Tour operator members of the Brazil Tour Operators Association are offering packages to Fernando de Noronha, an archipelago some 200 miles off Brazil's northeast coast and an ecological sanctuary for divers and ecotourists. Deserted white sand beaches, clear waters and pristine marine life draw visitors to one of the last untouched areas in South America. Lying on two miles of white sand beach, the state's capital, Recife, has a laid-back feeling that recalls the Miami Beach of yesteryear -- and boasts some of the best restaurants in the country. Next door is Olinda, a UNESCO World Heritage site with dozens of beautiful 16th and 17th century churches. Lining the town's cobblestone streets are art galleries, restaurants, bars, boutiques and charming pousadas housed in centuries-old mansions. Just down the coast, the warm crystalline waters of Porto de Galinhas draw surfers, divers and kite surfers.
To preserve this natural treasure, 70 percent of the seven-square-mile volcanic island was declared a Marine National Park in 1998. Tourism is strictly controlled on this UNESCO Natural Heritage site to maintain the ecological balance, and only about 500 visitors at a time can dive in its pristine waters, kayak with dolphins and snorkel with turtles. For birders, Fernando has the largest concentration of tropical sea birds in the Western Atlantic. Several of Brazil's top beaches are among the 17 on Fernando de Noronha including Baía do Sancho, Baía dos Porcos, Praia do Leão and Conceição. With 80-degree sea temperatures, underwater visibility of more than 150 feet and more than 200 species of fish, the island is Brazil's top dive destination. Three dive shops offer cave and free diving as well as expert instruction certified by all major diving agencies. Visitors can stay in some 120 pousadas ranging from basic to charmingly rustic and boutique luxury -- several with pools and many with stunning views of the sea. And everywhere -- in the beach bars, on the catamarans and in the local clubs -- is the infectious beat of the local forró music. This winter, the members of the Brazil Tour Operators Association are offering packages to Fernando de Noronha.
Ideal Fernando de Noronha, a seven-day, six-night package to Recife and Fernando de Noronha offered by Just Brazil Vacations by Hotur, includes airfare from Miami to Recife on American Airlines and from Recife to Fernando de Noronha on Varig or Trip, four nights at the Pousada Zé Marina in Fernando de Noronha, two nights in Recife at the four-star Atlante Plaza, a cruise around the island, sightseeing tour of Olinda, full Brazilian breakfast daily, roundtrip airport transfers and hotel taxes. Good from Jan. 7 to March 30, 2010, the package starts at $2,898 per person, double occupancy. For more information, call 877-468-8707 or visit www.justbrazil.com . VIP Tour Brazil offers Luxury Honeymoon to Brazil's Best Beaches and Bungalows to Fernando de Noronha and Porto de Galinhas from March 1 to July 1, 2010, for $4,300 per person double occupancy. The nine-day, eight-night package includes four nights on the island at the boutique luxury Pousada Maravilha in an ocean-front bungalow and four nights in a Master Bungalow at the Nannai Resort in Porto de Galinhas, daily breakfast, four dinners, a half-day tour of Olinda, a half-day dune buggy tour of Porto de Galinhas and hotel taxes. For more information, call 800-772-9188 or go to www.viptourbrazil.com.
The Divers' Real Treasure package, offered by Borello Travel & Tours' provides five nights' accommodations at Pousada Beco de Noronha in Fernando de Noronha with daily Brazilian breakfast, roundtrip airport transfers, two days of diving with a total of four dives including local transportation, ecological presentation and hotel taxes. The six-day, five-night package is $925 per person, double occupancy and is available from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2010. For more information, call 800-405-3072 or visit www.borellotravel.com. PanAmerican Travel Services is offering Brazil's Fantasy Island, a six-day, five-night package starting at $2,548 per person in a standard double. The package includes air from Recife to Fernando de Noronha including taxes, five nights at the Pousada Ze' Marina, daily buffet breakfast, a full-day diving excursion including snacks, roundtrip airport transfers and hotel taxes. The package is available on select dates between Feb. 1 and June 3 with prices from Jan. 2 to 31 higher. For more information, call 800-364-4359 or visit www.panam-tours.com.
These packages do not include the daily environmental tax, which averages about $20 per person per day and must be paid on the island. All packages are subject to availability with prices higher during holidays and Carnival. The Brazil Tour Operators Association aims to raise awareness of its active members as Brazil travel experts and heighten visibility among North American travelers for all the destinations in Brazil. BTOA's 24 active members are AAT American Adventure Tours; Abreu; Air Projects; American Express Vacations; Avanti Destinations; Borello Travel and Tours; Brazil Nuts Tours; Brazilian Vacation Center; BROL/Brazil Online Travel; Chanteclair; Cox & Kings USA; Discover Brazil Tours; Dumonde Travel, 4 Star South America Tours & Travel; Fredson Travel; Globus; Hotur-Just Brazil Vacations; Marnella Tours; Pan American Travel Services; SITA World Tours; Skyline Travel Specialists; SouthAmerica.Travel; Tourlite International; Travel Impressions; VIP Tour Group; and Visit Brazil Tours. Americans traveling to Brazil do need visas, and agents can learn more from the Brazil Tour Operators Association. For more information on Fernando de Noronha visit www.noronha.pe.gov.br. For more information on BTOA, email [email protected] or visit www.braziltouroperators.org.
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