Fernando de Noronha, the way you need to know it
Beaches, tours, fees, park opening hours and ready-made itineraries. A free, straight-to-the-point guide, updated for 2026.
Everything that changes your trip, before you buy the ticket
Noronha has rules of its own: a daily fee, a park ticket, beaches with opening hours, trails that require booking and a different time zone. We sort all of that out in six pages.
Fees and park ticket
Progressive TPA, ICMBio park ticket, exemptions and a calculator to find out how much your trip will cost.
When to go
Month by month: rain, heat, calm seas, swell and prices. September is usually the perfect balance.
Getting there and around
Flights, airport, buggy, taxi, bus and the island's own time zone.
Where to stay
Vila dos Remédios, Floresta Nova, Boldró or Sueste? Price ranges and pousadas by style.
Ready-made itineraries
3, 5 or 7 days already organized around tides, park opening hours and sunset.
Tips and phone numbers
What to pack, park rules, children, accessibility, money, internet and useful contacts.
The beaches worth every step
Mar de Dentro (facing Brazil) is calm and turquoise; Mar de Fora (facing Africa) is wild, with turtles and natural pools. See the complete guide to the 13 main beaches.
Baía do Sancho
The best beach in the world according to TripAdvisor in several editions. Reached by a staircase down the rock.
Hours and tips
Baía dos Porcos
Natural pools facing Morro Dois Irmãos. Only at low tide.
How to get there
Baía do Sueste
Mangroves, turtles and the best-equipped PIC in the Park. Snorkeling only when ICMBio allows it.
See the rules
Praia da Conceição
Central, with a bar on the sand, great for children and for sunset next to Morro do Pico.
See the beach
Praia do Cachorro
In the Vila. At low tide the Buraco do Galego and the Lasca da Velha appear.
See the beach
Praia da Atalaia
A natural aquarium with a 30-minute visit and mandatory booking.
How to bookSancho staircase: going down and up in time windows
To avoid queues in the rock crevice, ICMBio alternates the direction throughout the day. Plan your Sancho visit around these times.
Going down
- 8:00–8:50am (open: down and up)
- 9:00–10:20am
- 11:30am–12:20pm
- 1:30–2:20pm
- 3:30–4:20pm
- 4:30pm–5:20pm (open: down and up)
Going up
- 10:30–11:20am
- 12:30–1:20pm
- 2:30–3:20pm
- 5:30–6:00pm
ICMBio reference times (island local time). From 8am to 8:50am and from 4:30pm to 5:20pm the staircase is open in both directions; from 5:30pm to 6pm, going up only. Outside these windows the staircase is closed, except for emergencies. Check the sign at the Sancho PIC on the day.
Other hours and quick rules
- Baía do Sueste: beach from 9am to 4pm and PIC until 5pm. Swimming and snorkeling only when ICMBio allows it.
- Atalaia: booking required, 30 minutes in the pool, no sunscreen.
- Mirante dos Golfinhos: open from 6:30am to 6:30pm; the dolphins show up most early in the morning.
- Praia do Leão: closed at night during nesting season (December to June).
- Projeto Tamar: free evening talks in Boldró.
- Bus: runs every 30 to 45 minutes along the BR-363 and rarely accepts cards.
The three tours everyone takes (and they are worth it)
Ilha Tour
A full day through the viewpoints, beaches and historic sites, ending with the sunset at Boldró. Shared or private.
Details
Boat trip
From the Porto to Ponta da Sapata, with dolphins along the way and a stop for a swim at Sancho.
Details
Diving
Discovery scuba dive with a tank for beginners, open-water dives for certified divers and planasub, towed by the boat, with no tank.
DetailsGoing surfing? From November to March, Cacimba do Padre gets the most famous waves on the island. See the breaks, the season and safety tips in the Fernando de Noronha surf guide.
A dream that became this guide
Visiting Fernando de Noronha was our family's dream. In October 2022 we spent 10 days on the island with two children at very different ages: Isaac, 6 months old, and Miguel, 9. Planning was not simple, and a lot we only found out once we were there. This guide brings together what we wish we had found ready-made.
Noronha is possible. Even as a family. It just needs good planning.
Is Noronha for you?
- Cost: high. Two mandatory fees, and almost everything costs more than on the mainland.
- Physical effort: moderate. Many beaches involve stairs, trails or rocks, with strong sun all day.
- Planning: essential. Trails and natural pools have limited spots.
- A great match for romantic trips, families, diving, photography and surfing (November to March); not much for nightlife: the island goes to bed early and the day is the main event.
Most beaches in the park have no facilities on the sand: bring water, a snack and shade.
A bit of history
Sighted by Portuguese navigators in 1503, the archipelago served as a prison, an American military base in World War II and, in 1988, became a Marine National Park. In 2001 UNESCO declared it a World Natural Heritage Site.
Today there are 21 islands, about 3,000 residents and one of the best-preserved marine ecosystems in the Atlantic: spinner dolphins, turtles, nurse sharks and reefs visible at more than 30 meters deep.
Historic sites of Vila dos RemédiosBefore asking in the group, check here
How much is the Environmental Preservation Fee (TPA) in 2026?
The TPA costs R$ 105,79 for 1 day and is progressive: 7 days cost R$ 672,85 and 10 days R$ 901,36 per person. Guides report an exemption for children under 5; confirm when you pay. See the full table and the calculator.
Do I need to pay the National Park ticket?
Only if you want to enter the park's beaches and trails, such as Sancho, Baía dos Porcos, Sueste, Leão and Atalaia. The ticket costs R$ 192,00 for Brazilians and R$ 384,00 for foreigners and is valid for 10 consecutive days. The batch currently sold online must be used by 31/10/2026; if you are travelling later, wait for the new ordinance in November. Official Park exemption: children under 12 and Brazilians aged 60 or over, with ID.
What is the best time to visit Fernando de Noronha?
From September to November the sea is calm and diving visibility ranges from 30 to 50 meters. November to March brings swell for surfing and the high season. April to June is rainy and has the lowest prices; July is school vacation. September tends to be the most balanced month.
How many days should I stay?
The comfortable minimum is 3 full days. With 5 days you can do the main tours; with 7 or more you can repeat beaches, dive more than once and enjoy it without rushing. Remember that the TPA gets cheaper per day up to the tenth day.
Can I go with children?
Yes. Porto de Santo Antônio, Conceição and Sueste are the calmest beaches for little ones. The Sancho staircase and the long trails are not recommended for small children. Guides report a TPA exemption for children under 5 and the Park exempts under-12s from the park ticket. See the guide to Noronha with kids.
What time is it in Noronha?
The island has its own time zone (UTC−2), one hour ahead of Brasília. Flights, tours and park hours follow local time. When you land, check whether your phone updated on its own; if not, turn off automatic time and set it 1 hour ahead.
Noronha Premium Guide: 90 pages, 9 itineraries, planner and infographic
The trip's operating manual, written by someone who took the family to the island and re-checked everything in 2026. Launching soon: join the waitlist.
Want a ready-made itinerary?
We put together 3, 5 and 7-day itineraries with tides, park hours and sunset already slotted in. You just pick your favorite beaches.