Fernando de Noronha
Although many dream of being marooned upon its paradisiacal shores, few believe that Fernando de Noronha once served as a political prison and US military training ground. More recently, this small archipelago of 21 idyllic islands and dramatic rock formations set 354 km (220 miles) offshore from Brazil’s north-eastern coast, was declared a Marine National Park attracting divers keen to explore the smattering of shipwrecks submerged around the atoll literally swarming with moray eels, turtles, stingrays, sharks and barracudas.
Only the main island of Noronha is inhabited with a coastline of 16 beaches to explore. Set on Mar de Fora side of the island, facing the Atlantic Ocean, Praia do Leão and Baía do Sancho regularly feature amongst Brazil's most exclusive beaches. Horseback riding and trekking are permitted along several designated nature trails that meander pass sea bird breeding colonies, turtle nesting sites and lookout points including Golfinhos Bay – an ideal vantage for watching the acrobats of spinner dolphins. At low tide explore Rocas Atoll, a magnificent seascape of exposed reef freckled with lagoons and tidal pools teeming with fish.