) more interesting.
- Praia do Americano – A secluded empty beach with no facilities.
- Praia da Caieira – Probably the least visited beach on the island. It’s very rocky, the sea here is usually rough and there are strong currents, which make swimming dangerous.
Fernando de Noronha beaches map
Below is an interactive map of all the beaches in Fernando de Noronha that I covered in this blog post. Click on the icon in the top left corner of the map for more details.
As you can see, Fernando de Noronha is heaven for beach lovers. I’m still dreaming of those dazzling blue waters, pristine stretches of sand and all the wonderful marine life.
I hope you found this guide helpful in planning your trip to this little slice of paradise in Brazil. Don’t forget to check out my blog post on how to visit Fernando de Noronha where I’m sharing more practical info and essential things to know to have a smooth trip.
For more tips and inspiration for planning the rest of your Brazil itinerary, have a look at my other Brazil travel guides. I’ve visited the country numerous times and written blog posts about many wonderful places to visit in this vast country, including the Amazon rainforest and the majestic Iguazu Falls.
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