Fernando de Noronha: General Info and Where to Stay

All visitors and tourists arriving on Noronha must pay a fee, called the Environmental Preservation Fee, for the maintenance of the island’s facilities. This fee is charged upon arrival or in advance online. It amounts to a fixed daily fee that decreases throughout the stay.

In addition to the preservation fee, there is also an entrance fee to visit the National Marine Park. With a different price for Brazilians and foreigners, the entrance fee is valid for 10 days.

Beautiful view of Praia do Leao at Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park, a Unesco World Heritage site, Pernambuco, Brazil

Accommodation

This is a key aspect when it comes to selling a trip to Noronha properly. A mistake here can lead to a very unhappy customer.

First and foremost: no hotel on the island is located directly on the beach. The beaches are part of the National Park, and building on the sand is strictly prohibited.

With that in mind, here’s a special classification of the types of accommodation available on the island:

In 1990, a system of “Pousadas Domiciliares” (homestay guesthouses) was introduced to regulate and structure accommodation in Fernando de Noronha. The aim was to gradually adapt the homes of residents who were interested in hosting visitors, ensuring a standard of comfort, safety and charm. As tourism demand increased, more locals began offering small guesthouses, which became a viable source of income for many. Meanwhile, some of the more prominent islanders partnered with entrepreneurs from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, leading to the development of luxury guesthouses throughout the island.

In summary, the categories are:

• Homestay Guesthouses – Over 70 small family-run guesthouses, many of them wooden-built, offering between 3 and 5 rooms each. All rooms are equipped with air conditioning, a minibar, television and private bathroom with solar-powered water heating. Breakfast is the only meal served at these establishments.
• Selected Guesthouses – Some of the original homestays have been significantly upgraded and reclassified.
• Special Guesthouses – These were built from the outset with a higher level of comfort in mind.
• Luxury Guesthouses – As Fernando de Noronha gained visibility both nationally and internationally, new investors arrived on the island, resulting in the emergence of several high-end, luxurious guesthouses.

Chilling around in praia Conceição, on of the best beaches in Fernando Noronha, Brazil