Visiting Fernando de Noronha, an island paradise in Brazil

The island of Fernando de Noronha is the perfect example of Brazil’s stunning natural beauty. This remote tropical paradise is home to unique volcanic landscapes, abundant marine life and fantastic beaches, one of which has been voted the best in the world. It’s a protected nature reserve and an ecological sanctuary for turtles, sharks, dolphins and rays.

I visited Fernando de Noronha with my husband for our honeymoon and we couldn’t have been happier with our choice. We spent our days relaxing on heavenly beaches, snorkeling and scuba diving in neon blue waters, hiking to beautiful viewpoints and watching the dreamiest sunsets.

Internationally, Fernando de Noronha is virtually unknown whereas in Brazil it’s a famous and coveted travel destination. Because of its high price level and strict limitations on the number of visitors, it’s also the country’s most exclusive destination.

Planning a trip to this island can be confusing due to all the rules and restrictions in place to protect its delicate ecosystem. Therefore, I’ve put together this Fernando de Noronha travel guide, which covers everything you need to be aware of to plan your trip to this off-the-beaten-path destination, including tourist fees, things to do, best places to stay, best time to visit and more.

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links from which I may make a commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase.

General info about Fernando de Noronha

Fernando de Noronha – also called simply ‘Noronha’ – is located in the Atlantic Ocean, about 350 km (217 mi) off the coast of northeastern Brazil. It is a part of the state of Pernambuco and has a population of around 3100. 

Fun fact: Fernando de Noronha is closer to Africa than to São Paulo, the largest city in Brazil.

The archipelago of Fernando de Noronha consists of the main island and 20 smaller islands and islets but only the main island is inhabited. The majority of the archipelago is protected by Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park. Due to its importance as a breeding and feeding ground for turtles, sharks, tuna and marine mammals, Noronha has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

To preserve its environment, only about 300-400 tourists are allowed to visit the island at a time. This ensures that the island never feels too crowded and that the human impact on nature is kept minimal. Because of its rich marine life, volcanic terrain, and strong focus on conservation, Noronha reminded me a bit of the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. 

Note that Fernando de Noronha is significantly more expensive than the rest of Brazil due to its remoteness and its status as an exclusive luxury travel destination.

Tourism fees in Noronha

There are two different fees to pay when visiting Noronha:

1. Environmental Preservation Fee
2. Noronha Marine National Park (PARNAMAR) entrance fee

Everyone who visits the island has to pay the Environmental Preservation Fee (Taxa de Preservação Ambiental). The exact amount depends on how many days you spend on the island but it’s around 100 BRL per day. You will pay the fee upon arrival at the airport in Noronha. You can technically also pay it online but you’d need a Brazilian credit card to do that.

The Marine National Park ticket can be purchased online and is valid for 10 days from when you first access the national park. It costs 373 BRL for foreigners and 186.40 BRL for Brazilians. Although buying this ticket is not mandatory when visiting Fernando de Noronha, I highly recommend doing it. The park covers 70% of the archipelago, including amazing beaches, viewpoints and walking trails that you can only access if you have the ticket.

Note: Many blogs tell you that you need to go to the national park office (ICMBio) to buy the national park ticket and queue there for hours to book your tours and guides (for the attractions that require it). This is outdated information. Now you can book everything online.

How to get to Fernando de Noronha

The only way to get to Fernando de Noronha is to fly from mainland Brazil, either from Recife, Natal or São Paulo (only during certain months of the year). From Recife and Natal, the flying time is about 1.5 hours whereas from São Paulo, it’s 4 hours.

If you’re traveling to Brazil from Europe or the US and are not planning to include the south of the country in your Brazil itinerary, consider flying straight to Recife instead of flying all the way south to São Paulo and then north again.

Getting around the island

Fernando de Noronha island is pretty small – only 10 km (6 mi) long and 3.5 km (2 mi) wide. While you could certainly walk to some of the attractions, be aware that the terrain is very hilly and many of the roads are in a rough condition so it quickly gets tiring to walk.

A much more fun and convenient way to get around the island is with a dune buggy. We loved cruising around in our neon pink buggy and feeling the wind in our hair. It’s a very popular thing to do in Fernando de Noronha. 

You can rent a buggy in many places around the island, just ask your hotel. We paid 400 BRL per day for our buggy, not including fuel. It’s definitely one of the pricier transportation options but for the freedom it gives you, I think it’s worth it, especially if you’re more than two people. 

Other modes of transportation on the island are bus and taxi. The only taxi company in Noronha is Nortax (+55 81 99323-1118) and the rides usually cost 35-40 BRL. The bus drives along the island’s main road, connecting one end of the island to the other, and departs roughly every 30 minutes. The ticket costs 5 BRL and should be paid in cash.

Best things to do in Fernando de Noronha

Considering how small Fernando de Noronha is, it offers lots of fun activities – from water activities, hikes and relaxing on beaches to sunset watching and samba parties. At the end of this post, you’ll find a map where I’ve marked the locations of each of the places I cover below.

1) Explore the beaches

There’s no doubt that one of the best things to do in Fernando de Noronha is to enjoy its fabulous beaches. The island’s coast is lined with picturesque beaches with shimmering turquoise water and golden sand. Some of them are good for swimming and snorkeling, some for surfing and some just for viewing.

There are 14 beaches on the island. My personal favorites are the following:

• Conceição Beach – A long sandy beach with crystal blue water and the towering Pico Mountain looming in the background.
• Sancho Beach – This beach has been chosen as the best beach in the world for multiple years by TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice. Besides its stunning natural beauty, it’s a great snorkeling spot as well. To access the beach, you have to climb down two ladders through a narrow crack inside a cliff. Be sure to also explore the walking trails and viewpoints above the beach.
• Bode Beach – A beautiful, uncrowded beach with natural pools and a view of the impressive Morro Dois Irmãos hill.

I am soon publishing a detailed blog post on the different beaches of Fernando de Noronha, including their amenities, opening times and whether you need a national park ticket to access them.

2) Go scuba diving and snorkeling

It would be a crime to go to Fernando de Noronha and not go snorkeling or scuba diving! With its thriving marine life, warm waters and excellent visibility, Noronha is one of the top scuba diving destinations in Brazil and all of South America.

We went diving with a company called Noronha Diver and I can definitely recommend them. The team was very professional, the boat and equipment were great and we saw lots of different colorful fish, a reef shark, a turtle and a ray. Note that the national park entrance ticket is required to go scuba diving in Noronha.

We also went snorkeling several times during our stay on the island and it was a wonderful experience. Here are the best places for snorkeling in Fernando de Noronha:

• Sancho Beach – Calm crystal clear water; I saw lots of different fish, including a giant moray eel.
• Porto de Santo Antonio Beach – The water was a bit murky but I got to see a nurse shark and a group of 10 (!) sea turtles feeding together.
• Atalaia Beach – A natural pool where you can spot a variety of fish, including baby sharks. Unfortunately, it was closed for snorkeling during our stay. To visit Atalaia Beach, you have to schedule your visit beforehand on the Noronha Marine National Park website.

3) Marvel at Morro Dois Irmãos

Morro Dois Irmãos or the ‘Two Brothers Hill’ is the most famous landmark of Fernando de Noronha. It’s a set of two huge volcanic rock formations rising out of the vivid blue-green ocean on the island’s north coast.

The best places to view these rock formations and to get some cool photos are the following:

• Morro Dois Irmãos viewpoint near Sancho Beach – accessible only through the PIC Golfinho-Sancho national park entrance (see the exact location on the map at the end of the post)
• The west side of Cacimba do Padre Beach
• Mirante dos Dois Irmãos – a rocky headland west of Cacimba do Padre Beach; accessible via a small trail from the beach.

4) Take the Ilha tour

The Ilha tour is a popular full-day tour that covers many of the top sights in Noronha. It’s a great way to get an understanding of where everything is located on the island and to figure out which places you might want to return to. Don’t expect a relaxing experience though because you’ll cover many different locations in a relatively short amount of time in a 4×4 car.

During the 8-hour Ilha tour, you’ll visit famous viewpoints and beaches such as Baia do Sancho, Sueste Beach and Leão Beach, go swimming and snorkeling, and finish the tour with a sunset. You need the national park entrance ticket to do this tour.

We personally didn’t feel the need to take this tour since we rented a buggy and planned to visit all these locations on our own anyway. But if you’re not going to rent one and want to see as much as possible in a short time, it makes a lot of sense to do it.

5) Explore the coast in a Hawaiian canoe

Another cool activity to do in Noronha is to discover its coast in a double-hulled Hawaiian-style canoe. The canoe tours, such as this 2-hour tour with pick-up, are usually done early in the morning when the sea is more calm and the chance of spotting spinner dolphins is higher. Apparently, the dolphins often swim close to the canoes. We weren’t lucky to see them during our tour though.

The canoes are very stable and easy to navigate, and you’ll typically share the canoe with multiple people and a guide. You’ll get to see the island from a different perspective, learn about its history from your guide, watch the sunrise (depending on what time you choose to do the tour), and go for a dip in the ocean if you want.

6) Watch the sunsets

Another one of my favorite things to do in Fernando de Noronha was watching the sunsets. You can see the sunset from almost anywhere on the north coast of the island but the best sunset spots in Noronha are the following:

• Conceição Beach – A large beach where you can watch the sun dip into the ocean next to the iconic Pico Mountain. At one end of the beach, there’s the popular Bar do Meio, one of the best (and most expensive) restaurants/bars on the island with an amazing ambience for enjoying the sunset.
• Forte Noronha – Also known as Nossa Senhora dos Remédios Fort, this old restored fort is perched on top of a cliff with panoramic views of the coast. There’s a bar, restaurant and frequent events such as samba nights or parties with a DJ. Check their Instagram for updates on events. The entrance fee is 100 BRL, which gives you access for 10 days.
• Bode Beach – A scenic beach where you’ll get a view of the sunset with Morro Dois Irmãos in the background. At the eastern end of the beach, there’s a cliff from where you can get a more elevated view.
• Boldró Fort Lookout – A popular clifftop viewpoint with a bar, music and an unobstructed view of the ocean and Morro Dois Irmãos.

7) Take a boat tour

Cruising through the archipelago on a boat is a relaxing way to explore Noronha and see its rugged landscapes from a different perspective. There’s also a good chance of spotting dolphins as they often come to check out the boat.

The boat tours usually take you to the main sights along the north coast of the island, such as the Lion’s Roar cave, Morro Dois Irmãos, Sancho Beach and Ponta da Sapata, and include stops for swimming and snorkeling. This 3-hour boat tour visits all of these locations and includes pick-up and drop-off. 

Taking a boat tour is also a good way to visit the famous Sancho Beach if accessing it from land is not suitable for you as it requires climbing down ladders in a narrow crevice in a cliff.

8) Hike the Piquinho trail

Piquinho is a hill located just next to the imposing Morro do Pico, the highest point of Fernando de Noronha. From there, you can enjoy a panoramic (almost 360-degree) view of the island. It’s a great spot for watching the sunrise or sunset.

The Piquinho hike starts next to the Teju-Açu Ecopousada hotel and it takes about 20 minutes to reach the peak. It’s a moderate difficulty trail and has some steep and rocky parts that require scrambling so be sure to wear comfortable shoes. You might also want to hire a guide as the trail is not clearly marked. If you go there for sunset, bring a headlamp or flashlight for the way down. Don’t forget insect repellent.

Note: If you’re looking to do more hiking in Fernando de Noronha, consider the Capim Açu trail or the Pontinha Caieira trail (both require a national park guide).

9) Go surfing

Noronha is also an excellent surfing destination and has hosted several international surfing events. The best time to surf here is between December and March, when powerful swells arrive from the Atlantic Ocean and create consistent waves.

The most popular beaches for surfing in Fernando de Noronha are Cacimba do Padre, Conceição and Boldró.

10) Visit Morro São José

Morro São José is a small island visited for its natural pool full of pristine blue water. You can get there either by swimming or by foot (only at low tide) from the Air France viewpoint at the northern tip of the main island. 

When the water recedes during low tide, it reveals a rocky path leading to the island. However, the rocks are very slippery, which is why you should wear closed-toe shoes if you choose to walk there. Swimming might be an easier option but you’re required to hire a national park guide for this. In either case, you need to have the national park entrance ticket and schedule your visit beforehand. For more detailed information on how to book your visit, check out the Noronha Marine National Park website.

11) Visit Projeto Tamar

Projeto Tamar is an organization dedicated to protecting the island’s flora and fauna, especially sea turtles. Their center has a small exhibition where you can learn about the conservation of turtles and the organization’s other environmental projects. 

They also regularly give free lectures on various environmental topics. Unfortunately, these lectures are in Portuguese only. The center is free to visit.

How many days do you need

In my opinion, the minimum amount of time to spend in Fernando de Noronha is 3 days but 5 to 7 days would be ideal. This gives you enough time to explore the different sides of the island, relax on the postcard-perfect beaches, do some of the water activities, watch some sunsets and do a hike or two.

We stayed for 6 nights in Noronha and managed to do pretty much everything we wanted but I could have easily spent a few more days just relaxing.

After visiting Fernando de Noronha, you could fly to Manaus to explore the Amazon rainforest or head to Alter do Chão to enjoy Brazil’s best freshwater beaches. Or you could fly south to see the breathtaking Iguazu Falls and the iconic city of Rio de Janeiro. Find more inspiration for planning the rest of your trip in my Brazil itinerary post.

Best hotels in Fernando de Noronha

For such a small island, Noronha has a lot of places to stay. There are no big resorts or international hotel chains but you can find many boutique hotels (called pousadas in Brazil), simple guesthouses and a few hostels.

The main village on the island is Vila dos Remedios, which is where you’ll find most of the restaurants, shops and tour operators. It’s the most convenient area to stay but since the island is pretty small, it doesn’t really matter much where you’ll stay as you can easily get around with a buggy or a taxi.

Best restaurants in Fernando de Noronha

Despite being a small and remote island, Noronha has a pretty good dining scene. Here are my favorite restaurants in Noronha:

• Cigana Do Cajueiro – Probably the best food we had on the island. The restaurant is set in a historic building with colorful quirky decor, the service is excellent and the cocktails are great as well.
• Maré – A casual restaurant with lots of fresh, healthy and beautifully presented food options, like poke bowls and wraps (including vegan and vegetarian options) for a good price by Noronha standards.
• Bar do Meio – A popular beachfront restaurant serving international and Brazilian cuisine, including lots of seafood. There’s often live music and the view at sunset is incredible. It’s probably also the most expensive restaurant in Noronha. Be sure to make a reservation if you want to have dinner here.
• O Pico – A spacious restaurant with a nice ambience, set on a patio surrounded by tropical plants. They serve delicious well-presented dishes from both regional and international cuisine.
• Noronha All Natural – A nicely decorated airy restaurant offering various fish dishes, salads, burgers and more.
• Forte Noronha – The restaurant is set in a historic fort overlooking the ocean and has frequent live music performances (at dinner time). The food we had was just okay but I really enjoyed the setting. Note that there’s an entrance fee of 100 BRL, which gives you access to the fort for 10 days.

If you want to have some street food, which is a much more affordable option, head to São Miguel Square (Praça São Miguel) in Vila dos Remedios. In the evenings, a handful of street food vendors set up their stands there and sell pastel (a deep fried Brazilian pie), fish dogs, tapioca (a type of crepe) and more.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Fernando de Noronha is from August to January, which is the island’s dry season. The rainy season runs from February to July, with the rainiest months being March, April and May. 

With that said, one of the advantages of visiting in the rainy season is that the island will be covered with lush tropical vegetation whereas in the dry season most of the plants are brown or lose their leaves.

The ocean is the calmest and clearest from August to October, which is ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, if your main goal is surfing, visit between December and March. Be aware that the island is more crowded and the hotels more expensive from December to February and in July since these are the main vacation months in Brazil.

Noronha has a tropical climate with very stable temperatures throughout the year. The average highs are around 29°C (84°F) and average lows around 24°C (75°F). We visited Noronha at the end of October and had perfect weather with sunshine and blue skies every day.

Fernando de Noronha map

On the interactive map below, I’ve marked all the attractions, hotels and restaurants I covered in this Fernando de Noronha travel guide. Click on the icon in the top left corner of the map for more details.

Final tips for visiting Noronha

• Language: Most people in Noronha don’t speak English. Therefore, it’s good to know some basic phrases in Portuguese and to have the Google Translate app installed on your phone.

• Sun protection: The sun is very strong in Noronha and it’s easy to get a sunburn. Bring a hat, wear a UV shirt when swimming and snorkeling and remember to wear sunscreen.

• Shops: Shops in Noronha are poorly stocked and prices are high. I recommend bringing everything you need with you, such as sunscreen, mosquito repellent, hygiene products, cosmetics, medicine etc.

• Water: Tap water is not safe to drink in Noronha. Bring a water purifier bottle to avoid creating unnecessary plastic waste. I swear by the Grayl Geopress bottle.

• Cash: The general recommendation is to bring cash to Noronha but we were able to pay by card almost everywhere. Only taxi drivers said they prefer cash. To be on the safe side, it’s good to have some cash with you. There’s one ATM at the airport and two in Vila dos Remedios.

• Emergencies: The island has a very small hospital that can only treat more simple illnesses. For anything more serious, you’ll have to be transferred by plane to Recife. Therefore, it’s essential to have travel insurance. I always use SafetyWing. 

• Safety: The island is very safe and has a very low crime rate. It’s probably the safest place in all of Brazil. You can easily walk to your hotel at night without having to worry.

• Time zone: The time zone in Fernando de Noronha is GMT-2, which is different from mainland Brazil. Usually the time zone is updated automatically on your phone if you’re connected to the internet. However, in Noronha, there’s a tendency for phones to incorrectly switch back to the mainland time zone so be aware of that.

• Sea shells: It’s prohibited to collect rocks and sea shells in the national park because these are an important part of the local ecosystem.

• Drones: It’s prohibited to fly a drone in the Noronha Marine National Park territory but you are allowed to do it outside the park, apart from the airport and military area.

For more tips and information for planning your trip, take a look at my Brazil blog posts. I’ve traveled the country extensively and written about many beautiful places that are worth visiting.

READ MORE: