Porto de Galinhas and Fernando de Noronha

The beach Praia de Porto de Galinhas is based in the town of Ipojuca, 50 kilometres south of Recife.

It is the most popular beach on the coast of Pernambuco, with visitors all year round due to its natural beauty, excellent hotels and warm waters around 28 ºC.

Natural pools form during low tide between coral reefs, acting as a place of refuge for many species of fish. The pools are so close to the sand that they can be easily explored on foot, by swimming from pool to pool or by taking a fishing boat.

There are three accommodation types here: beachside resorts, close to Cupe beach and Muro Alto beach but far from the town centre; small and medium-sized inns in the town centre; and simple, rustic accommodation and surfer hostels on Praia de Maracaípe beach.

Fernando de Noronha Archipelago

The archipelago was first visited in 1500 and 1502, and its discovery has been attributed to the explorer Fernão de Noronha. Between the 16 and 18 centuries, it was occupied by the English, French and Dutch. Still, the Portuguese took it back in 1700 and expelled the invaders from the island.

Over the years, Fernando de Noronha has acted many times as a political prisoner. After becoming a federal territory in 1942, Americans were authorised to use the island as a military base during the second world war. They built a local airport here to serve as a stop between the Natal-Dakar flightpath. At the end of the war, the airport was handed back over to the Brazilian Government.

National Park

On 14 October 1988, after a campaign led by the environmentalist José Truda Palazzo Júnior, the vast majority of the archipelago (70% of its total areas) was declared a National Marine Park. It is made up of nearly 11,270 hectares, including two-thirds of the island and all of its secondary islands. National Park status ensures the protection of the species that lived there, particularly, dolphins which gather every day at Baía dos Golfinhos bay. This is the most regular viewing spot for dolphins in the entire world.

There are plenty of different activities beyond the water on the island too, such as walks of varying levels of difficulty, free lectures about diverse subjects, the historic centre Vila dos Remédios, viewing points and cafes.