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02c Info Turismo f Noronha

Date post: 18-Nov-2015
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Tourism Info Noronha
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Hi Sergio! Yes, we did receive it - thank you for your payment ;-) Can I also ask you if you are aware of the Island Tax and the National Marine Park Entrance Fees? These are two different sets of payments that you will need to budget for your stay on the island :-) So please let us know if you need more detailed info about them! And now, I am sending you here 4 final files to finalize your reservation process with us: Your final confirmation for your stay on the island. Our 2014 map with tips in English. A few reminders for your packing time. The restaurants we suggest you visit ;-) We suggest you print or save the map and the restaurant list on your smartphone or tablet, but if you prefer to print them, let us know if you need a high-res copy of the map. This way you will be able to easily explore the island and its dining options ;-) I am not quite sure I'll be in Noronha when you arrive, but I will be working normally by phone and email so please don’t hesitate to contact us! Do you have a smartphone that would be working with email during your time on the island? Over the last few months, a few of our clients found this to be very helpful as they could email me any questions they had at any time. But you may also text us at any time too! Our phones are down below on our signature. Being connected by phone/texting/emailing we would also be able to let you know if the Sea Turtle NGO of the island TAMAR - will be doing any special activities during your stay, as we try and be connected with them on a daily basis. Last week we were able to let a few clients know that TAMAR was capturing sea turtles at the port in order to collect data for their research… and they were letting regular tourists watch this research activity … so it’ll be nice if we can let you know about things like that ; -)
Transcript
  • Hi Sergio!

    Yes, we did receive it - thank you for your payment ;-)

    Can I also ask you if you are aware of the Island Tax and the National

    Marine Park Entrance Fees? These are two different sets of payments that

    you will need to budget for your stay on the island :-)

    So please let us know if you need more detailed info about them!

    And now, I am sending you here 4 final files to finalize your reservation

    process with us:

    Your final confirmation for your stay on the island.

    Our 2014 map with tips in English.

    A few reminders for your packing time.

    The restaurants we suggest you visit ;-) We suggest you print or save the map and the restaurant list on your

    smartphone or tablet, but if you prefer to print them, let us know if you

    need a high-res copy of the map. This way you will be able to easily

    explore the island and its dining options ;-)

    I am not quite sure I'll be in Noronha when you arrive, but I will be

    working normally by phone and email so please dont hesitate to contact

    us!

    Do you have a smartphone that would be working with email during your

    time on the island? Over the last few months, a few of our clients found

    this to be very helpful as they could email me any questions they had at

    any time. But you may also text us at any time too! Our phones are down

    below on our signature.

    Being connected by phone/texting/emailing we would also be able to let

    you know if the Sea Turtle NGO of the island TAMAR - will be doing

    any special activities during your stay, as we try and be connected with

    them on a daily basis. Last week we were able to let a few clients know that

    TAMAR was capturing sea turtles at the port in order to collect data for

    their research and they were letting regular tourists watch this research

    activity so itll be nice if we can let you know about things like that ;-)

  • As far as activities go, most of the island may be easily explored with the

    assistance of some sort of transportation and our 2014 map. This is

    something quite nice about the island it allows you to explore it

    independently, on your own, your way, the way you would like to do it

    completely different than the regular packaged-tours.

    But there are 2 activities that we consider the highlights of the island and

    that we advise you to pre-book due to their limited number of openings.

    The first one is theBoat Ride along the inner sea of the island with

    planasub (snorkel-being-towed) included and lunch (planasub lasts about

    20-30 min when sea conditions allow), the second one is Scuba Diving (we

    can also inform you about Atalaia Hike if you are into hiking!).

    We make sure we direct you to local suppliers that are smaller, take less

    people... and that are fairly paid... avoiding the big agencies with buses...

    On our next email to you we will send you pictures and detailed description

    of these 2 activities plus an example of a buggy, so you may start enjoying

    your trip ahead of time.

    There is no need to pre-pay for any activity If we make a reservation for

    you for any activity, it would simply be a pre-booking to save spots for you

    I also suggest that you try and book your seats on the left side of the

    plane so you may take full advantage of the overview panoramic flight that

    pilots do on average 50% of the time, before they land. Also, if you can

    book your seats very near the door of the aircraft, so you may be one of

    the first to leave the plane, it'll be better so you may get to the tax counter

    before most people, and therefore get to your luggage and out of that tiny

    airport as soon as possible ;-)

    If you would like to get connected with island news between now and your

    arrival, I have also been posting quite a few interesting last-minute updates

    about Noronha on our Facebook page (Adriana Schmidt Raub) - unique

    info such as sea turtle research activities open for tourists, special dinners,

    regional events, and others.

    It is not a fan page without much useful info it is supposed to be a

    connection between our clients and us. People who would like to be

    informed about last minute info or about whats happening on the island.

    The island has a free Wi-Fi network called Noronha Digital which

    unfortunately doesnt work that great because it is via Satelite so if you stay

  • connected while on the island as well, we'll be able to let you know about

    these last minute tips even during your stay ;-)

    I hope you dont feel this is too much information :-( But we strongly

    believe that the more informed you are, the better your stay will be.

    One last thing - the islands local community lacks specific training such as

    good customer service and therefore people tend to be a bit rough around

    the edges at times (this is unfortunate ... but I do believe it is a work in

    progress...:-).

    Let us know if you receive this email and we'll be here if you have any

    questions!

    Adriana Schmidt

    Your Way | Noronha | Brasil

  • Hi Sergio!

    In Fernando de Noronha, there are two different sets of payments for the government that visitors are required to pay, in order to preserve this Worlds Natural Heritage by UNESCO. One is the island tax, used to improve urban infrastructure and

    that needs to be paid at the airport when visitors arrive. It is about

    R$ 48 REAIS per person per night of stay on the island, and they

    take all major credit cards at the airport of Noronha. Foreign

    clients cannot pay for this tax online, unfortunately ;-(

    The other one is for the National Marine Park areas. It was

    implemented in October of 2012, and all visitors need to register

    and pay an admission ticket in order to be able to visit the

    National Marine Park areas of Fernando de Noronha. The

    National Marine Park areas entail approximately 70% of the

    island.

    The admission ticket is valid for 10 days and it is priced per

    person. Ticket is R$ 150 REAIS per person (Brazilians have a

    50% deduction). Payment may be done with any major credit

    cards online at www.parnanoronha.com.br (more info on how to

    pay online attached to this email!) and in person, using the

    following currencies: USD, REAIS and EUROS. If you pay for

    this fee online, you need to print the receipt with your number so

    you may use it to enter Park Areas. At the end, you may exchange

    this receipt for a souvenir card with your picture and a picture of

    Noronha, if you care for taking this small souvenir home ;-) But

    most people prefer the convenience of not having to stop at a

    different place to pay for a second fee once they clear the airport

    of Noronha. I can totally relate to that as well ;-) But this is

    entirely up to you ;-)

    http://www.parnanoronha.com.br/

  • Just to give you a general idea: The National Marine Park areas of

    Fernando de Noronha are places such as:

    Sancho Beach (and also the self-guided walk from Dolphins to Sancho Viewpoints)

    Leao and Sueste Beach

    Caieira, Atalaia and Abreus Beaches

    Boat rides along all the inner sea of the island

    Scuba dive in any dive site of Noronha. There are 3 dedicated places for visitors to register and pay the

    admission fee to the National Marine Park here on the island (if

    you prefer not to mess with the online system), and they are:

    1) The Visitors Center of ICMBio from 8 AM to 10 PM every day. 2) Yellow kiosk inside Flamboyant Park from 8 AM to 10 PMevery day. 3) Sancho-Golfinhos Kiosk and Sueste Kiosk from 6h30 AM to 6h30 PM every day. I hope you will find this reminder to be useful and please don't

    forget to register with the National Marine Park as soon as you

    arrive in Noronha or before you get here (online!), so you may

    fully enjoy your visit to all areas of the island :-)

    Adriana Schmidt

    Your Way | Noronha | Brasil

  • In Noronha, diving conditions are ranked from "good" to "excellent"

    all year round: we count on visibility of 30-50mts and warm waters with an average temperature of 26C.

    Noronhas dive sites are known for their exuberant sea life. The presence

    of animals is more frequent than colorful coral which is often seen in abundance in the

    Red Sea or Australia. Because of its volcanic origin, the islands underwater rock

    formations are beautiful to observe and dive through.

    Noronha has daily dive operations - in the mornings (7am to 12pm) and in the afternoons (1pm to 5pm). On Sundays all three dive

    operators only dive in the morning.

    For CERTIFIED DIVERS:

    Dives include two tanks of air in two different dive sites but they cannot be split in two different periods. They have to be done in one operation either an entire morning, or an entire afternoon out on the dive boat.

    Price is R$ 320,00 REAIS and includes: pick-up and drop-off from your accommodation of choice, dive boat, 02 tanks of air, weight belt, and dive master or instructor guide assistance.

    Price of equipment rental per dive operation (morning or afternoon): BC = R$40; Regulator

    = R$40; Wet suit = R$31; Mask/Fins = R$16.

    _____________________________________________________________________________________________

    For NON-CERTIFIED DIVERS:

    Non-Certified divers may take advantage of the baptism (or resort) dive.

    Price is R$ 375,00 REAIS and includes: pick-up and drop-off from your accommodation of choice, dive boat, 01 tank of air, weight belt, dive master or instructor guide assistance, BC, regulator, mask + fins.

    R$ 100 extra gives you the opportunity of doing 2 baptism dives in one dive operation.

    - Important!! Please take your time to carefully read the list below. If you have any of the conditions below listed, you will need to explain

    it in more detail to dive staff before scheduling your dive:

    1 Serious cold or nasal congestion?

    2 High blood pressure? 3 Cardio or respiratory problems?

    4 Diabetes? 5 - Dizziness or history of fainting?

    6 - Heart disease or conditions?

  • 7 - Recent surgery?

    8 Sinusitis? 9 Pregnancy?

    10 - Asthma or tuberculosis?

    11 Claustrophobia? 12 - Ear problems?

    13 Undergoing special treatment for medical conditions? 14 - Eye problems?

    IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

    Divers need to stop at Atlantis Divers shop in Remedios Village upon arrival on the island, in order to fill out medical form and pre-pay dives.

    Atlantis Divers shop is open daily from 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM.

    REMEMBER: Noronha is one hour ahead of the mainland!

    Alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited. We also strongly recommend you dont drink the night before your dive.

    Reimbursement will be provided only if you cancel your dive with at least 24 hours notice.

    Dive sites are decided by Atlantis Divers and ICMBio (Environmental Regulatory Agency of Brasil Noronhas office) on the day of the dive.

    The pictures below were taken by talented Zaira Matheus (professional underwater photographer) while diving with Atlantis Divers!

  • Below we have listed just a few examples of Noronha's dive sites along with a Map of Dive Sites (courtesy of Atlantis Divers):

    PORTS SHIPWRECK (inner sea) Greek cargo ship that sunk in the 1920's, excellent location for night and late-

    evening dives.

    ILHA DO MEIO (inner sea) Some caves and large lairs, with regular sightings of nurse sharks.

    BURACO DAS CABRAS (inner/outer sea) Curious volcanic rock formations with various schools of small fish. This is generally the starting point for drift dives

    ending in Canal da Rata.

    MORRO DE FORA (inner sea) Great option for a tranquil and safe dive when the inside ocean is calm. Dive site is

    located near the rock formation between Meio Beach and Conceicao Beach.

    LAJE DOIS IRMAOS (inner sea) These set of rocks located right near the

    Dois Irmaos Islans (Two Brothers) is formed of low rock formations covered by

    sponges and coral. Frequent sightings of sharks.

    CAVERNA DA SAPATA (inner sea) Sapata is the very end of the inner sea

    when you visit this side of the island by the regular boat ride. Huge underwater

    cave, ample and easy to enter, with rocky seaboard, many sponges and fish species.

    CABECO DA SAPATA (inner sea) Huge underwater cave, ample and easy to

    enter, with rocky seaboard, many sponges and fish species.

    IUIAS (outer sea) Dive spot similar to Pedras Secas, with a

    great deal of sea life and large fish. One of the best dives in Noronha when sea conditions allow.

    CABECO SUBMARINO

  • Meeting point for turtles that often visit

    Sueste Bay at the very end of Noronhas main road (passed the airport). Many lairs

    with big fish.

    PEDRAS SECAS This historical dive site has a spectacular dive offering maximum visibility. Rocky

    bottom covered with sea-life surrounded by arches, canyons and small caverns. Divers have an excellent chance of

    encountering sand sharks and sea turtles. Pedras Secas is the set of rocks that are

    responsible for the sinking of the ship that was part of the Portuguese expedition that discovered the island in 1503.

    CORVETA V17 Warship wreck that is in navigational position, almost completely intact, with

    distinct bow cannon covered by sponges. This dive site is between 63 and 56mts deep, in the direction of the Two Brothers.

    We recommend Atlantis Divers because: 1) Atlantis has been operating in Noronha since 1994 and it is currently the best dive operator in Brazil. 2) Atlantis is associated with the National Association of Ecotourism and Adventure Tourism Operators in Brazil (ABETA). The owner of Atlantis Divers is one of ABETA's current and most active directors. 3) They were the first dive company in the country to be awarded a nationalcertification on Safety Measures for Adventure Tourism and Ecotourism Operators. In Noronha, they are the only dive company with such certificate (out of three dive companies available). 4) Atlantis has implemented an Emergency Plan and tests this plan on an annual basis. Their staff goes through a 30-hour training routine before attending to customers. 5) They are genuinely interested in clients' feedback and therefore have a questionnaire to gather information for possible improvements. 6) Atlantis is also currently participating in a Quality Improvement Programconducted by SEBRAE Brazil.

  • 7) Atlantis is the only dive operator on the island with Civil Lawsuit Insurance.

  • The island has a bus system that only travels on

    themain road every 30-40 min; and quite a

    few taxis that charge between R$15 to R$30 per

    ride. If you are a solo traveller, you may take

    advantage of catching rides, as this is a very fun,

    and popular way of getting around. Take advantage

    of that as the island is very safe, and people are

    very friendly

    But, if you would like more independence, and

    would also like to optimize your time here, there are

    motorcycles and buggies for rental.

    Buggies and motorbikes are rented by 24 hour-

    periods. They cost about R$130 to R$165 and

    sometimes, up to R$200 per day. Price doesn't

    include gasoline or the driver, so remember to bring

    your license!

    Gasoline for one day of driving is usually about

    R$40 to R$45 REAIS (10-12L) and this should be

    plenty for you to drive around the main road and

    secondary roads, to explore your way around the

    island. There are only about three buggy owners

    that I fully trust that try and maintain their buggies

    in good shape, and I usually prefer not to go with

    the very cheap ones, as they break more

    frequently.

    Buggies may be delivered to you at your

    accommodation of choice and you may also return it

    back to the owner at the airport, taking advantage

    of the rental period and saving money on the taxi

    ride back to the airport on the day of your

    departure. That's an idea that people tend to think

    of it as very useful, especially because you may also

  • check your bags in, and then drive the buggy onto

    Maravilha pousada for a last minute drink, and not

    have to sit and wait at the airport for your boarding

    time. The airport is currently undergoing renovation

    and it doesn't have A/C, or many cute local shops at

    the moment :(

    Wed like you to keep in mind that:

    Buggies are not like cars. They are a much more

    improvised means of transportation (more like

    glorified go-carts). So remember to drive slowly

    and carefully - 3rd gear should be the fastest you

    should go ;)

    They lack the standard safety features of

    standard vehicles. A few items may not work

    perfectly because of the lack of specialized

    mechanic shops on the island - for. ex: parking

    breaks, wipers, turn signals... For parking, we

    recommend you leave the buggy in a strong gear --

    first or reverse.

    They will most likely have a beetle old engine

    and maintenance is very improvised too because of

    the lack of more trained people on the island.

    They consume much more gasoline than cars

    they are not in any way an economic type of

    transportation. You should keep in mind that

    about 10 liters of gasoline per day of exploring

    should be plenty for you :)

  • Insurance doesnt exist on the island so you will

    need to be extra careful because any damages that

    happen during your rental period will need to be

    worked out between you and the buggy owner

    unless, of course, damage is considered regular

    wear&tear. For ex. flat tire, clutch not working

    properly, etc...

    All secondary roads of the island are not in good

    shape so it is advisable to drive them carefully and

    slowly, so you don't end up wasting precious

    "exploring time" waiting to be rescued by buggy

    owner in one of these bad roads, because of a flat

    tire.

    In case you need to ask for buggy owners help,

    well probably need to help you as they dont speak

    English. Keep our numbers handy, and when you

    call us, well need to know where the buggy is

    located and where you left the keys. This way well

    be able to pass on the info to buggy owner so he

    can rescue the car and fix it properly.

    Driving slowly and carefully is the best advice we can give you. Roads in Noronha are really, really poorly maintained, and if you get a flat tire, buggy owners will come to rescue you, but this may take a while to be fixed, depending on where it happens and how it happens. They will not charge you for flat tires, but if you continue to drive with a flat tire, this will damage the tire beyond regular flat repair, and then buggy owners will have to charge you for a chamber replacement which is on average 90-110 REAIS on the island. So it is important to be always alert about the conditions of the vehicle, while it is under your responsibility :)

    Adriana Schmidt

  • Hi again Sergio! About your possible dives, I am copying Vivian at Atlantis Divers on this email, just so she is aware of your interest in diving, but we'll help you with any questions between now and the time you decide to pre-book your dives, ok? I normally suggest you pre-book dives just to be sure you will have a spot reserved with Atlantis which is currently the best dive outfitter in Brazil, and also because June will have the World Cup, and there may be more visitors than normal .... All three dive places here normally operate with a two-tank dive in the morning and also two-tank dives in the afternoon. I am a diver myself too ;-) and when I go diving in other places, I tend to search for the most qualified scuba operator. Atlantis is the only one out of 3 dive companies that has been associated with the Brazilian Association of Adventure Tourism and Ecotourism. They also went above and beyond by being one of the first 100 companies here in Brazil to earn the precursor of ISO 9000 in Safety Standards for Adventure Tourism just a few years ago. For me, this is a BIG deal ;-) so this is why I only recommend them ... But let me ask you - is Diego also certified? How many logged dives (approximately) do you 2 have ? On my next email to you I'll send you more info on scuba diving here on the island ...and I'll wait for your questions as well ;-) but in the meantime check this 2-minute video out, as it gives you a good overview on how scuba dive is operated on the island: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9eg44Ez5u4

    And let us know your thoughts! Adriana

    Adriana Schmidt

    https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v1/url?u=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3D_9eg44Ez5u4&k=wdHsQuqY0Mqq1fNjZGIYnA%3D%3D%0A&r=Ueg%2FQD1Yw8Tpx%2FQg456CLNTCQqkYM0cQ0nMwOmEjaDw%3D%0A&m=XgPz4xtZQ33TTxmUmPNxYUakT5qZecGBmL5ife%2FIYRw%3D%0A&s=0a0b8bd93c07b1f9c166a81bb3ec9ca88c9bf756d2ea01da19553de9120a679b


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