Fernando de Noronha

ATTRACTIONS

Fernando de Noronha - Atrativos Imagem - Site Noronha

ATTRACTIONS OF
THE FERNANDO DE NORONHA MARINE NATIONAL PARK

WHY IS BOOKING NECESSARY? All attractions that require prior booking are attractions with natural pools. It means that we are opening for visitation an extremely sensitive and vital environment for marine life. These pools have corals - even if you can't see them because of the sand, they're there. Corals are organisms sensitive to physical impact; therefore, a specific number of daily vacancies for each pool open to visitors was determined based on the carrying capacity study.

Understand how the scheduling works on our Visitation page.

WHY ARE THE HOURS PREDETERMINED? Natural pools are not constantly exposed. To be able to access them, it is necessary to wait for low tide; and according to the peak low tide time of each day, we calculate the opening hours of the trails that require scheduling. [learn how to consult a tide table]

ATTRACTIONS THAT NEED PRIOR BOOKING

Atalaia

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Medium. With about 30 minutes of walking to go and 30 minutes to return, the path is all on earth and stones, requiring caution and attention.

RULES: it is mandatory to wear a life jacket, mask and snorkel to enter the pool and keep floating during the bath. It is not allowed to stand, kneel or lean on the bottom.

DISTANCE: 3 km - round trip

SPECIAL WARNINGS: It is not allowed to use dermo-cosmetics as sunscreen before entering the pool.

Do you have a trip scheduled for March to July? It is the rainy season here on the island, so we ask that visitors pay attention to the schedule and arrive at least 30 minutes early. The trails get very muddy and require extra care and more time to be covered.

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Pontinha Caieira

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Hard. With about 3h30 of walking in different types of relief, the path is made on earth and stones. On this trail, it is possible to visit the natural pool of Pontinha and the natural pool of Caieira.

RULES: it is mandatory to hire a guide certified by ICMBio; in addition to wearing a life jacket, mask and snorkel to enter the pool and keep floating during the bath. It is not allowed to stand, kneel or lean on the bottom.

DISTANCE: 4.3 km - one way

SPECIAL WARNINGS: It is not allowed to use dermo-cosmetics as sunscreen before entering the pool.

Atalaia Pontinha Caieira

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Hard. With about 6 km of one-way walk, the path varies between land and, more or less, 3 km on rocks, requiring caution and attention.

DISTANCE: 6 km - one way

SPECIAL WARNINGS: It is not allowed to use dermo-cosmetics as sunscreen before entering the pool.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Hard. With about 30 minutes of walking to go and 30 minutes to return, the trail is on beaten earth, but includes a descent between rocks with the support of a rope and a small path over stones, requiring caution and attention.

RULES: it is mandatory to wear a life jacket, mask and snorkel to enter the pool and keep floating during the bath. It is not allowed to stand, kneel or lean on the bottom.

DISTANCE: 1.2 km - round trip

SPECIAL WARNINGS: It is not allowed to use dermo-cosmetics as sunscreen before entering the pool.

Abreu

Morro São José

The Morro São José trail has two kinds of paths: on foot or swimming. The on-foot modality is done only on days when the tide reaches 0.3 amplitude or below. In this case, a stone path gets exposed, allowing visitors to pass.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Hard. With about 30 minutes of walking to go and to return, the path on foot is done over the rocks that are submerged most of the time. Therefore, it is necessary to be cautious and calm along the way.

In the case of swimming, it is necessary to use the correct equipment, such as a mask, snorkel, and fins, in addition to recognizing the personal limits in swimming.

RULES: If you choose the swimming modality, it is mandatory to hire a guide certified by ICMBio.

DISTANCE: 1.1 km - round trip

SPECIAL WARNINGS: for those who book the modality on foot, it is not advisable to use flip-flops or loose sandals. The ideal for the crossing is to wear sneakers or neoprene flat shoes.

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Capim Açu

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Hard. The longest trail in the National Park, the Capim-Açu, is recommended for people in good physical condition. There are several viewpoints along the way, a lighthouse, a natural pool, and the Capim-Açu cave.

RULES: For this trail, it is mandatory to hire a guide certified by ICMBio. It is possible to do the Farol trail, until the lighthouse and return through the entrance gate without the accompaniment of a guide.

DISTANCE: 7.5 km - one way

AVISOS ESPECIAIS: the visitor will pass through different types of relief, from beaten earth to stones, ending at Leão beach. It is extremely important to wear appropriate footwear for long trails, in addition to using sunscreen and bringing water and snacks.

ATTRACTIONS THAT DON'T NEED PRIOR BOOKING

Sancho Bay

Opening hours: 8 am to 6 pm

Entrance and exit control: At Golfinho-Sancho’s Point of Information and Control (PIC), where the validity of the individual ticket is checked.

Elected by several specialized editions, the most beautiful beach in Brazil and the best beach to visit in the world, Sancho's landscape impresses with its turquoise blue color and the transparency of the water. A suspended trail, built with recycled materials, allows people with reduced mobility to access the bay's viewpoints.

Access to the beach is only via a sailor's ladder, to go up or down, so the visitor may have to wait to go or leave the beach. On busy days, there can be long lines in the morning, and in the afternoon, the movement is usually lower.

Sancho's ladder timetable:

8:00 am to 8:50 am - Free to go down and up;

9 am to 10:20 am - Go down;

10:30 am to 11:20 am - Go up;

11:30 am to 12:20 pm - Go down;

12:30 to 13:20 - Go up;

1:30 pm to 2:20 pm - Go down;

2:30 pm to 3:20 pm - Go up;

3:30 pm to 4:20 pm - Go down;

4:30 pm to 5:20 pm - Free to go down and up;

5:30 pm to 6:00 pm - Go Up.

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Dolphin Bay

Opening hours: 6 am to 6:30 pm

Entrance and exit control: At Golfinho-Sancho‘s Point of Information and Control (PIC), where the validity of the individual ticket is checked.

There is a Viewpoint with spectacular scenery of the island's south side and there is a great chance to spot groups of spinner dolphins at their resting place, especially in the early morning. Because of this, it is not allowed to descend, swim, or boat traffic inside the bay.

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Porcos Bay

Entrance and exit control: from a trail on the left corner of Cacimba do Padre beach.

During the season that we don't have big waves on the archipelago, it is one of the best places to freediving in the National Park. Extremely jagged rock formations surround this place with a small sand strip, which favors the concentration of fish and floating activity.

Check the times for the Baía dos Porcos trail

Click here

Sueste Bay

Opening hours: 9 am to 4 pm (access to the beach); 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (access to the PIC)

Entrance and exit control: At Sueste's Point of Information and Control (PIC), where the validity of the individual ticket is checked.

Outer Sea beach, with the most protected bay of the archipelago, is where visitors can find a characteristic reef environment. Sueste offers freediving areas that make it possible to observe the marine biodiversity that occurs throughout the archipelago. The turtles and sharks that use the place as a feeding and resting area draw the most attention in this scenario.

In addition, Sueste Bay is home to the only mangrove of oceanic islands in the South Atlantic. This mangrove settled there about 2,000 years ago and has arboreal specimens that reach approximately 10 meters in height. Due to the fragility of this ecosystem, access to the mangrove is not allowed.

ATTENTION The beach is divided into three distinct areas separated by buoys. Looking to the sea, in the right area, freediving is allowed, but using a life jacket, mask, and fins is mandatory. The central area is for unrestricted bathing and diving. And in the left area, access is only allowed to teams authorized by ICMBio.

These rules have been valid since July 7th, 2022

• Sueste's PIC (Point of Information and Control) is open from 9 am to 5 pm;
• The beach is open from 9 am to 4 pm;
• It is mandatory to watch the orientation video or the lecture of the park monitors;
• Access to the sand strip is allowed;
• Bathing in the central area is prohibited;
• Starting 12/17, floating activities in Baía do Sueste will be suspended. Access to the sand strip and the PIC remains free. More information:

click here

Note: If a high risk of diving is detected, security measures will be taken immediately, closing the beach. It could happen when a tiger shark is sighted, on days of heavy rain, or when the water from the mangrove breaks the sand strip and flows into the sea, which causes high turbidity.

Leão Beach

Opening hours: 8 am to 6 pm

Entrance and exit control: At Leão's Point of Information and Control (PIC), where the validity of the individual ticket is checked.

A paradise for those who like tranquility, Leão beach is one of the most isolated on the island. It offers an exuberant scenery to the visitor. The place is the main spawning point for the green turtle between December and May.

A remarkable feature of this place is the reef benches that can be seen at low tide, formed by calcareous algae, foraminifera, corals, sponges, and rocks. As it is a sensitive formation, it is not allowed to walk on top of this environment.

ATTENTION This beach is subject to strong sea currents. Before practicing water activities, evaluate the condition of the sea and your own limits. Bathing, freediving, and landscape contemplation activities are allowed in the entire area of the beach and in the sandy bottom natural pools, except in the reefs on both sides of the beach; in addition, it is not allowed to climb the secondary islands: Viuvinha and Leão Hill.

Ponta das Caracas viewpoint

Opening hours: 8 am to 6 pm

Entrance and exit control: Through the access gate to Leão's Point of Information and Control (PIC).

Located between Leão Beach and Sueste Bay, it is an incredible place for contemplation. From the top of its rock formation, it is possible to see the beautiful Leão Beach and its secondary islands, as well as the reef formations and natural pools.I n front of this viewpoint, there is the further-ahead point of the outer sea. There it is possible to see the waves' force and the sea's agitation. Also, it is an excellent spot for watching seabirds and the sunset.

São Joaquim of Sueste Fort

Opening hours: 8 am to 6 pm

Entrance and exit control: Through the access gate to Leão's Point of Information and Control (PIC).

It is a small trail with easy access to two very interesting points. The first stop has a beautiful view of Sueste bay and the Cabeluda and Chapéu Islands. A little further on, the visitor will be able to see the ruins of the São Joaquim of Sueste Fort.

Caieira beach

Caieira beach is a small beach with easy access and arrival point of the Pontinha-Caieira trail.

From the viewpoint, it is possible to see sharks and seabirds fishing sardines in the morning, in addition to being a special place to admire the sunrise.

On the right side of the beach there is a natural pool that can only be accessed through the Pontinha-Caieira trail, accompanied by a guide certified by ICMBio.

Scuba Diving

Entrance and exit control: Through the kiosk at the Santo Antônio Port, where the validity of the individual ticket is checked.

The Fernando de Noronha archipelago is known for being one of the best diving sites in Brazil and the world. Transparent and warm (26° Celsius) waters guarantee a perfect environment to enjoy the island's rich marine life. And most of the diving points are located within the Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park area.

The highlight is Pedras Secas, considered one of the best diving sites in the world. Also, Ilha do Meio, Cagarras, and Ressurreta are points close to the secondary islands with lots of marine life and easy access to beginners.

Scuba diving within the National Park only can be carried out with diving operators authorized by ICMBio.

ATTENTION TO SCUBA DIVING RULES:

It is not allowed to collect anything from nature, such as animals, plants, shells, stones, etc.;
It is not allowed to touch, fishing, kill, capture, chase, and feed animals;
It is not allowed to carry fishing or hunting equipment inside the National Park area;
The use of camera rods is not allowed;
It is not allowed to access the secondary islands.

Boat Tour

Entrance and exit control: Through the kiosk at the Santo Antônio Port, where the validity of the individual ticket is checked.

The boat tour is one of the best ways to get to know the National Park's marine area and see the island's extremes up close. The tour only can be done by companies authorized by the Park.

The traditional route leaves the port towards the secondary islands where dolphin encounters usually occur, which use this region to rest. The boat must not go towards the groups of dolphins but pass along their edges to avoid interfering with their behavior. Then the boat goes to the Ponta da Sapata or Sancho Bay. Only four boats can stop at the same time at Sancho Bay.

In order to keep the National Park healthy and to carry out a safe activity, it is necessary to take some precautions:

Do not feed birds or fish;
Take precautions against the wind and keep the garbage in the trash cans;
Evaluate your physical condition before entering the water;
Use a life jacket if you feel safer;
Keep constant eye contact with your boat and be aware of the traffic of other vessels;
Do not jump out of a stationary or moving boat.

ATTRACTIONS