Abrolhos Marine National Park

Abrolhos Marine National Park, Created 1983, Brazil'S First Marine National Park, Protecting The Largest Coral Reef Complex In The South Atlantic · Caravelas, Bahia

Abrolhos is an archipelago of five small volcanic islands about 70 kilometres off the southern coast of Bahia, and its marine park, created in 1983, was the first in Brazil. It protects the largest and richest coral reef complex in the South Atlantic, including the chapeirões, giant mushroom-shaped coral columns found almost nowhere else. From July to November it is one of the best places in the world to see humpback whales, which come to these warm, shallow waters to breed and calve; boats often travel among them on the way out. Divers and snorkellers come for the reefs, turtles and fish. Visitors cannot stay on the islands: one is a Brazilian Navy lighthouse station, and landings on another, Siriba, are allowed only with a park guide for a short walk among nesting seabirds such as boobies. Trips leave from the small town of Caravelas, two to three hours each way by boat across open sea that is often rough, or as liveaboard cruises. Weather decides whether boats go at all.

Arquipélago dos Abrolhos, departures from Caravelas, BA, Caravelas, Bahia, Brazil

Abrolhos has no gate and no opening hours in the usual sense: you can only visit on a boat run by an operator licensed for the park, and the sea decides the schedule. Day trips leave Caravelas early in the morning and return in the late afternoon; liveaboards leave on set departure days. Trips run year-round, but strong wind and swell cancel them regularly, sometimes several days in a row, and the call is usually made the evening before or at dawn. Keep at least one or two spare days in Caravelas, or the whole journey can end without seeing the islands. Whale season runs roughly July to November. Landings are allowed only on Siriba, only with a park guide, and only for a short walk; the other islands are closed to visitors, and rules on landing can change for nesting birds or management - confirm with your operator.

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