Beaches in Fernando de Noronha



At one side Brazil. This is the "inside sea" with 10  beaches, two bays to enjoy, one of which very special where It's  not allowed to go in: the Dolphin Bay. A calm sea during the greatest  part of the year, protected against the winds, allowing the access  from one beach to another in plenty of beauty and adventure tours.

On the opposite side Africa. It's the "outside sea" with 4 beaches, one creek, two areas for contemplation and a set of  swimming pools on the rocks. A rough sea, in some places a little  bit calmed by the reefs, which hold the waves between the stones. Water spouts, very large areas crowded with coloured fishes, like enormous aquariums, ready to enjoy.

Surf


With an agreeable climate over  the whole year, the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago is one  the most beautiful places in Brazil. And also very appreciated by surfers of the whole world. These tourists are attracted not only by the natural beauties, but mainly by the perfect and tubular waves  at various points of the island. These waves start to  arrive at the inside sea in November and last up to middle  of April. Peaks like Cacimba do Padre, Boldró and  Abrás are among the most remarkables. In February 2001 the local surfers founded the Fernando  de Noronha Surf Association for stimulating this sport  on the island. The waves break between 2 and 12 feet over a mixed ground  (sand/stone).

Praia do Leão (Leão beach)

3rd. place among the most beautiful beaches of Brazil) Far away, situated beyond the Xaréu Dam, its name is based on the very big stone, which profile is like a laid down sea lion. By the side another rocky formation - the Viuvinha Mount. A lot of nests can be seen in these rocky formations. Very white sand, swimming pools in stones, water spouts, sideway to the sea. In the height, the constructive evidences of the Bom Jesus do Leão Fort, with 13 half buried guns. This is the beach where the most turtle eggs laying occurs. This is a Reserve area with a permanent rigid control. At the eggs laying periods nobody goes down to beach after 06:00 PM.

Baía Sueste (Southeast Bay)

A calm sea and smooth waves distinguish this historic region, where the naval fleet, which pretended to retake the Archipelago from the Dutch, landed in 1629. It's an optional point to be visited in the periods of undertow at the inside sea. Protecting the bay at the left side there are the ruins of the São Joaquim do Sueste Fort. Next to the sea there is the only mangrove in an oceanic island, an ecologic rarity. Considering its importance as an alternate harbour, at this bay ends the BR-363 road, which starts at the Santo Antônio harbour, at the opposite side of the island. It's an area of the National Reserve with permanent control.

Atalaia Beach

Its landscape remembers the volcanic origin of the island: black stones, reefs and the Frade Mount middle in the sea. In a small strip of land only thirty people are allowed to remain, a permanent controlled requirement of IBAMA. With the uncovered reefs a big swimming pool with an active marine life appears. At the high tide very high water spouts are formed. In the left beach corner it's possible to see the ruins of the salt works, which operated when the Americans were on the island during World War II. It's an area of the National Reserve with permanent control.

Buraco da Raquel (Raquel Cavity)

Contemplative region, the origin of the name is a very big stone  with a great cavity at the strand. The stone is surrounded  by plain swimming pools crowded by coloured fishes. It's not  allowed to go down, as It's supposed to be one of the cellars  of marine life, which should be preserved. The name "Raquel" is  related to the impaired daughter of one of the military commanders  who hid herself at that place during crisis.

Baía de Santo Antônio (Santo Antonio Bay and harbour)

As a natural anchorage place, It's used as unloading harbour for boats. A stone pier was built for tieing up small ships. Bigger ships remain anchored about 500 m from the beach, as there is a sinked greek ship - the Eleani Sthatathos - in the harbour. In the proximity there is the Sto. Antônio Fort, which is partly destryoed. It was the first of the main island forts and its name was taken over by the entire region. It's also posible to see the remainders of the first pier built during the war for unloading guns. All fishing and tourism ships are sheltered at this place.

Praia do Cachorro (Cachorro beach)

Situated just below the Remédios Fort, this beach had once a bronze fountain representing a dog face. A fresh water springlet is an additional attraction in this beach near the village. There are a stone swimming pool (the "Galego Cavity") and the walls of the Sant'Anna Park in the higher part. This fort was the first one to be closed and transformed in a Marine Arsenal at the beginning of the past century. On its stones the fishermen salted the fishes, hence the nickname "Salgadeira" (salting box). At the same place there is a part of the Tourist Terminal with typical markets.

Praia da Conceição (Conceição or Itaicable Beach)

Situated at the base of the Pico Mount, this is a big beach and well visited due to its easy access. The origin of the name is the Nª Sª da Conceição Fort of the XVIII century, which was transformed in a hospital by the end of the last century. In 1925 the Italians of ITALCABLE settled down at this beach for the installation of the telegraphic undersea cable, so originating its second name. The italian village had three houses, sports court and a big leisure place, today very different. At the high tides this beach is excellent for surfing. At low tides the sea is very calm, with a great walking sand extension surrounded by coconut palms.

Praia do Boldró (Boldró Beach)

In the past reserved for the Americans, installed nearby with  the Rocket Observation Station, this is today the nearest beach  from the Hotel Esmeralda, which operates in the same installations.  At the high tide the waves invite for surfing. At the low tide  It's possible to walk over stones and through a long sand extension. In the height of the cliff you will see the São Pedro  do Boldró Fort, an excellent belvedere and one of the forts of the system built in the XVIII century.

Cacimba do Padre Beach

One of the longest beaches in the island, the greatest attraction is the Dois Irmãos Mount, two similar elevations near the water. The original name was Quixaba Beach. In 1888 the chaplain of the prison discovered a fresh water fountain and its name was accordingly changed. In the height there was the Quixaba Village with the Nª Sª da Conceição Chapel, a big bad behavior prisoner lodging and 28 houses. Near to the old village you can see the evidences of an artillery battery of World War II.

Baía dos Porcos (pig bay)

2nd place among the most beautiful beaches of Brazil. A small area, very beautiful, almost without sand, is formed by stones, which are real swimming pools for coloured fishes, limited by the high black stones cliff and opposite to the Dois Irmãos Mount. In the higher part there is the São João Baptista dos Dois Irmãos Fort, the last fort on this side of the island. The access to the bay is difficult and made through the stones.

Baía do Sancho (Sancho Bay)

With clear water and sand ground, this bay is one of the few in which it's allowed to stop boats for bathing purposes without damaging the corals. Isolated, limited by a steep cliff, natural belvedere which can be reached through three "routes": on boats, by sea; by ladders fixed in a rock split, from where you can see the sea, and complemented by stairs carved in the stones; or scaling rocks from the neighbour Porcos Bay. Any of the access modes is a delightful adventure. Covered by vegetation and stuffed with fowl nests, this bay is situated in the Reserve area and therefore is submitted to constant control.

Dolphin Bay or Carreiro de Pedra Creek

The most widely known attraction of Fernando de Noronha, this bay is the coupling and resting place of the dolphins. It's considered "the biggest natural world aquarium for animals of this species". Buoys and ropes limit the bay and the access is forbidden. Called as "sea pigs" in old books and as "tuninhas" by the prisoners, the rotifer dolphins can also be seen from the Bay heights in the Dolphins Belvedere.