Fernando de Noronha on a budget: fees, permits and timing
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Fernando de Noronha charges two fees: R$ 384 for the marine park ticket and a state preservation fee (TPA) that starts at R$ 105.79 for one day in 2026. Together they cost R$ 904.50 for five days (about US$178, checked Oct 2026), before flights and lodging. In the TPA table the fee per day is lowest at 10 days, R$ 90.14.
What the place is
Fernando de Noronha is a volcanic archipelago in the Atlantic, about 375 km (233 mi) off the Brazilian coast. It sits 545 km (339 mi) from Recife and 360 km (224 mi) from Natal, at 3°54′S 32°25′W.
The archipelago has about 26 km² of land. UNESCO inscribed it in 2001 with Atol das Rocas, under criteria (vii), (ix) and (x). The marine national park covers 10,929.47 ha, created by Decree 96.693 of September 14, 1988, and holds 70% of the archipelago. The rest is a protected area with free beaches.
People come for clear water, reef fish, sea turtles, spinner dolphins and some of Brazil’s most photographed beaches. The main island is small. You can cross it by road in well under an hour, and the landmark twin peaks of Morro Dois Irmãos appear in half the photos you will see.
Pernambuco state administers the island. The federal park agency, ICMBio, runs the park, and a concessionaire, EcoNoronha, sells tickets. Visitor numbers are capped, and fees are the price of that protection.
Fees and what they cover
You pay two separate charges. The state charges the TPA by the day, and the park ticket is a flat fee valid for 10 days.
1. State preservation fee (TPA)
The island administration charges the TPA to every non-resident tourist. It is personal and calculated by days of stay, under Decreto Distrital 018/2004. You can pay online before boarding, by card or bank slip. You can also pay on arrival, or when you leave for any extra days.
A card issued outside Brazil works only at the airport counter on the island. Days beyond your booked stay, without prior scheduling or authorization from the administration, are charged double under Lei 11.704, art. 86.
| Days | TPA 2026 | About (US$1 = R$ 5.08) | Per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | R$ 105.79 | US$21 | R$ 105.79 |
| 3 | R$ 317.38 | US$62 | R$ 105.79 |
| 5 | R$ 520.50 | US$102 | R$ 104.10 |
| 7 | R$ 672.85 | US$132 | R$ 96.12 |
| 10 | R$ 901.36 | US$177 | R$ 90.14 |
| 11 | R$ 1,028.31 | US$202 | R$ 93.48 |
| 14 | R$ 1,536.12 | US$302 | R$ 109.72 |
The full table runs to 30 days (R$ 7,460.56). It also includes 2 days (R$ 211.59), 4 days (R$ 423.17), 6 days (R$ 596.68), 8 days (R$ 749.02) and 9 days (R$ 825.19, or R$ 91.69 a day). Per-day cost falls every day from 5 to 10 days, reaches its lowest point at 10 days, then rises.
2. Marine park ticket
EcoNoronha sells the ticket, under ICMBio Portaria 4.423 of October 14, 2025. The general public, including foreigners, pays R$ 384 (about US$76). Brazilians pay R$ 192 (about US$38). It is valid for 10 days. Children under 12, Brazilians over 60, registered residents, first-degree relatives of residents and authorized researchers are exempt, with documents.
Buy online and use the QR code, or at the Visitor Center in Boldró, open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. If your flight date changes, the Visitor Center ticket office can change your ticket. Changes and refunds can also be requested by email through the concession’s contact page.
Older government pages still show a lower foreign rate from 2019. Budget the R$ 384 figure. See Brazil’s national parks for park fees across the country.
Cost of the fees by length of stay
| Stay | TPA | Park ticket | Total (R$) | About (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | R$ 317.38 | R$ 384 | R$ 701.38 | US$138 |
| 5 days | R$ 520.50 | R$ 384 | R$ 904.50 | US$178 |
| 7 days | R$ 672.85 | R$ 384 | R$ 1,056.85 | US$208 |
| 10 days | R$ 901.36 | R$ 384 | R$ 1,285.36 | US$253 |
Getting there
Nearly all visitors arrive by air. Recife has the most frequent flights, and São Paulo (Guarulhos) has direct service.
Around 34 flights a week serve the island, split between Azul, GOL and LATAM. Azul flies jets from Recife. GOL and LATAM fly mainly from Guarulhos, with daily flights from São Paulo. Recife to Noronha takes about one hour. A new passenger terminal opened in 2026.
Noronha is on UTC−2, one hour ahead of Recife. See Brazil time zones so you do not miss a connection.
Check before you go: Routes from Natal, fares and baggage allowances change by season. Compare Azul, GOL and LATAM directly, and read domestic flights in Brazil for fare families and bags. Book flights before lodging, since seats are the tightest part of the trip.
The visitor cap and why it matters for budget
Noronha limits visitors, and that limit drives prices. The agreed ceiling is 11,000 visitors a month, approved by the Supreme Federal Court (STF) after an agreement between the federal government and Pernambuco.
About 140,000 tourists came in 2025, more than the annual equivalent of 132,000. In August 2026 Pernambuco asked ANAC, the aviation regulator, to reorganize landing slots to match the cap. Flights could change as a result. Book early, choose flexible fares where you can, and keep your lodging and TPA dates tied to your flight.
When to go
Noronha is warm all year, with sea temperatures suited to snorkeling in every month. Your choice comes down to rain, swell and crowds.
The drier months run roughly from August or September to February. Visibility underwater is usually best then, and calm seas make the pool trails and boat trips easier. The rainier months run roughly from March to July, with showers that pass quickly and lower demand.
From about December to March, northern swells reach the island. Surfers come for Cacimba do Padre, and some north-side beaches get rough for swimming. The south side, facing the open Atlantic, is calmer then.
September and October already see high demand, and New Year’s week is the peak. Book months ahead for those dates. For the national picture, see best time to visit Brazil.
Where to base
All lodging is on the main island, mostly in and around Vila dos Remédios and along the central road. The island has pousadas in every segment, from simple family guesthouses to luxury lodges.
Many budget stays are rooms in residents’ homes, sometimes called “pousadas domiciliares”. They are the cheapest option and put money directly into local families. Book through the pousada directly or a booking site, and ask whether breakfast and airport pickup are included.
Match your lodging to your TPA days. Extra days without authorization are charged double.
Getting around the island
The island is small, and you have several options. Most visitors mix the bus with walking and a day or two in a rented buggy.
A public bus runs the length of the main road, which links the port, the villages and the airport. Taxis are available, and buggy rentals are common. Many beaches sit at the end of short trails or steep stairs, so plan for walking.
What to do on a budget
The park rules split the island in two. Everything in the first list below needs the R$ 384 ticket. The beaches in the second list need no ticket.
Ticket needed: Baía do Sueste, Forte São Joaquim do Sueste, Ponta das Caracas, Praia do Leão, Praia da Caieira, Baía dos Golfinhos, Praia do Sancho, Baía dos Porcos, and the scuba dive points. Five trails with natural pools need a booked slot, and four need a guide.
No ticket needed (protected area, free access): Cacimba do Padre, Praia do Bode, Praia do Americano, Praia do Boldró, Praia da Conceição, Praia do Meio, Praia do Cachorro and Porto de Santo Antônio.
Free activities still fill several days. Snorkel off Praia do Porto and Conceição on calm days. Watch the sunset from the old fort above Boldró. Walk the beaches of the protected area at low tide.
With the ticket, Baía do Sancho is reached by stairs down a cliff. Baía dos Golfinhos is a viewpoint for spinner dolphins, and swimming there is not allowed. Baía do Sueste is known for sea turtles.
Booking the pool trails
- Trails that need booking: Capim Açu, Enseada do Abreu, Atalaia pool, Pontinha Caieira, Atalaia–Pontinha Caieira and Morro São José.
- Guide needed: Capim Açu, Pontinha Caieira, Atalaia–Pontinha Caieira and Morro São José (swimming route).
- Slots follow a carrying-capacity study and the low-tide window, about 4 hours a day on average.
- You need your ticket number to book, online or at the Visitor Center. Arrive about 20 minutes early.
- In most pools, a vest, mask and snorkel are mandatory.
Check that your guide is credentialed by ICMBio. The guides’ association, ACITUR FN, has a stand at the Visitor Center. The system lets you book without a registered guide, but you will not be allowed on the trail without one.
Diving and boats
Scuba diving is one of the island’s main draws. Operators dive at depths of 12 to 60 m, including the Corveta wreck. A guided underwater trail at Baía do Sueste lets visitors swim among sea turtles. Boat trips along the north coast often pass spinner dolphins.
Ask each operator for its price, what is included and the minimum certification for each dive. Book dives early in high season.
Costs
The two fees are fixed. Flights, lodging, food and tours are where your budget rises or falls.
Everything on Noronha costs more than on the mainland, because most supplies arrive by plane or boat. Budget for higher prices for food, water and sunscreen. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a reusable bottle and snorkel gear from home.
Check before you go: Flight, lodging, dive and boat prices change with the season and the visitor cap. Get quotes from airlines, pousadas and operators for your exact dates. Carry a card that works in Brazil and some cash, and see money in Brazil for how to pay.
Skip it if
- You need a low fixed cost. The two fees alone are about US$178 for five days, before flights.
- You hold a card issued outside Brazil and cannot reach the airport counter, since online TPA payment will not take it.
- You expect to book pool trails at the last minute. Slots are limited by tide and capacity.
- You want to fly at the last minute. Seat supply is tied to the visitor cap, and flight slots may change.
- You want nightlife and big resorts. The island is quiet, and building is restricted.
The rest of the region is in the Northeast Brazil travel guide.
Questions
- How much do the Fernando de Noronha fees cost for a foreigner?
- The marine park ticket is R$ 384 for the general public, including foreigners, valid 10 days (about US$76, checked Oct 2026). The state preservation fee (TPA) for 2026 starts at R$ 105.79 for one day. For 5 days the two charges total R$ 904.50 (about US$178).
- How many days is cheapest per day?
- Using the 2026 TPA table, the fee per day is lowest at 10 days: R$ 901.36 in total, or R$ 90.14 a day. The park ticket is valid for 10 days too, so a 10-day stay gives the lowest fee per day.
- Can I pay the TPA with a foreign card?
- Only at the airport counter on the island. Online payment, by card or bank slip, does not accept cards issued outside Brazil.
- Which beaches need no park ticket?
- The beaches in the protected area outside the marine park: Cacimba do Padre, Bode, Americano, Boldró, Conceição, Meio and Cachorro, plus Porto de Santo Antônio. Sueste, Leão, Sancho, Baía dos Porcos and Baía dos Golfinhos need the ticket.
- Do I need to book anything before I go?
- Five trails with natural pools need a booked slot: Capim Açu, Enseada do Abreu, Atalaia, Pontinha Caieira and Morro São José. You need your park ticket number to book. Four of them also need a credentialed guide.
- Is there a limit on visitors?
- Yes. The agreed cap is 11,000 visitors a month, and in 2026 Pernambuco asked the aviation regulator to align flights with it. Flight seats are the main control, so book flights first.
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