Praia do Leão

The least developed of Fernando de Noronha’s main beaches, Praia do Leão lies on the island’s south coast. A wide sweep of sand, it takes its name of Lion Beach from a rock shaped like a sea lion.

The beach’s rugged nature makes it a haven for birds, who cherish its rocky islets as nesting sites, while sea turtles use the sands of Praia do Leão for their own egg laying. As a result, access to the beach is prohibited entirely from late afternoon until early the following morning each day between January and June.

Dolphins are another frequent visitor to the waters around Praia do Leão, with other attractions including blowholes that shoot seawater into the air close to reef tidal pools as high tide approaches.