Travel Guide Parque Nacional Marinho Dos Abrolhos

Of volcanic origin, the marine park of Abrolhos is composed of 5 islands, lost at about 72 km from the coast, on a surface of 913 km². The archipelago owes its name to the numerous reefs that dot its seabed, and because of which it was necessary to open one's eyes(abre os olhos) when cruising around. Abrolhos acquired the status of National Marine Park in 1983, and the IBAMA closely supervises its occupation and tourist exploitation. It is a very well preserved site that still appears today as it did when Charles Darwin discovered it in 1832 at the beginning of his five-year expedition on board the Beagle.Diving enthusiasts will find first-rate underwater bottoms, in waters at 24°C where visibility reaches 20 m (from December to April). Around and between the reefs, the abundant fauna (fish, turtles, dolphins) evolves in all tranquillity. The mainland shelters an important colony of masked boobies(Sula dactylatra) and brown boobies(Sula leucogaster).The attraction that attracts the largest public remains the presence of Jubarte whales (humpback) from June to September. Coming from Antarctica, they stop in the warm and shallow waters of the park to give birth. A boat trip on these dates will allow you to get very close to many of the cetaceans. The migration resumes, in the other direction, when the mothers have no more milk and the whales are strong enough to undertake the long journey to the cold waters.