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Fernando de Noronha is a 21-island volcanic archipelago where every activity orbits the sea: swimming in tide pools, snorkeling with turtles, diving shipwrecks, and watching the world’s largest resident spinner-dolphin pod. All land access to the marine national park is controlled, so you pay two fees before any of this is possible. This list covers the best things to do with prices, access rules, and timing. Start from the main Fernando de Noronha page for the island overview.
Things to Do in Fernando de Noronha: Beaches
BaÃa do Sancho
Voted the world’s best beach by TripAdvisor multiple times, BaÃa do Sancho sits at the base of a cliff on the windward side. You reach it by descending two steel ladders bolted into the rock face, then a short swim or wade through a cave. Entry is free, but the climb is not for anyone with mobility issues. Go at low tide on a calm day; the best time to visit guide explains which months have the calmest seas.
BaÃa dos Porcos
A pocket of sand next to Sancho, BaÃa dos Porcos is the most photographed beach on the island, framed by dark volcanic rock and the Dois Irmãos peaks. It is reached by the same ladders as Sancho. The shallow, protected water is ideal for a quick snorkel over the rocks, and the beach is often less crowded than Sancho because there is less sand to spread out on.
Praia do Leão
Praia do Leão is the island’s main green-turtle nesting beach, with a quieter southern half called Leãozinho. There are no facilities and the water can be rough, so it is better for walking and wildlife than swimming. From January to June the beach closes at night for nesting, and TAMAR researchers run guided observation in season. This ties into the rainfall and season patterns in the weather by month guide.
BaÃa do Sueste
BaÃa do Sueste is the calmest, most protected bay on the island and the best place to snorkel with green turtles and rays right off the beach. It is one of the few beaches with structure: a small restaurant, chair and umbrella rental, and showers. Visibility is clearest from August to December. The bay sits in the island’s southeast, described in the neighborhoods guide.
Praia da Conceição
Praia da Conceição is the long beach closest to Vila dos Remédios, a 20-minute walk from the village. It has gentle surf on most days, a lifeguard post, and a wide stretch of sand that makes it the island’s default swimming beach. At sunset it fills with locals and visitors walking back from the village. Surf lessons run here for around R$ 150 to R$ 250 per session.
Things to Do in Fernando de Noronha: Nature and Wildlife
BaÃa dos Golfinhos Dolphin Viewpoint
BaÃa dos Golfinhos is closed to boats and swimmers to protect the resident pod of around 1,000 spinner dolphins, the largest colony in the world. Instead you watch from the clifftop trail above the bay, which is free and open from 06:30. Early morning, between 06:30 and 08:00, is when the dolphins enter the bay to rest. Bring binoculars; the animals stay offshore and are easiest to spot on calm, sunny days.
Morro Dois Irmãos
The two jagged peaks of Morro Dois Irmãos are the island’s postcard landmark, best viewed from the Forte dos Remédios viewpoint or from BaÃa dos Porcos beach below. You cannot climb the peaks, but the viewpoint trail is free and takes 10 minutes. It is the classic spot for a sunrise or sunset photo, and the trail stays dry and easy through the dry season.
Praia da Atalaia
Atalaia is a natural aquarium of tide pools packed with fish, octopus, and baby reef sharks. Access is heavily restricted to protect the pools: you must book a free permit in advance and visit only at low tide, with limited daily slots and a fixed time window. The permit and entry rules are covered in the travel tips and FAQ guide.
Projeto TAMAR Visitor Center
Projeto TAMAR, the Brazilian sea-turtle conservation program, runs a small visitor center near Praia do Boldró with exhibits on the island’s turtles and evening talks in season. Entry is free, and the center is the best place to learn about nesting season before walking Praia do Leão. Guided night turtle-watching runs during nesting season and must be booked through TAMAR staff on the island.
Things to Do in Fernando de Noronha: Tours and Activities
Boat Tour (Ilha Tour)
A circumnavigation boat tour, called the Ilha Tour, is the most popular paid activity on the island. Boats leave from Porto de Santo Antônio, run 3 to 4 hours, and stop for snorkeling at spots like BaÃa do Sancho and the Cagarras islets. Expect to pay around R$ 250 to R$ 350 per person. Operators advertise dolphin sightings, but boats are barred from BaÃa dos Golfinhos itself. Book through your pousada; staying near the port is covered in the where to stay guide.
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling
Diving is the island’s signature draw, with sites like Laje Dois Irmãos, Corveta Ipiranga shipwreck, and Caverna da Sapata. A two-tank dive with a certified operator costs about R$ 450 to R$ 600, and a discovery dive for beginners is around R$ 500. Visibility is best from August to December. Snorkeling is cheaper: gear rental runs R$ 30 to R$ 50 a day, and BaÃa do Sueste and BaÃa dos Porcos are the top free spots.
Buggy Island Circuit
Renting a buggy is the standard way to get around the island, since there is no tourist bus network and the 18 km of road connect every beach. Rentals cost about R$ 250 to R$ 400 a day with a valid driving licence, and you can lap the entire island in under two hours. Several tour operators also sell a guided buggy tour of the west beaches that includes Praia do Leão and BaÃa do Sueste for around R$ 300 per person.
Hiking Trails
The island’s maintained trails are free, but the marine-park permit covers access to several of them. Trilha do Sancho descends to the famous beach, Trilha da Atalaia reaches the tide pools, and Trilha Costa Esmeralda runs the east coast from Sueste toward Ponta da Sapata with views of the open Atlantic. The events and festivals calendar notes when guided group walks run.
Things to Do in Fernando de Noronha: History and Culture
Forte Nossa Senhora dos Remédios
The 18th-century Portuguese fort at the top of Vila dos Remédios is the island’s main historic site and the best viewpoint over the village and Morro Dois Irmãos. Entry is free and the ramparts are open all day. The fort is the centerpiece of the Festa de São Pedro celebrations on June 29.
Vila dos Remédios and Palácio São Miguel
Vila dos Remédios is the island’s compact historic center, with pastel houses, the Nossa Senhora dos Remédios church, and the Palácio São Miguel, a 19th-century building that served as a prison until 1942. The village is where most restaurants, ATMs, and the post office are on the island.
