Fernando de Noronha with kids

Noronha with children: what changes

We went in October 2022 with Isaac, 6 months old, and Miguel, 9 years old. A trip to Noronha with children is possible and enjoyable, but it takes logistics: shade, timing and the right choice of beaches.

Our golden rule: sea in the morning, a long break during the heat and only one light outing at the end of the day. We split each day into 5 blocks: breakfast, first outing, a break from 1:30 to 3pm, second outing and an early dinner. With a baby, that break saved the trip.

Go from September to November if you can: dry season, calm Mar de Dentro and outside school holidays.

Recommended beaches and difficult beaches

• Recommended: Porto, with a calm sea and snorkeling at the shipwreck; Conceição, with bars and shade; Sueste, with a PIC and bathroom (snorkeling only when ICMBio allows it); Boldró and Cacimba outside the swell season.
• Difficult: Sancho, because of the staircase of more than 200 steps in a rock crevice; Baía dos Porcos, because of the rocks; Atalaia, because of the rules and the trail; Leão, because of the strong sea.

With a baby, Sancho only in a baby carrier, with an adult whose hands are free. Or see it from above, from the viewpoint, or from the sea, on the boat.

Transport, tours and sleep

We used taxis a lot, which have a fixed fare per route and work with an infant car seat. After the Ilha Tour, we rented a car, and it was more worthwhile once we knew the island. A car with air conditioning and a child seat is ideal; a buggy is open and hot.

The private Ilha Tour and a private speedboat were our best decisions: flexible timing, shade and a bathroom. With older children, the boat with dolphins, snorkeling at the Porto, Tamar, the Hawaiian canoe (from age 4) and a discovery dive (from age 10) are a delight.

Respect the afternoon nap at the pousada. Choose a dark room with air conditioning. One big outing a day is enough: a tired child at 3pm ruins everyone's sunset.

Splitting the group for a few hours also works. While part of the family dived or paddled, the others stayed at a calm beach with the baby. If a child wakes up unwell, one adult stays at the pousada and the other does a short outing. Don't force it.

To beat older children's boredom, create daily missions: count turtles, photograph fish, stamp the beach map.

Food, health and emergencies

Have dinner early, around 7pm, and close to the pousada. Few places have high chairs: ask. Choose dinner near the area of your last outing of the day, to avoid unnecessary taxis and a child falling asleep in the car.

Hospital São Lucas is open 24h, but serious cases are flown to Recife. Get insurance with air ambulance evacuation. There are pharmacies in the Vila, with limited stock. SAMU (ambulance) 192.

What to pack for the children

• Baby carrier or sling: a stroller is only useful in the Vila and at the Porto.
• Diapers, formula and baby food for the whole trip.
• Medicine kit: fever reducer, oral rehydration salts, ointment, thermometer and children's insect repellent.
• UV clothing, a hat with a chin strap and children's sunscreen as advised by your pediatrician.
• A light beach tent or umbrella: most beaches have no shade.
• A life vest, mask and binoculars of their own for older children.

The Premium Guide has chapters on babies and older children and family itineraries for 3, 5 and 7 days. See it in guide and planner.