...the paradise is here!!!
Faraway from the continent (216 miles off the coast of Natal), the archipelago is, in fact, the top of a gigantesque vulcanic mountain submersed in Atlantic Ocean, very deep (12.800 feet). There is a main island, with 2,000 unhabitants, and 20 smaller ones, uninhabited. About 10 square miles of fantastic Nature: 17 gorgeous beaches, forests, rocks, coral reefs... all surrounded by the transparent sea, with incredible colors.
There are wonderful places to explore, walking or trekking, through pathways or rocks, by boat, buggy or bike. A marvelous underwater world to discover (diving or snorkeling) full of corals, fishes, turtles, lobsters, rays, even sharks (they are never hungry, so don´t attack :)). There are the dolphins, with whom you can swimm and frolic -- an amazing experience!!!! The seabirds -- albatross, frigates, seaguls, atobas, viuvinhas....The delightful sun, the deep-blue sky; fantastic sunsets, pleasant chats...starry nights and silver moonlight, inviting to romances... What more one could want ?? :))
It´s important to say that Fernando de Noronha is NOT an "island of fantasy" nor a paradise in Cancun style. Nothing is fake there, nothing was "made for tourists". The calling of Noronha is exactly its natural beauty.
So, this is a kind of trip for people that love Nature, enjoy ecological tourism and have an adventurer spirit. There are no five-star hotels, sophisticated restaurants or shoppings - neither warm water in the shower...(well, the weather is always warm:)
The lodging in the island is in "pousadas" - simple houses, the most part private residences, adaptated to receive some tourists. Some have a nice infrastructure ("Pousada do Rocha", "da Morena" "da Filó", "da Jô"); other are very, very modest - but everywhere, the amiable host compenses the eventual lack of comfort. Nowadays, the pousadas offers just bed & breakfast. You must look for one of the few simple restaurants where you will eat home-made meals, specially fishes (BIU´s self-service is great!) -- with nice Brazilian beer, of course !!!
Considered as an ecologic santuary and National Marine Park, Fernando de Noronha is under the protection and control of IBAMA (a federal Institute of the Envirohment Ministery), that takes care of its preservation. There is the Tamar Project, protecting the sea-turtles, in Lion´s Beach. The Dolphins Bay is another area of maximum preservation. No boat can anchor by the nearness, no one can swimm or dive inside the limits of the bay. People are just allowed to watch the dolphins´s acrobatics from a natural observatory, on the cliff´s edge (it´s great to go there at daybreak!!). But it´s possible to join the dolphins and swimm among them, when they leave the bay (about 3h pm) and go to high-sea.
At the end of the day, everybody goes to watch the sunset (spetacular!). The most popular "point" is the Cachorro´s (Dog´s) bar, where you can savour the magnific view drinking an iced beer, listening soft music and chatting, relaxed. Very pleasant :)))
The tourism in Noronha is controlled: only 420 visitors can stay in the island at the same time. Everybody must pay an Envirohment Preservation Tax, upon arrival -- this tax increases progressively, according to the number of days spent in the island.
The temperature is very pleasant (28 C, all year long), as well as the sea water. Beware of the sun! Don´t forget take in your bag a good sunblock lotion (probably you won´t find it in the village). It´s fine to stay in Noronha at least one week -- better 10 days!!! If you want to dive, snorkel or swimm, the best months to go are august, september and october, when the sea is very very calm in the west side of the island (where are the best beaches and the Marine Park). There are three diving-firms (Atlantis, Noronha Divers and Aguas Claras), that provides rental equipments, courses, dive-masters to guide, and "baptism" to the first-time divers. From november to march, the sea changes -- then, it´s time of big waves, good for surf (diving can only be done along two areas in the east side). June and july are the months of rain.
Here are some pictures taken by me in my two trips to Noronha, and some lent by dear friends (click on the pic to see in larger size). Thought they are far from the original beauty, you can have a sample of Fernando de Noronha...
They say that there is a magic in Fernando de Noronha: if you are captured by the spell, will be involved by a great energy. Will wash your soul, relax, forget the sorrows... feel younger (at heart and body), ready to enjoy each good moment in this life. It´s true :)) No wonder that everyone who knows Noronha, fall in love with the island -- and, surely, will return.
Everyday, about 1 pm, several boats leave the port, taking groups of tourists to a nice tour. These boats go along the coast and secondary islands, stop at Sancho Bay, and go around to join the dolphins. It´s advisable to make your reservation a day before (you can call Eduardo, phone 614-1307/9994-7199). Another option is to take a little boat (call Jairom, 9994-5126) that goes just to search the dolphins.
Every night, the IBAMA´s biologists offer a free "class" and video about the local fauna & flora, sea-birds, dolphins, sharks, turtles. Well, if you still have "fuel" to the "nightlife"......just go back to Cachorro´s about 10 pm and have fun in the "forró" (a dance-party), learning with the "ilheus" (local people) how to shake your body in sensual Brazilian rythms :))
I DO hope you can know it in person !!!
Baía do Sancho
(Sancho´s Bay)
my favourite beach!
Baía dos Golfinhos
(Dolphin´s Bay)
A Praia do Atalaia
(Atalaia beach, a natural seaquarium)
Os atobás
Among the dolphins !!
(picture taken by Alexandre Saadeh)
Unforgettable sunsets
(here, viewed from Cachorro´s Bar)
A Baía dos Porcos
The squird of waves
through the coral reefs
in Lion´s beach
The islands Dois Irmãos
(Two Brothers -- by Alexandre Saadeh)
the Santo Antonio port
Praia do Cachorro
(Dog´s beach)
A Pousada da Filó
(a typical lodging)
Colors and contrasts
The archipelago,
overviewed from the airplane
(by Veronique Donard)
TAKE A LOOK!
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