Ten days across northeastern Brazil, in the state of Pernambuco, combining the coast, the historic cities and the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha.
The journey begins with two nights in Recife, the capital of Pernambuco, at the mouth of the Capibaribe River, with a full-day tour of Recife and the UNESCO-listed historic town of Olinda. It continues with two nights in Porto de Galinhas, 60 km south of Recife, whose beaches, turquoise water and natural tide pools are among the most beautiful in the country. A domestic flight then leads to five nights on Fernando de Noronha, a national park of exceptional natural beauty and one of the world's foremost diving destinations, with a 4x4 off-road island tour, a diving day and free days among its beaches. Accommodation is in 4-star hotels with breakfast, and excursions are run with an English-speaking guide.
Highlights
Full-day tour of Recife and the UNESCO-listed historic centre of Olinda
Beaches and natural tide pools of Porto de Galinhas
4x4 island tour of Fernando de Noronha: Vila dos Remédios, Baía dos Golfinhos, Baía dos Porcos and Praia do Sancho
Diving day in Fernando de Noronha
Free days on the beaches of Fernando de Noronha
Day-by-day itinerary
Day1
Day 1: Arrival in Recife
Flight to Recife. On arrival you are met and transferred to the hotel for check-in. Recife, at the mouth of the Capibaribe River on the Atlantic coast, is the capital of Pernambuco and one of the largest cities on Brazil's northeastern coast; its many canals and bridges have earned it the name Veneza Brasileira. Founded by Dutch and Portuguese colonizers, it combines business and leisure, with historic buildings, temples and mansions, city beaches and a lively scene of cafés, restaurants and nightlife.
Day2
Day 2: Recife and Olinda
After breakfast, a full-day sightseeing tour of Recife and Olinda. In the centre you take in the three sectors of Recife, Santo Antônio and Boa Vista, with the Maurício de Nassau bridge, the Praça da República surrounded by the Governor's Palace, the Santa Isabel Theatre and the courts, and the Casa da Cultura, a 19th-century building that once housed a prison and is now a regional culture centre with handicraft shops. You then drive to Olinda, a town of colourful houses and artisan studios once known as 'little Lisbon' and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site since 1982, with the Church of Mercy, the São Bento monastery and the Church of the Saviour at the highest point of the city, on the Alto da Sé hill, with sweeping views over the coast.
Day3
Day 3: Porto de Galinhas
After breakfast, transfer to the hotel in Porto de Galinhas and time to relax. The town lies in the south of the state, 60 km from Recife, and is famous for beaches considered among the most beautiful in the country, with clear turquoise water, white sand and palm trees along an old colonial coast.
Day4
Day 4: Porto de Galinhas
After breakfast, free day. The Pernambuco coast is known for the natural pools that form in the coastal waters at low tide, ideal for swimming among corals and marine life. There are beaches for surfing, windsurfing and water skiing; the island of Santo Aleixo, known among divers, lies a few kilometres offshore. Maracaípe beach hosts a world surfing championship, and Muro Alto is a large natural pool formed by reefs. Restaurants and cafés serve fresh fish, and the town offers bars, discos and traditional shows in the evening.
Day5
Day 5: Porto de Galinhas – Fernando de Noronha
Transfer to Recife airport for the flight to the islands of Fernando de Noronha. On arrival you are met and transferred to the hotel for check-in and rest.
Day6
Day 6: Full-day tour of Fernando de Noronha
After breakfast, a 4x4 off-road island discovery tour of the best beaches and sights. You visit the historic Vila dos Remédios — the Governor's House, the Church of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios and the Forte dos Remédios — then the beaches of Baía do Sueste (a turtle feeding area), Praia do Leão, the Baía dos Golfinhos trails, where hundreds of dolphins live, and Sancho. Baía dos Porcos, the smallest of Noronha's signature beaches, has 30 m of golden sand divided by dark volcanic rocks, with views of the Morro Dois Irmãos. You continue to Porto de Santo Antônio, with the São Pedro chapel, the Buraco da Raquel and the old Air France building used by the first Aeropostale seaplanes across the Atlantic, ending at beaches such as Cacimba do Padre, Baía dos Porcos and Praia do Bode before returning to the hotel.
Day7
Day 7: Diving
After breakfast, pick-up at the hotel and transfer to the port to board the diving boats. Fernando de Noronha is considered one of the best diving spots in Brazil and the world, with rich marine life, colourful corals and a wide variety of species; in warm, clear water, dives of 30 to 40 m can be made even without a wetsuit. Divers are grouped by qualification: certified divers receive a briefing on the dive profile and safety and are divided into groups of four with one instructor/guide, while beginners have one instructor each and a briefing on equipment and basic safety. Certified and non-certified boats are separated according to experience and international safety standards. Snacks and drinks are served after the dive before returning to the port and transfer to the hotel. Duration: 3–4 hours; dive time 30–40 minutes.
Day8
Day 8: Free day in Fernando de Noronha
Free day to relax, enjoy the many beaches, add diving hours, take a boat trip or go trekking.
Day9
Day 9: Free day in Fernando de Noronha
Free day to relax, enjoy the many beaches, add diving hours, take a boat trip or go trekking.
Day10
Day 10: Departure
After breakfast, transfer to the airport in time for your flight to Recife.
Suggested hotels
Hotel Atlante Plaza
Superior
Boa Viagem
4-star option in Recife (2 nights).
Rooftop pool with bar
Children's pool
Spa with massage room
Sauna
Gym
Brasserie restaurant
Boa Viagem Beach (in front of the hotel)
Recife / Guararapes International Airport (8 km)
Recife Antigo (12 km)
Praia de Boa Viagem
Solar Porto de Galinhas
Superior
Porto de Galinhas
4-star option in Porto de Galinhas (2 nights).
Dolphin Hotel
Superior
Fernando de Noronha
4-star option in Fernando de Noronha (5 nights).
Essential, Premium and Luxury categories available. Final accommodation is confirmed by date and availability.
What's included
Included: Accommodation in the listed 4-star hotels (9 nights: 2 in Recife, 2 in Porto de Galinhas, 5 in Fernando de Noronha)
Included: Breakfast at the hotel
Included: Transfers with a driver
Included: Excursions per the programme with an English-speaking guide
What's not included
Not included: International airfare
Not included: Domestic flights Recife – Fernando de Noronha – Recife
Not included: Airport and tourism taxes and visa fees
Not included: Meals not mentioned in the programme, and food and drinks during transfers
Not included: Drinks unless explicitly stated
Not included: Tips and gratuities
Not included: Personal expenses and optional excursions
Not included: Travel insurance
Not included: Anything not expressly mentioned as included
Optional services
Optional, at extra cost:
Additional diving hours — Extra dives in Fernando de Noronha.
Optional, at extra cost:
Boat trip — Boat trip around Fernando de Noronha.
Optional, at extra cost:
Trekking — Trekking trails in Fernando de Noronha.