Amazon Adventures

Brazil

Fernando de Noronha -

The Island of the Forbidden

What does Fernando de Noronha remind you of, this very unusual place? The Cliffs of Dover? Jurassic Park? The Volcanic Formations of the Hawaiian Coast? A Tropical Paradise? The Land That Time Forgot? These are just a few of the descriptions uttered by those who have been lucky enough to visit this very special place. But, the best description of all is - A place like you've never seen before !

200 miles off the northeastern coast of Brazil lies a mountainous archipelago made up of 21 islands, the National Marine Sanctuary of Fernando de Noronha. With its crystal-clear water and rich marine life, the archipelago is a heavenly retreat for underwater pleasures.

The main island is sparsely populated, only 1500 inhabitants, and is an extinct volcanic cone. The island-mountain is part of the mid-Atlantic ridge, an underwater mountain chain which is over 15,000 km long. In the 1500s, the Portugese claimed Fernando de Noronha and built a fortress here. Only the ruins of the fortress remain today for you to explore and in many ways the islands are still the way they were in the 1500s, untouched and exciting.

The dive sites include shipwrecks, caverns, amazing volcanic rock and coral formations, wild dolphins, an array of reef sharks, turtles - big ones!, schooling baracudas and all kinds of rays, schooling fish of every kind and color.

Did we mention dolphins? Dolphins on every dive? That's right! and you will get the chance to snorkle and play in the water with over 600 at one time. Every day between 2 and 3pm, a pod of over 600 spinner dolphins leaves the Bay of Dolphins to hunt and then they return at about 5am the next day. This is the oldest and largest residential school of dolphins on earth.

You can swim with the juvenile sharks at Lage dos Dies Irmaos. Of the 14 species of sharks in the area, the gray reef sharks have seemingly found and claimed a protected feeding ground and breeding area.

Witness the release of turtles into the wild. There is a protected beach which is the feeding and breeding area for hawksbill and green turtles, which the government is trying to preserve.

Dive the Corvete, a sunken Portugese frigate in pristine condition. And much, much, more.

While visiting Noronha, you will stay in Pousadas - small family owned accommodations where you will experience the lifestyle and warmth of the island's people. Most meals are prepared by "the lady of the house" and enjoyed family-style. Comfortable sleeping arrangements and warm water showers are the norm, however, you will find no five star hotels on Noronha and may wake to find cows or goats in your front yard.

A truly special place for divers, You've never seen anything like it before ! Average visibility is 30 meters. Prolific marine life is found - pelagics such as tuna, jack, albacore, barracuda and others. Benthics such as gigantic jewfishes, groupers and snappers.

It can be visited any time of the year. Temperatures are always warm and mild (26 C. or 79 F.), with a gentle breeze. The rainy season, Feb. - July, is also when the island is the most beautiful. From Dec. - Feb. the waves are huge and are perfect for surfing. The rest of the year is excellent for diving and snorkeling.

PRICES FOR Category A STANDARD POUSADAS:
from $86 per person per night, double occupancy or triple in low season, $100 in high. Single is from $173 per night in low season, $200 in high.
*add daily environmental conservation tax of R$23.87, paid locally
Includes: accommodation with breakfast. All have tv, mini-bar, air conditioning, hot shower, balcony, phone

PRICES FOR BUDGET POUSADAS:
$43 per person per night in low season, $58 in high season. Single is $52 in low season, $70 in high season.
Includes: accommodation with breakfast, hot shower, tv, mini-bar, air conditioning, phone
*add daily environmental conservation tax of R$23.87, paid locally

Consult for rates for New Years and Carnaval

low season = March 1 - June 30 and Aug. 1 - Nov. 1
high season = July 1 - 31 and Dec. 1 - Feb. 28 and major holidays

Roundtrip airport transfers = $25 per person.

Boat tour to the Dolphins Bay including snorkeling(3hs) - US$ 38 per person -
Boat tour around some small islands toward the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha such as Ilha da Rata, Ilha Sela Ginete, Ilha Rasa, Ilha do Cuscuz, etc. Passing in front of the Dolphin's Bay - home of hundreds of dolphins living freely. It is forbidden by the Environmental Dept to enter the bay, but it is possible to watch then spinning around and following the boats. Stop at the Sancho´s Bay for snorkeling and swimming.

Island Tour by buggy (full day tour with break for lunch*) US$ 47 per person * Lunch not included -
The buggy will pick up at the pousada and take to the main beaches, such as Praia da Conceição - surfers place, Baía dos Porcos - with colored fishes aquarium, Baía do Sancho, Praia do Leão - where the marine turtles pond their eggs on the beach, Praia do Atalaia - ideal for snorkeling in the colored reefs during the low tide, etc. Visit the historical sites, such as the Forte dos Remédios - a Fortress built by the Dutch and Portuguese colonization (1629), the Hotel Esmeralda wich was built by the American during the W.W. II as the island was used as an American base, the Italcable former building used by the Italian Government to bring marine telegraph cables to Brazil (1925), Air France used by the pioneers of Aeropostale to attend all the flights coming from Europe to South America.

Diving Prices: 2 tanks, weight, transfers, boat and dive master = $54 per person per day
Beginner's Dive: all equipment, 1 tank, theoretical and practical class, boat, transfer = $67 per person per day
Equipment rental: regulator with gauges = $10, BC's = $10
*Add daily dive tax of about $7, paid locally

Please note: services offered at the Island like transfers, car rental ,etc are equally basic - the equipment are usually old with bad maintenance. Being located 250 miles away from the Continent the Island is supplied a few times per month. Some items shortage can occur.Some services like water supply, telephone, electricity and roads are also deficient.The diving services are compatible with similar offered throughout the World.Operational problems like flight delays and changes of booked pousadas to other similar are not uncommon.Nature, on the other hand, is magnificent!! Think about all this before you decide to come to Fernando de Noronha. If the “spirit of adventure” prevails over your necessity of comfort and efficiently provided services, you have good chances of enjoying very much your stay there.

GUIDED TOURS TO FERNANDO DE NORONHA

Much has been said regarding the most famous Brazilian archipelago. But there is nothing like getting to know it in person and being dazzled by the beauty of Fernando de Noronha. Parque Nacional Marinho de Fernando de Noronha is isolated by sea, at 540 km in a straight line from Recife and harbors an inestimable ecological and cultural patrimony. All together there are 21 islands and islets of volcanic origin which harbour tens of paradise- like beaches. The distance from the continent clears the water of Fernando de Noronha from every impunity brought by the rain and rivers. When people say that Noronha is a piece of paradise they do not exaggerate. So much so that no less than 230 fish species, 15 coral types and five shark species1 besides turtles and the most illustrious dwellers of the site., the dolphins, adopted it as their home. On the beaches of transparent water, divers delight themselves with the dazzling view, like in a huge aquarium. The water is crystalline, shallow and perfect for snorkeling and for those interested in experiencing marine life. In natural pools appear seaweed, sponges1 corals, lobsters, marine turtles and an infinite variety of multi-colored fish. There also show up rotating dolphins, a rare species in the world, but plentiful in that region, which performs fantastic acrobatics. Walking across Fernando de Noronha it is possible to appreciate the beauty of the site. Hiking through Vila dos Remedios and a visit to the old Fort, walks across the beaches of Conceicao, Cachorro, Leao, Ponta das Caracas, Baia do Sueste and Baia do Sancho. There is still time left to enjoy a boat trip across islands of Rasa, Rata and Sela Quineta. Almost always the trip is accompanied closely by the dolphins, which love to welcome the visitors to Noronha.
Daily Departures

1ST. day: Arrival at Fernando de Noronha. From the local airport, a transfer will leave you at the introduction lecture, and then to the pousada (hotel).

2nd. day: In the morning, a walk through the Vila dos Remédios, the ancient Remédios fortress and the beautiful Conceição beach and Cachorro beach. In the afternoon we will take a boat ride, passing the Rasa, Rata and Sela Gineta islands. We will pass the Dolphins Bay, and, with some luck, they will follow us during our trip. The boat goes on to the „Ponta da Sapata“, and from there to the Sancho beach, where we will stop and do some snorkeling.

3rd. day: We will leave for the most beautiful trip of our excursion. We follow the Sancho bay until we reach de Conceição beach, passing through several beaches. Time to swim and to the rest under the sun. In the afternoon, a walk to the Dolphins Bay, the higher part of it, where we will appreciate the sun set.

4th. day: Another beautiful walk will take us to the Leao beach, the „Ponta das Caracas“ and to the Sueste Bay.

5th. day: We shall walk along the Caieiras coast until we arrive at a superb natural aquarium, which is located at the Atalaia beach. We will also walk to the "Ponta da Pedra“ from where we have a beautiful view of the sea and the Frade trail.

6th. day: A day reserved for optional strolls (or diving under the surveillance of experienced diver-guides of the island). For those who will not go for a dive, we suggest a walk along the Boldró, Americanos and Cacimba do Padre beach.

7th. day : It’s a free day and indicated to return to those beaches which you liked most. The Atalaia beach is the most visited, for being near the pousadas and on account of the numerous fishes you can see in its clear water.

8th. day: On this last day on the island, we have time for a farewell dive in the Conceição beach. Then, transfer to airport.

Observations
*the sequence of the walks is not necessarily the same as above
*due to meteorological or adverse conditions, inherent to ecological tourism, the above mentioned itinerary can be modified
*the trips included in this itinerary can be substituted - in case you have cardiac or pulmonary problems - by other ones, which would be easier to execute (talk to our employees).

Price per person in US$:

Season	Single		Double		Triple
Low		$1055		$785		$785
High		$1240		$890		$890

High Season = The months: December, January,February and July and when the following holidays occur during your trip: Carnival, Easter, April 21st, May 1st, All Saints, September 7th, the week of October 12th, November 2nd, November 15th.

INCLUDED:
Transfers in Fernando de Noronha, all above mentioned walks, accomodation on the island in a familiar pousada with breakfast, guide, travel insurance

NOT INCLUDED:
government tax on the island (US$10,- per person) only payable in cash , beverages, meals which are not specified, phone calls, personal expenses

SOME USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ISLAND:
*There are no springs or fountains, all consumed water is rain water
*The pousadas are the residences of the inhabitants, which were adapted and transformed into means of accomodation. (all apartments with TV, frigobar and air conditioning)
*There is a public hospital which attends basic necessities
*The island is supplied by boats coming from Natal or Recife
*Two small supermarkets supply the local population
*Every night there are lectures about environmental topics (these take place at Tamar / Ibama headquarters)
*There are few drugstores on the island; therefore we suggest to bring from the continent those medicines which you constantly use
*It is possible to use cellular phone

Note:
*All kinds of ecotourism activities depend on adequate weather conditions. So, in order to offer the best for our passengers, some changes at the sequence of the programms can be done.
*The mentioned prices can be changed without previous warning.
*According to Embratur laws and rules - Cancellations and Refund:
-90% till 31 days before the starting of the trip
-80% from 21 to 30 days before the starting of the trip
-0% to 80% less than 20 days before the starting of the trip.