How to take your surfboard to Fernando de Noronha

How your board travels on the flight to Noronha

Flights to Noronha depart from Recife and São Paulo. On every airline, a surfboard counts as special baggage: it is not part of the regular allowance and has its own fee.

Declare your board when booking or in advance, through the airline's website or customer service, and get to the airport early. The aircraft on the route changes over time: Azul went back to flying Embraer E195-E2 jets between Recife and Noronha in May 2025, after years of ATR turboprops, which only take shorter boards. Confirm the aircraft type for your flight.

Azul, Gol and LATAM rules

The rules below were checked on October 2, 2026 and change often. Always check the official page before you travel.

• Gol: up to 3 boards per bag, up to 23 kg per piece, with excess charges above that. The fee is charged per piece and varies by region and booking time; on domestic flights it was R$ 195 on the date checked.
• Azul: accepts up to 3 boards per bag, with a weight limit and a special baggage fee. The maximum length is shorter when the flight is operated by an ATR.
• LATAM: accepts up to 3 boards per bag, up to 23 kg, with a separate fee that is cheaper when paid in advance.

If your trip includes a connection, your board has to meet the rules of the most restrictive leg.

How to pack your board

• Use a padded travel board bag, ideally with extra protection on the nose and tail.
• Remove the fins and carry them in your hand luggage or well protected inside the bag.
• Protect the nose, tail and rails with foam or bubble wrap; clothes help too, as long as you stay under the weight limit.
• Label the bag with your name and phone number and take photos of the board before check-in.
• Check the total length with the bag: that is what counts at check-in.

From the airport to your pousada and around the island

The airport is in the middle of the island, close to almost everything. Taxis have fixed fares per route; let them know you have a board so they send a suitable car.

For surfing, a buggy or rental car is the most practical way to follow the swell and switch breaks. The bus is cheap, but it only comes every 30 to 45 minutes and isn't always practical with a board. See the options in getting there and around and ask your pousada if there is a safe place to store your board.

Bring your own or rent on the island?

Bringing your own board guarantees the right size and shape for powerful waves and means you don't depend on what's available locally. Renting saves you the airline fee and the hassle of hauling it.

Board rentals and lessons exist on the island, but what's on offer changes from one season to the next. Before you travel, confirm there will be a board in your size. For Cacimba's big waves, most experienced surfers prefer to bring their own.

What to pack for your surf trip

• Travel board bag, spare leash, fins and fin key.
• Warm-water wax: the sea stays between 26 and 28 °C.
• Rash guard or UV shirt and reef-safe sunscreen.
• Ding repair kit for minor damage.
• Reef booties for walking over rocks and coral on the way in and out.
• Travel insurance that covers surfing and air evacuation.

Before locking in your dates, see when there are waves and where to surf in Noronha.