“A beautiful and remote beach that can only be accessed by descending stairs and stone steps. The majestic cliffs will take your breath away
.
This is how the TripAdvisor travel community describes
Baía do Sancho
, located in the archipelago of
Fernando de Noronha and chosen as the "Best Beach in the World" at the Travelers' Choice 2023 awards.
In the
Northeast
of Brazil, this beach has not only been a part of the World Top 10 on a sustained basis, but it had already been distinguished several times with this "title" and had also been voted "the best in Brazil" on numerous occasions.
Perhaps the first thing to clarify is that it is not the typical dream beach to rest.
On the contrary,
Baía do Sancho does not have an infrastructure of umbrellas, lounge chairs or inns
, and visitors can access the place only through some steep stairs (which require good physical condition) or private boats.
Aerial view of one of the beaches of Fernando de Noronha, in Brazil.
Photo Shutterstock
The "best beach in the world" is a semicircle of fine golden sand, which is surrounded by cliffs covered in lush vegetation,
within the National Marine Park
, so the hours vary depending on the time of year and you have to pay to enter the beach. Park (10 days cost around US$70).
In other words, it is a somewhat secluded beach on
a wild, sustainable island located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean
, about 4 degrees below the Equator line.
Fernando de Noronha is the name of both the archipelago - made up of 21 islands and islets - and the main island, which is the only one inhabited.
Fernando de Noronha, Brazil.
Photo Shutterstock
It all adds up to about 17 km² of surface plus 9 km2 of marine platform, and it was declared
a World Heritage Site by Unesco
in 2001. Meanwhile, 70% of Noronha's surface has been classified as a National Marine Park since 1988.
360 km from Natal (capital of Rio Grande do Norte) and 545 km from Recife (capital of Pernambuco), the island is connected by flights from these two cities in the Northeast that take no more than an hour and a half.
However, it is not a destination to which you can travel spontaneously, since it has a quota of 246 average daily visitors that requires registration in advance.
In turn, the daily Environmental Preservation Fee (US$ 18 that increases with the length of the stay, so that people do not stay too long), the distance, the isolation of every island and the regulations to protect the environment affect the prices of accommodation, food and excursions.
It is estimated that the floor rates are
30% more expensive than in the rest of Brazil
.
diving mecca
Of course: once all these factors are taken into account, Noronha is worth it for the visibility of about 50 meters in its
crystal clear and warm waters
and the
great richness and variety of marine fauna
.
The Fernando de Noronha sea is ideal for snorkeling and diving.
Photo Tourism Pernambuco
With close to 20 beaches where sea turtles live (you cannot miss the Tamar Project), colorful fish, dolphins and various species of sharks, it is one of the most desired places in the world for lovers of diving and snorkeling.
Without going any further, just swimming in Noronha is unforgettable.
Between its beautiful beaches (starting with the most beautiful in the world), the Villa de los Remedios colonial and commercial center and its strategic location, the place has several centuries of history.
After disputes between the French, English, Dutch and Portuguese, in the 18th century it came to have the largest fortified system in Brazil.
And over the decades it was also a correctional colony, a political prison and a military base until in 1988 it was reintegrated into the state of Pernambuco and the National Marine Park was created.
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