Fernando de Noronha is the largest island within twenty-one that form the archipelago with the same name. On a single scenario formed by small rocky islands are some of the most beautiful beaches on Brazil. Noronha’s natural beauty is so incredible that the most used word by visitors to define it is: paradise.
On Atlantic Ocean, 360 km far from Natal and 540 km far from Recife, the sea around it has turquoise blue shadows and ideal transparency to diving. The marine fauna is exuberant, and the visitor doesn’t have to be an expert diver to appreciate that wonder. You only enter on the natural aquariums formed on some beaches to observe a lot of colorful fishes springs and swim at their side.
But there are a lot of attractions. Sailings provide a total view of the archipelago. Trails lead to lookouts with wonderful views, as one that permits the observation of rotator dolphins. On Vila dos Remédios (Remédios' Village), secular constructions tell a little of the village’s history. There are excellent waves to surfers. The typical craftwork is made with sharks’ bones. This fish’s meat, after being salted, is used for preparing little cakes called “tubalhau”.
Fernando de Noronha is also an important environmental reserve preserved by a National Marine Park. On 2001, UNESCO has designated Fernando de Noronha Natural Patrimony of the World. Fauna and flora are strictly protected. And there are protection plans to marine turtles and rotator dolphins.
The island is calm and hospitable. Most of the inns are located at inhabitants’ houses that are simple and keep the homemade environment. By night, after the lectures about ecology given by Ibama (Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis / Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources), one of the best programmes is to have fun on the bars with forró.
Diving
Even someone who is not able to dive can feel the sensation of seeing the marine fauna in its habitat. On the edge of the beaches Atalaia and Baía do Sancho and on the natural aquariums formed by the rocks of Baía dos Porcos, it’s possible to observe hundreds of little colorful fishes. The best places for independent diving are from 8 to 60 meters deep. The visibility in the water is up to 50 meters. Several springs of fishes, sponges, rays, turtles, morays and sharks swim on submerse rocky formations, coral reefs and shipwrecks. Diving operators located on the island provide transportation and the required equipments.
Beaches
The most sensational fact on Fernando de Noronha is that all beaches are very beautiful. With green-blue sea and incredibly transparent with impressive rocky formations on a preserved environment. However, some places have the highest beauty degree. These places are the beach do Leão and the beaches on do Sancho and dos Porcos bays.
Sailings
It’s the preferred attraction of the tourists. The ships navigate on Mar de Dentro, providing an incredible view of the beaches on Fernando de Noronha and the small islands around it. If you’re lucky, you’ll see dolphins swimming at the side of the ship. On Baía do Sancho, there’s a stop for free diving.
Buggy stroll
It’s possible to go on a stroll for knowing the beaches on a buggy for rent. The driver also acts as a tourist guide and can take the visitor to the most interesting places on the island.
Surfing
Good waves, as on beaches da Laje da Cacimba, Boldró, Ruro and Abrás, are visited by surfers from all over the world, mainly from November to April. Phases of national and international surfing championships occur on Noronha.
Observation of dolphins
It’s possible to see rotator dolphins from the lookout to the Baía dos Golfinhos. On that place, cetaceans eat and procreate. The best period for observation is on the first hours of the day.

INFRASTRUCTURE
There are hundreds of inns on the island, most of them are the local residents’ houses adapted. These houses are simple, but have conditioned air and telephone on the apartments. There are also more sophisticated options, including swimming pool. Restaurants serve different specialties, mainly those prepared with fishes and seafood. It has a bank branch and buggy and motorcycle rental agencies.

HOW TO GET THERE
The airport receives daily flights from two air companies from Recife and Natal. Each visitor must pay an Environmental Preservation Fee, related to the number of layover days on the island. Tourism agencies on the country organize tours.