Fernando de Noronha is the most special place I’ve visited in Brazil. Its natural beauty and island charm are unmatched in South America.

The ocean in Noronha radiates different shades of blue, teal, and turquoise. The waves sparkle as they crash onto beaches with the most perfect sand texture and color. Hundreds of dolphins can be seen playing alongside sea turtles swimming through coral.

Fernando de Noronha is the purest look of paradise. It is so special, that its beaches are routinely voted most beautiful in the world. A title this island deserves.

Baía dos Porcos

This blog will discuss 8 of the 16 beaches in Noronha. During our trip to Noronha, we only had 5 days to explore. It was enough time to experience the highlights and relax at our favorite beaches.

If you want the opportunity to see as many beaches as possible, you will need more than a week on the island.

If you have questions about how to plan a trip to Fernando de Noronha, I recommend reading my blog: How to Easily Plan a Trip to Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

70% of the island is protected by the Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park. Brazil’s environmental conservation organization, the Chico Mendes Institute of de Conservation and Biodiversity (ICMBio), manages the park. To access most of the beaches, including the routinely voted the best beach in the world, Baía do Sancho, visitors need to purchase a park pass.

If you’re just beginning your Fernando de Noronha research, read my blogpost on How to Easily Plan a Trip to Fernando de Noronha, Brazil for more information about ICMBio park passes and reservations.

With over 16 beaches on the island, 12 on the north side and 4 on the south side, it is easiest to organize them by accessibility:

1. Public beaches outside of the Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park limits and have no restrictions
2. Beaches within the Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park and access is controlled by ICMBio during specific times of the day.
3. Beaches within the Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park but ICMBio does not limit entry to specific times of the day.

1. Praia do Cachorro
2. Praia da Cacimba do Padre
3. Praia do Boldró
4. Praia da Conceição

Northeast side of Noronha, very close to the small urban area. The beach sits at the bottom of a steep cobblestoned hill.

This beach can be accessed from the staircase that starts to the left of Bar do Cachorro or during low tide from Praia do Meio, to the left of Praia do Cachorro.

Unlike many beaches on the island, Praia do Cachorro is easily walkable from the town center where many pousadas or hotels, restaurants and shops are located.

• Location: Centrally located within walking distance to the best shops, restaurants and pousadas
• Amenities: There is a full restaurant and bar on the beach along with chair, umbrella, and table rentals available
• Natural Pools: There is a natural pool that forms during low tides nestled in the rocks to the right that is perfect for photos with the Morro do Pico in the background

• Activities: You can rent standup paddle boards and surfboards
• Natural Beauty with Amenities: The beach is busy but still relaxing and pleasant. There is a very picturesque shower where you can rinse off half way up the stairs and great views of the Morro do Pico from the beach and ocean.

• During periods of high swell, the beach can be closed for swimming due to safety concerns.
• It is one of the more popular beaches in Noronha. Be patient if you have to wait for a table and chairs in the front row. We were always able to switch tables as they opened up.
• Arrive early morning or late afternoon for peace at Praia do Cachorro.

On the northwest side of the island. To the left is Baía do Porcos and to the right are two other beaches on the same strip of sand – Praia da Quixaba and Praia do Bode. Praia da Cacimba do Padre is the closest beach to the airport if you’re trying to squeeze in one more beach before departing.

If you are taking the public bus or walking, it is a 16-min walk down a dirt road from the closest point off the main road in Noronha – BR 363. The fastest way to access the beach is by car, taxi, or buggy.

• Amazing views:  On the beach, you have views of Noronha’s most popular backdrops – Dois Irmãos and Morro do Pico. This beach is also is the best spot to get photos in front of Dois Irmãos if you are not able to go to Baía dos Porcos.
• Trail: There is a short, rocky trail on the far left side of the beach that leads to views of Baía dos Porcos, Dois Irmãos and Praia da Cacimba do Padre.

• Wide open beach: Very wide open beach unlike Praia do Cachorro so you have more privacy and less busyness around you.
• Amenities: Chair and umbrella rentals are available.

• Beach bar: There is a barraca or beach bar on the sand that sells cocktails and beer.
• Restaurant and restrooms: A full-service restaurant, Restaurante Point da Cacimba, is located at the entrance to the beach with free bathrooms in the parking lot.

• High Swell: When we visited the swell was too rough for swimming even though it was September which is typically the calmest time of year.
• Long walk: The beach is wide, so you need to walk in the stand a bit to reach the shore.
• Cell service: We had very little cell service at this beach which made calling for a taxi difficult.

On the northwest side of the island. The closest beach to Morro do Pico.

From the urban area or the northeast end of Noronha, one of the easiest ways to arrive at Praia da Conceição is through Praia do Cachorro and Praia do Meio.

If coming from the southwest of the island, you can take the dirt road off BR-363 that starts just past Mercadinho Boldró. From here it’s about a 15 minutes walk.

• Views: Unobstructed views of the Morro do Pico 
• Location: Central location on the island but not as crowded as Praia do Cachorro
• Sunsets: Wide beach with lots of space to relax and one of the best spots to watch the sunset in Noronha
• Amenities: Chairs and umbrellas are available for rent along with a beach bar and restaurant service

On the north side of Noronha, centrally located between Praia da Conceição and Praia da Quixaba.

Only 10 minutes by foot or 2 minutes by car from the Tamar Project Foundation. 

• Secluded and peaceful: This was the first beach we visited in Noronha, and only saw a few locals surfing a small break while we were there. It definitely has the vibe of deserted island as it is one of the less popular beaches outside of the park.
• Views and drinks: There is a new viewing deck and bar, Mirante do Boldró, that offers sweeping views of the beach from above. 
  

• A steep and narrow staircase (with no railing) is used to access this beach.
• At the time of our visit, there was only a small beach bar and no chair or umbrella rentals.

1. Baía dos Porcos
2. Baía do Sancho

Found on the northwest side of Noronha. The entrance to the trail is located in the far left corner of Praia da Cacimba do Padre. There is an ICMBio sign marking the entrance and where visitors should line up in order to pass through the ICMBio control point.

Only accessible via trail from Praia da Cacimba do Padre. You must show your ICMBio pass before entering. Check the ICMBio trail access schedule ahead of time.

• Natural Beauty: The natural beauty here is breathtaking, it felt like we were on another planet. This was the clearest water we swam in on the island.
• Snorkeling: We snorkeled almost the entire time during our ICMBio time slot – you do not need to wear a floatation device or shoes.
• Dois Irmãos: Best views of Dois Irmãos, two enormous rock formations, on Noronha.

• Access strictly controlled: ICMBio posts the Baía dos Porcos access schedule each month. Access times depend on the tide and wave conditions. ICMBio reserves the right to make any changes without advance notice. Always check the ICMBio website or Instagram for the most up-to-date information.
• Arrive early: Arrive early for the first ICMBio entry time of the day in order to get the best photos of the beach and bay without crowds. We arrived 30 minutes early and were one of the first groups in line. Some of my favorite photos from our trip are of an empty Baía dos Porcos that I snapped while walking on the trail just past the control point.

• Changing conditions: You will need to walk on rocks and uneven surfaces for about 5 minutes to get to the beach. We wore flip flops and did not have any issues. When we visited in 2022, the trail had just reopened after being closed for a couple of months due to unsafe conditions. We were required to wear helmets as a safety precaution when walking on the trail.
• Only nature: There are no services on the beach once you pass through the ICMBio checkpoint.
• Limited time: You only have roughly 1 hour to explore and enjoy Baía dos Porcos, use your time wisely! You can always go back again during your time in Noronha.

Found on the northwest side of Noronha, just west of Baía dos Porcos.

Just a 30-minute walk or 12-minute drive from the Tamar Project Foundation. The entrance to Baía do Sancho is through the Golfinho-Sancho’s Point of Information and Control where ICMBio will check your park pass.

You will then continue along a boardwalk until you reach the Baía do Sancho ICMBio control point. Depending on the hour, visitors either need to wait to descend or can descend the ladder immediately down to the beach.

• The most beautiful beach in the world: When it not only makes the top ten list but also wins best beach in the world on an annual basis there isn’t much else that can be said. Baía do Sancho is everything and more that travelers and reviews say about it. Believe all the hype about it. You will not be let down.
• Unmatched Beauty: It’s like a bigger version of Baía dos Porcos. The water is equally as beautiful and you have more space to be away from other beach goers unlike at Baía dos Porcos.
• Snorkeling: There is a fun snorkeling area on the right side of the beach that was practically empty during most of our time. We saw tons of colorful fish and stingrays.

• Entry and exit controlled: ICMBio controls when visitors can descend and ascend the ladder at Baía do Sancho. You can check the schedule on ICMBio’s website. ICMBio recommends visiting in the afternoon when crowds tend to be smaller. Between 8 am and 8:50 am and 4:30 pm and 5:20 pm visitors can descend and ascend as they please.
• Baía do Sancho’s Ladder: The initial descent is by a ladder secured to rock and visitors pass through a narrow crevice. If you become very claustrophobic or are unable to climb a ladder, I don’t recommend going down. There are many enjoyable viewpoints of the beach from the Golfinho trail. We saw visitors of all ages going up and down.

• Our experience: We arrived at Baía do Sancho at 11 am and descended during the 11:30 am to 12:20 pm hour. At 11:30 am when the descent hour opened up, there were about 50 people in front of us in line and we waited around 20 minutes for our turn. We didn’t ascend until at the beginning of the 2:30 pm to 3:20 pm hour. So we ended up spending roughly 2.5 hours on the beach.
• Boat tours: Baía do Sancho is a popular stop for snorkel boats. When we first got down to the sand the main snorkeling area was crowded. We waited about 45 minutes until they left and then had almost the entire snorkeling spot to ourselves.
• Amenities: There are no services available at Baía do Sancho on the beach but there is a cafe with wifi at the Golfinho-Sancho’s Point of Information and Control.
• Golfinho Trail: Baía do Sancho is in the same location as the Golfinho Trail. I recommend pairing the two attractions together. Spoiler alert – be prepared to see hundreds of dolphins at Baía dos Golfinhos. Bring your binos!

1. Praia do Leão
2. Baía do Sueste

On the southwest side of Noronha. Just west of Baía do Sueste.

15-minute walk or 4-minute drive on an unpaved road from the Sueste Point of Information and Control center.

• Personal Favorite: Praia do Leão ended up being one of our favorite beaches on Noronha. It’s like Big Sur meets the Caribbean. The watercolors were electric against the golden sand beach and green rolling hills.
• Views: The views from the Point of Information and Control are worth checking out even if you don’t go down to the sand.
• Wildlife: We saw a turtle and a shark in the water from the shore.
  There was a natural pool at the far right end of the beach that was great for swimming (had a sandy bottom unlike others on the island) and lounging in as the ocean itself was rather rough the day of our visit.
• Reefs: Some reefs are visible during low tide but you are not permitted to walk on them.

• Ocean Access: Swimming can be restricted to certain areas of the beach when conditions are dangerous. Check what is allowed at the Point of Information and Control before heading down to the beach.
• Trail to Beach: The short walk down to the sand from the Point of Information and Control is steep but the views are amazing. The walk is initially on a wooden boardwalk that then transitions to sand/dirt.
• Amenities: There are no services down at the beach.

On the southwest side of Noronha. Just to the east of Praia do Leão.

The Point of Information and Control is a 15-minute drive or 35-min walk from Projeto Tamar along BR-363. The public bus also stops along this road and could be used to reduce the amount of time spent walking.

• Limited Ocean Access: We only spent about 20 minutes here, probably the shortest amount of time at any of the beaches we visited in Noronha. Originally our plan had been to try to snorkel but when we arrived a group had just gone out and we would’ve had to wait around for the next ICMBio organized group. This was in 2022 when Baía do Sueste was still open for limited activities like snorkeling.
• Lemon Sharks: Even though Baía do Sueste ended up kind of being a bust for us, we loved getting to see the dozens of juvenile lemon sharks from the edge of the shore.

• Closed for Swimming: As of December 2022, visitors are not permitted to enter the ocean at Baía do Sueste due to the recurring presence of tiger sharks feeding in the area.
• South Side Beaches: The beaches on the south side of Noronha have a very different feel than the north side. They are more rugged and isolated. Although less friendly towards swimmers, beaches like Sueste and Leão are absolutely still worth checking out if you have the time.
• Stay Informed: Check the ICMBio website for the most up-to-date information at Baía do Sueste before visiting.

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I hope reading about Fernando de Noronha’s incredible beaches inspires you to visit! The island is an absolute paradise.

For more information anout visiting Fernando de Noronha check out my blog – How to Easily Plan a Trip to Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

Looking for more travel destinations in Northeast Brazil? Check out the following blogs:

Have any questions? Leave a comment below!