From Olinda to Baía do Sancho

Who it is for

For anyone going to Noronha who wants to arrive by way of a city of history, frevo and baroque churches, rather than just changing planes.

Not for anyone on a tight budget, since Noronha charges a fee for every day you stay, on top of the national park ticket.

The strategy

Recife comes first; the metro links the airport to the centre, and Olinda is about 8 km from Marco Zero. From there to Noronha it is about an hour’s flight, with Azul. Before boarding, pay the TPA environmental fee on the administration’s website; with a card issued outside Brazil, it can only be paid at the island airport counter. On your first day in Noronha, buy the park ticket and book Atalaia, which follows the tide. The island is one hour ahead of Recife. The trip home can leave straight from the island, since Gol and Latam fly from Noronha to Guarulhos, in São Paulo, as well as the flights to Recife. August to November is the dry season in Noronha; October and November suit Recife as well.

What you will see

• Paço do Frevo, Recife and Olinda. A reference center dedicated to frevo, opened in 2014 on Praça do Arsenal da Marinha, in the Bairro do Recife.
• Baía do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha. An inner-sea beach, several times voted the best beach in the world by Tripadvisor users.

Day by day

Recife and Olinda

1. 1
   Day 1: The Bairro do Recife, Santo Antônio, and São José

   1. 6Marco ZeroUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   2. Parque das Esculturas Francisco BrennandUp to half an hourIf there is time
   3. 7Kahal Zur Israel SynagogueUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   4. 1Paço do FrevoOne to two hoursEssential
   5. 2Capela DouradaUp to half an hourEssential
   6. 8Mercado de São JoséUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   7. Casa da CulturaUp to half an hourIf there is time
2. 2
   Day 2: Olinda, from Alto da Sé to the Mosteiro de São Bento

   1. 5Alto da SéOne to two hoursEssential
   2. 6Marco ZeroUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   3. Convento de São FranciscoUp to half an hourWorth a visit
3. 3
   Day 3: Várzea of the Brennands and the evening in Boa Viagem

   1. 3Oficina Francisco BrennandHalf a day or moreEssential
   2. 4Instituto Ricardo BrennandHalf a day or moreEssential
4. 4
   Day 4: Porto de Galinhas (day trip) · if you have more time

   1. 6Marco ZeroUp to half an hourWorth a visit

Fernando de Noronha

1. 5
   Day 5: Arrival, ticket and Vila dos Remédios

   1. 6Vila dos RemédiosUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   2. 7Igreja de Nossa Senhora dos RemédiosUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   3. 8Forte de Nossa Senhora dos RemédiosUp to half an hourWorth a visit
2. 6
   Day 6: Dolphins, Sancho and Baía dos Porcos

   1. 2Baía dos GolfinhosUp to half an hourEssential
   2. 4Baía dos PorcosOne to two hoursWorth a visit
3. 7
   Day 7: The outer sea: Atalaia, Sueste and Leão

   1. Baía do SuesteUp to half an hourIf there is time
   2. 5Praia do LeãoOne to two hoursWorth a visit
4. 8
   Day 8: The inner sea seen from a boat
5. 9
   Day 9: Capim-Açu trail (day trip) · if you have more time

   1. 5Praia do LeãoOne to two hoursWorth a visit