Fernando de Noronha Travel Guide: Boutique Pousadas, Visitor Fees and Brazil’s Most Beautiful Beaches

Photo: Tatiane Kátia / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Jet Set LatAM · Destination Guide

About 350 kilometers off Brazil’s northeast coast, Fernando de Noronha is a volcanic archipelago of cliffs, clear water and beaches that top best-in-the-world lists year after year. Most of it is a marine national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visitor numbers are managed with daily fees, which is why it still feels like a secret.

This Fernando de Noronha travel guide covers the pousadas worth booking, how the fees work and the beaches you’ll want to see.

Boutique pousadas

Noronha has no big resorts, only pousadas, and the best are among Brazil’s most coveted stays. Pousada Maravilha has bungalows and an infinity pool with views over Baía do Sueste. NANNAI Noronha offers bungalows with private pools near Praia do Boldró, and Pousada Teju-Açu is an eco-minded favorite with a pool facing the Morro do Pico. Pousada Zé Maria is famous for its weekly feast-style dinner.

The beaches

Baía do Sancho, reached by a ladder through a crack in the cliff, regularly ranks among the world’s best beaches. Next door, Baía dos Porcos frames the Dois Irmãos rocks, and Praia do Leão is a sea turtle nesting site in season. Praia do Sueste is ideal for snorkeling with turtles in calm water.

Dolphins, diving and sunsets

At dawn, watch spinner dolphins from the lookout above Baía dos Golfinhos. Noronha is one of Brazil’s best diving destinations, with warm, clear water and visibility that can be exceptional. End the day at the Forte do Boldró for the island’s classic sunset.

Eat well

Island seafood is the star: grilled fish, octopus and moqueca. Book the dinner at Zé Maria if you can, and keep at least one evening free for a sunset cocktail on a terrace above the sea.

Good to know

• Fees. Visitors pay a daily environmental preservation fee (TPA) and a separate pass for the marine national park; check current rates and pay ahead online.
• Getting there. Fly from Recife or Natal, with occasional seasonal routes from other Brazilian cities.
• Book early. Flights and pousadas are limited and fill months ahead, especially from December to February.
• Season. August to January has drier weather and the clearest water; December to March brings swells and surf on the outer coast.

What to pack

• Cashmere travel wrap: a blanket on the plane, a shawl at dinner
• Leather loafers: polished enough for dinner, sane on cobblestones
• Packing cubes: so the artisan finds fit on the way home
• Our full travel collection on ShopMy ↗

Where to stay

Choose a pousada near Vila dos Remédios for restaurants, or near Baía do Sueste and Praia do Boldró for quiet and views. The flight search and live accommodation map below help you plan the rest of the trip.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to visit Fernando de Noronha?

Beyond flights and lodging, visitors pay a daily environmental fee and a national park pass; check current rates before booking.

What is the best beach in Fernando de Noronha?

Baía do Sancho, often ranked among the best beaches in the world.

How many days do you need in Fernando de Noronha?

Four to five days to see the main beaches, dive or snorkel and enjoy a few sunsets.

How do you get to Fernando de Noronha?

By plane from Recife or Natal.

Keep reading

• Pousada Maravilha review: a luxury pousada above Baía do Sueste
• Zé Maria’s food festival in Noronha: how to book the island’s famous feast
• The Enchantment of Fernando de Noronha
• Origem Salvador: A Guide to Bahian Tasting-Menu Dining
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• Salvador da Bahia UNESCO Guide: The Pelourinho, Churches and Afro-Brazilian History
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• Underrated Latin America: 22 destinations for your next trip

Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you book or buy through them, Jet Set LatAM may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This is a researched editorial guide; details, hours, prices and travel advisories change, so confirm before you go.