Fernando de Noronha looks like it has been plucked straight out of a Bond movie. This stunning archipelago, consisting of twenty-one islands, islets and atolls lying 200 miles off Brazil's Atlantic coast, is jaw-droppingly beautiful; as are the best places to stay on the main and only inhabited island of Fernando de Noronha. Interestingly, it's named after a 16th-century merchant who discovered these islands, and who was gifted the archipelago in return for importing Brazilian wood for the Portuguese government.
Given its location, Fernando de Noronha is part of a unique special state district that's not attached to any other municipality; instead, it's run directly by the government. Be warned though that due to environmental preservation, visitors have to pay a daily fee to enter the island and another fee to visit the National Park attractions. Since 2001, Fernando de Noronha has been a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the importance of its environmental biodiversity.
It's strange to think about, but all of Fernando de Noronha's islands are in fact just the visible tops of submerged mountain ranges. These islands attract an incredibly rich array of wildlife: sea turtles, spinner dolphins, albatrosses, humpback whales, and more. For scuba divers and snorkelers it's an absolute paradise.
This archipelago can, unsurprisingly, draw a crowd, so in order to ensure a room at one of the best places to stay in Fernando de Noronha we recommend planning your trip well in advance.