Abrolhos Marine National Park

Abrolhos is five small volcanic islands about seventy kilometres off Caravelas, sitting on the widest coral bank in the South Atlantic - and its corals are unusual, dominated by mushroom-shaped chapeiroes built by species found only in Brazilian waters, so the reefs look different from Caribbean or Pacific ones. Between roughly July and November the bank is the main calving ground for humpback whales in the western South Atlantic, and the population that comes here has recovered strongly from whaling. Above water there is a navy lighthouse on Santa Barbara, while Siriba is the only island visitors may land on, with a trail of about a kilometre and a half around it, and there are dense colonies of frigatebirds, boobies and tropicbirds. Darwin passed through in 1832. Diving and snorkelling are limited to marked points and controlled by permit.

What's there

• Chapeirao corals - mushroom-shaped reef structures unique to Brazilian waters.
• Humpback calving - whales on the bank from about July to November.
• Seabird colonies - frigatebirds, boobies and tropicbirds on the islands.
• One landable island - Siriba and its trail; Santa Barbara holds the lighthouse.

When to go

July to November for whales, December to March for the clearest water. Two days.

Things to know

The crossing takes about four hours each way and is rough enough that seasickness is common; day trips make for a very long day. Only one island can be landed on and dive sites are permit controlled. Trips cancel in bad weather.

Nearby

Caravelas is the mainland port; Monte Pascoal is north up the coast.

Key facts