Fernando de Noronha Travel Guide

Other Things to See and Do in Fernando de Noronha

1. Explore on horseback

On horseback, you can traverse the island’s trails and back roads, as well as some of the shorter beaches. Your best bet for finding a tour is to ask your accommodations to hook you up, as there are only a handful of guides on the island (and none have official websites).

2. Go dolphin watching

For the best dolphin watching, head to the aptly named Bay of Dolphins. This area is part of the National Marine Park, so the only way you’ll be able to get here is by walking a path along the cliff’s edge to the lookout. Arrive in the morning around 6am for the best chances of seeing dolphins in the bay — sometimes there are a thousand or more!

3. Drive dune buggies

Renting a dune buggy is the most common way to get around Fernando de Noronha, and you can explore the more secluded parts of the island that lie off the main road (including much of the muddy road that follows the coast). I recommend LocBuggy for buggy rentals as they have the most options, with rentals costing about 450 BRL a day.

4. Go hiking

There are plenty of trails leading to deserted beaches between the cliffs, caves, and hills that are completely inaccessible unless you’ve got your hiking boots on. My favorite hike is the route along or above Praia do Leão because it offers unobstructed scenic views of the beach and the Atlantic Ocean. You can go all the way to the lighthouse on Ponta de Sapat if you don’t mind jumping from rock to rock in some places. The route is only a few miles long.

5. Go kayaking

Take to the waters on a three-hour paddle from Porto Santo Antonio along the island’s sheltered coast, with a stop at beaches along the way (including Praia de Conceição). Most tours come with snacks and water. Your accommodations can help set you up on a tour, which costs about 220 BRL.

6. Cruise the island

If you want a unique view of Fernando de Noronha, hop on a boat tour. You’ll get a different perspective of the long white beaches, jungle-like vegetation, and towering cliffs. Plus, most tours usually include a visit to some hidden caves and islands, as well as Ponta de Sapat. You can also tie in some snorkeling time (most tours include snorkel gear in the price). Your accommodations can help you arrange a trip but expect to pay about 250 BRL for a half-day tour and at least 375 BRL for a full-day tour.

7. Visit the Shark Museum

This free museum on the northern peninsula is small, but if you’re interested in learning more about the island’s marine life, visiting here is a must-do. Displays include information (and skeletal remains) about reef sharks, hammerheads, and even whale sharks. You’ll get a good idea of how large these guys are — and how sharp their teeth are!

8. Circumnavigate the island

On an 8-hour Ilha Tour, you’ll cover the entire island by 4×4, exploring the main sights as well as hidden ones, such as lesser-known coves and beaches. It’s a great way to get your bearings on your first day and see what else you might want to explore during your time here. All tour agencies on the island offer this full-day tour, which generally costs about 350 BRL.

9. Catch the sunset

At the end of a long day of exploring, there’s nothing better than kicking back and watching a beautiful sunset. The sunsets over the water are magnificent no matter where you are on the island, but some popular spots are Nossa Senhora dos Remédios Fort, São Pedro do Boldró Fort, or Boldro Beach.

 
For more information on other cities in Brazil, check out these guides:

Fernando de Noronha Travel Costs

Hostel prices – In the low season, a bed in a 4-6-person dorm costs 130-150 BRL per night. Beds can be as high as 225 BRL in the high season. A private double room in a hostel is about 350 BRL per night. Free Wi-Fi isn’t available everywhere, and no hostels include free breakfast. If you plan on cooking your own meals, make sure you book accommodation with a kitchen.

Budget hotel prices – A double room with an ensuite bathroom in a basic two-star hotel costs 300 BRL in the low season and closer to 400 BRL in the high season. That’s about as budget-friendly as it gets here. Basic amenities include Wi-Fi and air-conditioning. Most budget hotels do not include free breakfast.

There are lots of Airbnb options in Fernando de Noronha to choose from. A private room costs about 250-350 BRL per night while an entire apartment/home is about 600-800 BRL per night.

Average cost of food – Brazilian cuisine – like the country itself – is a mix of many cultures, with European, Amerindian, African, and (more recently) Japanese influences. As such a large country, food varies per region, with seafood plentiful on the coastlines and Brazilian barbecue dominating plates in the south. Rice and beans are a staple throughout the country.

Common vegetables include tubers like cassava and yams, tomatoes, red peppers, okra, and more. There’s also a huge variety of native fruit to sample, with the most famous likely being superfood açaí. Cupuaçu, mango, papaya, guava, orange, passion fruit, pineapple, are all commonly found across the country as well.

Feijoada is Brazil’s national dish, a meaty bean stew that’s traditionally eaten for Wednesday or Saturday lunch. Other popular dishes include moqueca(fish stew), polenta, and vatapá (a stew of bread, shrimp, coconut milk, and peanuts), among countless others.

As an island, the cuisine of Fernando de Noronha is dominated by fish and seafood, with various fish stews and grilled or fried fish on offer at the island’s restaurants.

Overall, prices are higher here as most food must be imported. A sandwich and a drink at a juice bar costs around 25 BRL, though prices on the beach are much higher, with a snack or sandwich costing 50-90 BRL at these. Some places, like Farmacia de Maezinha, offer a “pay by weight” buffet-style option, costing 100 BRL per kilo.

A typical Brazilian meal at a mid-range restaurant costs about 80-100 BRL. There are also many higher-end seafood restaurants on the island, with dishes costing 165-200 BRL (keep in mind though, that at seafood restaurants, these dishes are usually large platters consisting of an entire fish with sides, meant for two people). The all-you-can-eat seafood buffet at Restaurante Zé Maria costs 230 BRL.

There are a couple of mid-range restaurants offering international cuisine, though virtually none of the typical takeout options that budget travelers can turn to. A personal pizza is 50-70 BRL, and a burger is 40-50 BRL.

A bottle of water costs 5-8 BRL, while beer is about 10-20 BRL. A glass of wine is 20 BRL, and a cocktail is 25-30 BRL. A cappuccino is 12 BRL.

You can save money by shopping at the local grocery stores. While it’ll cost significantly more than on the mainland, it’s still cheaper than eating out. A week’s worth of groceries costs about 400-450 BRL. Depending on how long you’re staying, consider bringing some food with you to the islands.

Backpacking Fernando de Noronha Suggested Budgets

If you’re backpacking Fernando de Noronha, budget about 450 BRL per day. This budget covers staying in a hostel dorm, cooking most meals, limiting your drinking, taking the bus to get around, and sticking to mostly free activities like enjoying the beaches and hiking.

On a mid-range budget of about 610 BRL per day, you can stay in a private room in a hostel or a private Airbnb room, eat out for most meals, enjoy a few drinks, take the occasional taxi to get around, and do more paid activities like snorkeling or boat tours.

On a “luxury” budget, expect to spend 1,825 BRL or more per day. This covers staying in a hotel, eating out for all your meals, drinking more, renting a dune buggy, and doing whatever tours and activities you want, like going diving. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

Note: All visitors to the island need to pay an environmental tax, which starts at 87 BRL per day. There’s also a national park fee of 330 BRL which covers 10 days on the island. If you’re staying for three days (as an example), you have to add about 590 BRL to your budget.

Fernando de Noronha Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Fernando de Noronha is more expensive than the rest of Brazil due to its remote location and limited tourism infrastructure. But if you want to try, here are some ways to save when you visit:

1. Bring cash – ATMs and money changers are virtually non-existent here, and many places only take cash. Bring plenty with you.
2. Visit during low season – Noronha is always more expensive than the rest of Brazil, but traveling in the low season between April and November offers cheaper accommodation.
3. Shop around – Booking tours or excursions is a casual experience here, often done on behalf of your accommodation. Shop around for various prices before committing.
4. Take advantage of comida por peso – At lunchtime, there are plenty of restaurants which offer the “food by weight” deal which allows you to pile your plate high for very little money.
5. Stay with a local – Couchsurfing connects you with locals who can give you a free place to stay and share their insider tips and advice. It’s the best way to meet locals and save money. There aren’t many hosts here though, so if you’re trying to couchsurf here, reach out well in advance.
6. Pack a water bottle – The tap water here isn’t safe to drink so bring a water bottle with a filter to save money and reduce your single-use plastic usage. My preferred bottle is LifeStraw as it has a built-in filter to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where to Stay in Fernando de Noronha

There are only a couple hostels in Fernando de Noronha. Here are my suggested places to stay:

• Ilha Hostel
• Vila Hostel

How to Get Around Fernando de Noronha

Public transportation – A bus runs from one end of the island to the other (between Vila dos Remédios and the airport) for about 5 BRL per ride. These buses depart every 30-40 minutes between 7am-11pm, and you’ll see stop signs all along the road.

Taxi – Taxis here work on a fixed rate between 20-45 BRL, depending on how far you’re going. It’s 30 BRL between the airport and Vila dos Remédios, and 25 BRL between the airport and the port.

Buggy – Renting a buggy is the most fun and convenient way to get around the island. LocBuggy is the best option for buggy rentals, with rentals costing from 450 BRL a day, not including the cost of fuel. You’ll need a Class B driver’s license.

Hitchhike – It is common for people to hitchhike around Fernando de Noronha, and the locals will be eager to get to know you. Just make sure they know they are picking up a hitchhiker and not someone looking for a taxi.

When to Go to Fernando de Noronha

Temperatures don’t vary much here. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the island has the most consistent temperatures in the world: it never gets colder than 18°C (64°F) or hotter than 30°C (90°F).

The rainy season lasts from May to August, but rainfall is sporadic and never lasts long. The rainy season is also the low season, so you’ll find cheaper accommodation and tour deals during this time since there are fewer people visiting.

April is the best month for diving since the ocean is usually the calmest during this time.

August to December are the driest and most popular times to visit. But since the island only allows less than 500 people on it at a time, it’s never too crowded.

How to Stay Safe in Fernando de Noronha

Fernando de Noronha is a safe place to travel — even if you’re traveling solo and even as a solo female traveler. Since the island has limited tourism, you don’t have to worry too much about petty theft here. It’s one of the few places in Brazil where it’s safe to bring your valuables to the beach (although I still recommend leaving them at your accommodation).

Solo female travelers should feel safe here, though the standard precautions apply (don’t accept drinks from strangers, don’t walk around alone at night, etc.).

There aren’t really any tourist scams here to speak of, but if you’re worried about getting ripped off while traveling you can read about common travel scams to avoid here.

ATMs are few and far between here so bring cash with you and always keep it secure and out of reach just to be safe.

Mosquitos are abundant here so bring repellant or you’ll get eaten alive.

Always trust your gut instinct. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID. Forward your itinerary along to loved ones so they’ll know where you are.

If you experience an emergency, dial 190 for assistance.

For more in-depth coverage of how to stay safe in Brazil, check out this post that answers some frequently asked questions and concerns.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. This is especially true on this island as there is limited healthcare, so if you get seriously injured, you may require emergency evacuation. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past.