Brazil! A desirable destination for everybody. But which place is best to visit, famous Rio or Sao Paulo, the largest city in South America? Neither of those two. Visit Fernando de Noronha, a stunning tropical island and a dream destination of every Brazilian.
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Amerigo Vespucci, a fearless Italian explorer with not so well developed orientation skills, discovered the archipelago of 21 islands in the 16th century. Dutch spotted the opportunity first, said "Thanks dude!" and occupied the territory. After a while French saw that Dutch are boring and take over the possession over the island. In the 18th century Portugal's "management" stated "Lousy job pals! Don't you see that one of the islands is a great place to build a political prison on it?!" They built ten forts for that purpose on the island and named it by Fernao de Loronha, one of its lords, who said "Whatever..." and never put his foot on the island.
Today, the idyllic tropical paradise Fernando de Noronha situated in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean is declared as a World Heritage Site and the number of people allowed to visit the islands is strictly limited (flights from Recife and Natal). Luxury accommodations, waters crowded with fishes and corals and some of the most beautiful Brazilian beaches (three of top five Brazilian beaches are situated here) make Noronha a favourite Brazilian honeymoon getaway and an excellent scuba diving and snorkelling spot.
For anybody interested in the history, the island still offers the look at the largest fortified system of the 18th century Brazil. The biggest and the best conserved fort of them all is Nossa Senhora dos Remedios located on the hill. Curses, stories about pirates and hidden treasures are also the part of local folklore and if you are blond, then it is most likely that you will scare to death some fisherman because there is a story about the ghost, the extremely beautiful blond woman that used to walk on the beach at night, dressed in white, to tempt the fishermen.
Morro do Pico, a large underwater rocky structure of volcanic origin, is the most famous natural landmark of the island and its highest point that can be seen from everywhere on the island. Another island's icon is Dois Irmaos (Two Brothers), a twin cliff that offers some of the best sceneries. However, the island is the most famous by its 16 idyllic beaches, the highest concentration of Rotifer dolphins in the whole Atlantic Ocean, as the spawning points for the sea turtles and the whole archipelago is known as the home of the largest bird breeding colonies in Tropical South Atlantic.
Sancho bay is Noronha's (and Brazil's) most beautiful sandy beach surrounded by 50m high cliffs. The beach can be reach by a boat or you can go down using a metal ladder placed on a crack on the cliff. If you will be visiting Noronha during the rainy season (March to September) you would enjoy a waterfall on the beach. The beach is situated in the inside sea towards the cost of Brazil. The same side hides Dolphin Bay (wake up early to see those beautiful creatures) and Porcos Bay, a natural aquarium for numerous coloured fishes. Here are situated Two Brothers and the highest one holds the ruins of the Sao Joao Batista fortress. A stunning view guarantied.
The outside sea (facing towards Africa) has four beaches and a set of swimming pools on the rocks. Lion Beach, that got its name thanks to a rock in the shape of a sea lions, is famous by sea turtles (it's their main egg-laying point). You can visit the beach with the guide who will give you life vest which will prevent you to dive and disturb turtles. The beach is closed for visitors from January to June from late afternoon to the next early morning. Rent a buggy and discover the island's secluded places, surf, scuba dive, snorkel, hike... Or say "Whatever...", take a beer and enjoy the afternoon siesta. ■
