Often named “Brazil’s Best Beach”, or even “Best Beach in the World” in travel magazines and guides, Praia do Sancho is the jewel of Fernando de Noronha, an archipelago that is just over an hour’s flight from the state capital Recife. That is how far “paradise” is from the city.

I arrived at Praia do Sancho by the Golfinho-Sancho route, enjoying the Baia dos Golfinhos and stopping at all the viewpoints en route to take in the landscape and take photos. And I can assure you that the first time I saw the Praia do Sancho with my own eyes, I had to let out a “Wow”! Along with neighbouring Baia dos Porcos, Sancho is without doubt one of the most beautiful beaches on the island.

It is a beautiful, large beach, created by the hands of an artist, which curves to give it additional elegance. And it is protected by a 50-meter escarpment offering incredible views of the beach. It was a privilege to be there. Without a shadow of a doubt, it is one of the best beaches in Brazil!

While it doesn’t have as much sand as Sancho or Cacimbra do Padre, what it lacks in size it makes up for in beauty. There is no way you can arrive at the Miradouro dos Dois Irmãos and not have your breath taken away: the Baía dos Porcos is beautiful!

The colour of the water, the wave-kissed rocks where the fish take refuge, the calmness of the rippling waters, the surrounding beauty: I don’t know what most fascinated me at the Baía dos Porcos, but it was probably the combination of it all that made it so special.

I fell so deeply in love with it that I went swimming in its waters many times during my stay on the island. And this despite it not being the easiest place to get to, at least for those of us who travelled by bus. Yes, the Baía dos Porcos is one of the best beaches on Fernando de Noronha. It is my favourite!

A surfer’s paradise, the Praia da Cacimba do Padre plays host to many major international events during the surfing season from December to March, when it offers some of the best waves in all Brazil. The rest of the time it is one of the island’s most pleasant beaches.

Also known as the Praia da Quixaba, Cacimba do Padre is one of the island’s biggest beaches, with white sand and the Morro Dois Irmãos on the left, blessing the crystal waters. It was another of the beaches on which I spent most of my visit to Fernando de Noronha. Highly recommended!