By air
Fernando de Noronha (FEN), flights from Recife or Natal
South America · Brazil
Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
Protected islands of dolphins and clear water
Getting there
Best time to visit
August to December — calm seas and clear water
Don't miss
Baía do Sancho
Baía dos Porcos
The Dois Irmãos rocks
The Baía dos Golfinhos lookout
Things to do
Snorkelling with turtles
Dolphin spotting at dawn
The park's hiking trails
Where to eat
What to pack
Snorkel gear, reef-safe sunscreen; visitor numbers and fees are regulated
A quieter corner
Baía dos Porcos's rock pools at low tide
Questions travellers ask
How do I get to Fernando de Noronha?
Fly into Fernando de Noronha (FEN) on flights from Recife or Natal. Visitor numbers and fees are regulated, so plan ahead.
When are the seas calmest at Fernando de Noronha?
August to December, for calm seas and clear water.
What should I do on Fernando de Noronha?
Snorkel with turtles, go dolphin spotting at dawn and walk the park's hiking trails. Don't miss Baía do Sancho, the Dois Irmãos rocks and the Baía dos Golfinhos lookout.
Is there a hidden spot on Fernando de Noronha?
Baía dos Porcos's rock pools at low tide. Bring snorkel gear and reef-safe sunscreen.
About Fernando de Noronha
- Island
Where it is
Fernando de Noronha is a volcanic archipelago of 21 islands and islets in the Atlantic, about 350 km off the north-east coast of Brazil, governed as a district of the state of Pernambuco.
History
A Portuguese expedition financed by the Lisbon merchant Fernão de Loronha discovered the islands in 1503, and they were named after him. Portugal expelled a French colony and fortified them in the 18th century; for long periods they held a prison, then a military base during the Second World War, and in 1988 they passed to Pernambuco and most of the archipelago became a marine national park.
People
A few thousand people live on the main island, many of them islanders by birth, working in tourism, fishing and park services, and Portuguese is spoken. Local life centres on the village of Vila dos Remédios, with its colonial church and old fort.
Known for
- Baía do Sancho's clear water
- Spinner dolphins in the Baía dos Golfinhos
- Snorkelling with turtles
- The Dois Irmãos rocks
- Diving and hiking in the marine park
Did you know?
With the nearby Rocas Atoll, the archipelago became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 as a feeding ground for tuna, sharks, turtles and marine mammals, and it has a large resident population of spinner dolphins.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.