Visiting Brazil’s most beautiful tropical island
If you are looking to go to Brazil you might have heard about this gorgeous tropical island. When we went to Chapada Diamantina National Park we asked the Brazilians we met; what is the most beautiful place in Brazil. Someone told us: Fernando de Noronha! And we learned that this island is well known and liked by most Brazilians but not visited by many. The only possibility you have to go to the island is if you own a boat or take a little airplane to it. That’s because it is very hard to travel to and quite expensive too. But having been there I can definitely say: ‘It is so worth it!’.
Where is the island of Fernando de Noronha?
About 360 km or 225 miles northeast of Cape São Roque, in the Atlantic Ocean, is a group of islands and the main island of Fernando de Noronha is one of them. The main island is about 18.4 km2 or 7.1 sq miles and is formed by volcanic rocks. It is also 91% of the total surface area of the archipelago, or group of islands. And it is the only island that is inhabitable. It’s part of the state of Pernambuco even though it’s not very close.
There are 21 islands and islets in the archipelago extending over an area of 26 square kilometers or 10 square miles. The main island of Fernando de Noronha has about 3100 inhabitants (in 2020). While most of the islands are relatively low, there are parts that reach more than 100 meters or 328 feet high.
There are lots of stories about the discovery of the archipelago but it is not very clear when it was actually discovered. Between 1503 and 1512 the Lisbon merchant Fernão de Loronha held a commercial monopoly on trade over Brazilwood, a natural red dye that was highly valued in Europe. The island was the collection point for Brazilwood and from there shipped to Europe. The island was then called ilha de São João. How it became Fernando de Noronha is not clear but the official name was lost.
It became increasingly important for the state of Pernambuco. The island was attacked several times by different naval powers. If they would have succeeded it would be very bad for the coastal cities of the state. They managed to successfully defend it and keep it in the hands of the Portuguese and later in the hands of the newly formed states of Brazil. In the 18th century the island was used as a penal colony. And in 1988 the archipel became a national park.
Now that you know where it is, let’s dive into what you can do and what important information you need to know before you go.
When to Visit Fernando de Noronha
Fernando de Noronha has two main seasons: dry and rainy. The dry season is from September to March, while the rainy season is from April to July. You may notice August is missing, as this is the transitional period when winds shift, making the sea exceptionally rough and causing debris to fly through the air.
The ideal time to visit is during the dry season, offering the most pleasant weather. However, the rainy season is still hot, and you can still do most tours and trails. The cloudy skies might be dampening your hopes on a bright and beautiful scenery. The sea is calmest in September and October, but visibility may be bad, and it will become hard to see the sea wildlife.
Despite these patterns, Fernando de Noronha’s tropical location means the weather can change rapidly at any time.
If you have any questions or suggestions please let me know in the comment section down below and I’ll try to answer as best as I can.
Is the island of Fernando de Noronha accessible for wheelchair users?
Tours*
The island is not prepared for wheelchair users or people with mobility problems. The pathways are uneven and have uneven stairs. Tours, like going on a big boat, you could do but it’s not very comfortable and with rough seas it is dangerous.
Café’s and restaurants
The cafe’s and restaurant are a lot of the time on a slope which means there are stairs or a steep path. So most places are not accessible for wheelchairs.
Public transport
The bus has some stairs to get into and the bus doesn’t have a ramp. The bus stops are on steep roads so that also makes it hard to climb in sometimes. You could take taxi’s here if you have a collapsible one.
Toilets
Unfortunately there are almost no toilets that are accessible.
*And other attractions
Items I love while traveling
Baseball cap for ponytail or bun
One of my biggest wins in terms of sun protection are hats and baseball caps. But I have a lot of hair and with this baseball cap I can finally wear my hair in a bun or high ponytail. Win-win!
Collapsible handheld fan
I don’t know about how you deal with heat but I need a bit of cooling down when I’m traveling. This easy (and cute) fan is my go to for when I am too hot. It can be charged with usb which is super practical.
Waterproof dry bags
These bags I use all the time for different things. I do my laundry in them, use them as a hamper or bring them with me to the swimming pool or beach. Easy to clean and multiple ways to use them.