Entardecer VIP in Fernando de Noronha: the Boat Tour to End Your Day with the Island's Best Sunset

The Entardecer VIP is EmNoronha's best-selling boat tour to close out the day: paddleboard towing, a scenic sail along the coast, and a sunset BBQ anchored at the harbor. Here's how it works, what it costs, and the best time of year to go.

Entardecer VIP in Fernando de Noronha: the Boat Tour to End Your Day with the Island's Best Sunset

There's a moment in Fernando de Noronha that separates people who merely visited the island from those who truly lived it: watching the sun drop behind Morro Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers Peak), a cold beer in hand, the smell of barbecue in the air, and the water still dripping from your last swim of the day. That's exactly the moment the Entardecer VIP — Fernando de Noronha's VIP Sunset Cruise — was designed to deliver: a boat tour that combines adrenaline, contemplation, and one of the most beautiful late afternoons in Brazil, for R$330 per person.

While most tours on the island run in the morning, the Entardecer VIP is the only one built for the end of the day: it departs from the harbor area in the early afternoon and returns with the sky already painted orange. It's not just "another boat tour" — it's the perfect way to close out any Noronha itinerary.

What's included

• Boarding at the harbor area (Porto de Santo Antônio)
• Paddleboard-towing activity ("plana sub" — a board towed behind the boat, no diving experience needed)
• Scenic sailing past the coast's iconic beaches and viewpoints
• Photo stop in front of Morro Dois Irmãos
• Onboard BBQ (fresh fish, salad, fruit, and garlic bread)
• Free snorkeling while anchored at the harbor
• Onboard water slide
• Sunset viewed from the sea

How the tour works, from start to finish

Boarding (2:40–3:00 PM): the group boards at Porto de Santo Antônio, in Fernando de Noronha's harbor area — the same spot where almost all of the island's boat tours depart from. It's a good idea to wear your swimsuit under your clothes and have sunscreen already applied, since the fun starts early. Practical tip: Fernando de Noronha's time zone is 1 hour ahead of Brasília time — double-check your phone's clock before leaving your pousada so you don't miss boarding.

Paddleboard towing right off the bat: contrary to what a lot of people assume, the plana sub isn't the day's last activity — it's the first. Still in the harbor area, a spot known for submerged shipwrecks and a good concentration of marine life, the boat tows a board in sets of about 20 minutes each. You lie down, hold onto the handle, and glide across the water while looking at the seabed below — you don't need to know how to dive or even swim well, the instructor explains everything beforehand.

Scenic sailing along the coast: with the plana sub done, the boat continues along the coastline — not for water activities, but to take in, from a distance, some of the island's most beautiful scenery: Biboca, Rugido do Leão, Praia do Cachorro (home to Buraco do Galego and Lasca da Velha), Praia do Meio, Morro de Fora (right above Piscina do Morro de Fora), Praia da Conceição, Praia do Boldró, Praia do Americano, and the Bode area, until reaching Cacimba do Padre — the island's main postcard shot, with the silhouette of Morro Dois Irmãos right ahead and Morro do Pico visible in the background. It's the perfect stretch for photos, and for simply taking a deep breath and soaking it all in.

Approaching Dois Irmãos: the boat gets closer to Morro Dois Irmãos just for photos — it's one of the most sought-after angles for anyone visiting the island, and few tours get this close to it from the sea.

Return and anchoring at the harbor: after the scenic sail, the boat heads back and anchors again in the harbor area — that's where, not during the coastal sailing, the second part of the celebration happens.

Anchored, until around 6:15 PM: with the boat stopped, there's an onboard BBQ (fresh fish, salad, fruit, and garlic bread), free snorkeling for anyone who wants one more swim, a water slide for those up for jumping into the water in a different way, and the grand finale: the sunset, watched from the sea, facing the horizon. The whole tour lasts between 3h15 and 3h35 (about three and a half hours).

Document: do you need a park entrance ticket?

No. Unlike the Ilha Tour, which travels through the Fernando de Noronha National Marine Park area and requires the ICMBio pass/ticket, the Entardecer VIP route stays within the coastal and harbor area and doesn't require that document. Just bring an ID, sunscreen, your swimsuit, and, if you'd like, a waterproof camera to capture the plana sub.

Entardecer VIP vs. Barco Tradicional: rivals or a perfect pair?

A common question for anyone planning their itinerary is: "should I do the Entardecer VIP or the morning boat tour?" The right answer is: both, if you can. They're not competing with each other — they're tours with different purposes, and together they cover a full day on the water.

The Barco Tradicional departs in the morning (R$280 on the schooner or R$350 on the catamaran) and visits more beaches — Baía dos Porcos, Baía do Sancho (with about 40 minutes of free snorkeling), Baía dos Golfinhos, and Ponta da Sapata. Since it happens in the morning, it's also when your chances of spotting spinner dolphins are highest. The Entardecer VIP, on the other hand, visits fewer spots, but delivers a complete experience: paddleboard towing, BBQ, water slide, and the sunset — the perfect way to close the day.

In practice: whoever does the Barco Tradicional in the morning and the Entardecer VIP in the afternoon gets the best of both worlds — more beaches and a better chance of dolphins in the morning, and the island's most complete sensory experience at sunset.

When's the best time of year for the Entardecer VIP?

The tour runs year-round, but the season directly affects the experience in the water. August, September, and October are the best months: the sea is calmer, with no swell, and visibility for the plana sub and snorkeling tends to be excellent — it's the ideal window for anyone who wants the tour at its very best.

Starting in November, the wave season begins and runs through March. During that period, the sea gets choppier, which can reduce underwater visibility and, on days with stronger swell, lead to the occasional cancellation of the plana sub activity — and, in rarer cases, when the Brazilian Navy issues a red flag warning, even the boat tour as a whole may be affected for safety reasons. After March, the island moves into its rainy season.

Our advice: if you have flexibility to choose which month to travel and want to guarantee the best sea conditions for the plana sub and snorkeling, aim for August, September, or October. Outside that window, the tour still runs normally on most days — the EmNoronha team assesses conditions on the day and lets guests know ahead of time about any adjustments. (See more month-by-month weather details in our guide to the best time to visit Fernando de Noronha.)

Can you see dolphins on the Entardecer VIP?

Fernando de Noronha's spinner dolphins usually arrive around 7 AM in the harbor area and stay for a few hours — which is why your chances of spotting them are higher in the morning. In the afternoon, during the Entardecer VIP's time slot, the chances are slimmer, but it can still happen, especially right at the start of the tour, while still in the harbor area.

If seeing dolphins is a priority for your itinerary, the trick is to combine tours: do the Entardecer VIP for its one-of-a-kind sunset, plana sub, and onboard BBQ experience — and also book a morning activity in that same harbor area, such as the Canoa Havaiana (outrigger canoe, two fixed time slots — 5:30–7:30 AM or 8:30–10:30 AM — both with the same chance of dolphins, since they arrive around 7 AM and stay in the area for a few hours), the Bike Aquática (water bike, departing hourly from 7 AM), or the Barco Tradicional itself. That way you maximize your chances in the morning and still get the island's most complete experience in the afternoon.

What guests are saying

"The Entardecer VIP with the onboard BBQ was the highlight of the trip." — Carlos A.
"We saw Morro dos Dois Irmãos from the sea and the sunset was unforgettable. Worth every penny." — Marcelo T.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to know how to swim to do the plana sub?
No. The board is towed by the boat, and the instructor explains everything before you start. Just hold on and enjoy the view of the seabed.

Can the tour be canceled?
Yes, on days with very rough seas — mainly during wave season, from November to March — the plana sub activity may be adjusted, or, in rare cases of a Navy red flag warning, the tour may be rescheduled. The team lets guests know ahead of time.

Do I need a National Marine Park ticket?
No. That ticket is only required for tours that enter the park area, such as the Ilha Tour. The Entardecer VIP doesn't need it.

What time is boarding?
Between 2:40 and 3:00 PM, at the harbor area. The tour runs until around 6:15 PM, timed around the sunset.

Can children take part?
The tour is relaxed and family-friendly, but message our team on WhatsApp to confirm the recommended minimum age and the best plan for traveling with kids.

Will I be able to see dolphins?
The chances are higher in the morning, but it can also happen at the start of the Entardecer VIP, while still in the harbor area. To boost your chances, pair it with a morning activity like the Canoa Havaiana or the Barco Tradicional.

Ready for your Fernando de Noronha sunset?

The Entardecer VIP is the tour that closes out the day in style — and spots on board are limited. Book your Entardecer VIP now and secure your place on board.

And if you'd like to round out your itinerary with more beaches and a better chance of dolphins in the morning, ask us about the Barco Tradicional and plan the perfect day on the water.