The hook
A remote volcanic archipelago in the Atlantic, often crowned Brazil's most beautiful island, where jagged peaks rise from turquoise water, spinner dolphins gather in their hundreds, and one bay regularly tops lists of the best beaches on Earth.
01Why it's worth it
Fernando de Noronha, a small volcanic archipelago far off Brazil's northeast coast, is a strictly protected marine national park and one of the most spectacular island destinations in the Atlantic. Its dramatic scenery, a landmark two-pronged peak (the Morro Dois Irmãos), craggy volcanic cliffs, and a string of stunning beaches lapped by clear, warm, turquoise water, is matched by extraordinary marine life: the surrounding waters teem with sea turtles, reef sharks, and rays, offer some of the best diving and snorkelling in the country, and host a resident population of spinner dolphins that gather in a bay each morning in remarkable numbers. Its jewel, the Baía do Sancho, reached down a ladder through a cliff crevice, is repeatedly voted among the very best beaches in the world. To protect it, visitor numbers are capped and a conservation fee charged, which keeps it pristine and uncrowded but also makes it a premium, harder-to-reach destination, accessed only by flights from the mainland. For beaches, marine life, and unspoiled island beauty, it is Brazil at its finest.
02How to experience it
Fly in (numbers are limited, so book ahead and budget for the conservation fees) and spend your days on the beaches, above all Baía do Sancho, snorkelling and diving the rich reefs, watching the dawn dolphins, and hiking the trails and viewpoints. Go in the drier season for clarity, or the surf season for waves. Respect the strict park rules that keep it pristine.
From the locals
It heads Brazilians' own shortlists: "three places I love in Brazil: Fernando de Noronha — a beautiful island located off the shoulder of Brazil, it is extraordinarily beautiful. Some of Brazil's most picturesque beaches are found here." Access is deliberately limited and there's a daily environmental levy, which is why it stays as it is.