View the remarkable rock formations and watch fascinating nesting turtles in this surfer’s playground with some of the country’s best waves.
Cacimba do Padre Beach is a long stretch of fluffy sand with a perfect view of the iconic Dois Irmãos Hill. It is part of a vast network of beaches that decorate Fernando de Noronha’s northern coast. Look down on this scenic beach and its clear, blue-green water from one of the viewpoints of the mossy hills to the west.
Snap photos of the twin peaks of Dois Irmãos Hill at the western end of the beach. It consists of two similar adjacent rock formations that dwarf beachgoers swimming around them.
Rent snorkeling and scuba diving gear to encounter the array of colourful fish that circle around the hills. Take a board and go surfing on the consistent waves, which often reach heights of 15 feet (4.5 metres). Free diving is also popular here, although the currents can be dangerously strong at times.
The beach is about 1,600 feet (500 metres) long. Go beachcombing for treasures with your kids and spot nesting sea turtles. Find out about the hatching dates and times at the nearby Tamar Project.
Stay into the evening and watch the sun descend behind Dois Irmãos Hill, when the twin peaks form a dark silhouette against the red sky. Rent chairs and umbrellas for a small fee.
Trek along scenic trails leading around the mossy mountains on the western side of the beach. Stroll along the circular Golfinho Trail for views of Sancho Bay and climb the Dois Irmãos Lookout Trail for a spectacular vista of its namesake rocks.
Note that the best surfing conditions last from December to April, while diving is more popular in calmer water the rest of the year.
Cacimba do Padre Beach is just east of Porcos Bay and Sancho Bay on the island’s northern coast. The beach is 1.2 miles (2 kilometres) northwest from Fernando de Noronha Airport. Visit other beaches and viewpoints in the area, such as the Boldro Fort Lookout to the east.
