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Activities · Destination Guide

Abrolhos Marine National Park Brazil

Brazil's protected coral bank and whale season expedition out of Caravelas

Updated Jan 23, 2026 • 10 sources

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Abrolhos Marine National Park Activity Planning

Pick an activity mode to compare signature sites, skill fit, and gear planning notes before you lock your trip.

Scuba

What It Feels Like

Abrolhos is boat-diving at its most dramatic in Brazil: chapeiroes (mushroom-shaped coral pinnacles), park-managed moorings, and historic wreck remains inside a protected marine national park. Expect expedition-style days from Caravelas with guided dives, and in winter months, surface intervals often include humpback whale sightings (observation-only). The best underwater clarity is typically in summer (December to March), when water is commonly around 24°C to 27°C.

Signature Sites

Start Here

  • Chapeirao Faca Cega

    A large caplike chapeirao with passages and burrows, often dropping to around {{ 25 | distance:m }}.

  • Chapeirao Mau Mau

    Known for an underwater trail marked by pins and guiding cables, making navigation easier when visibility drops.

  • Chapeirao Atlantida

    A lessvisited pinnacle with channels and a roomy sandbottom lounge, with depths often spanning {{ 8 | distance:m }} to {{ 32 | distance:m }}.

Level Up

  • Parcel dos Abrolhos (Chapeiroes Field)

    The offshore reef complex where Abrolhos' signature chapeiroes rise from sandy channels, creating classic pinnacle dives.

  • Recife de Timbebas

    A coastal reef arc closer to the mainland, often used for shorter days or as a weather backup with shallower profiles.

Advanced

  • Naufragio Guadiana

    Remains of a vessel that sank in 1885, now an artificial reef near coral pinnacles.

Planning Playbook

Operator Checklist

  • Abrolhos is not a walk-in shore-diving destination. Plan around a licensed operator and boat schedule.
  • Book with an ICMBio-authorized company (examples listed by the park include Apecatu Expedicoes and Horizonte Aberto Catamaras).
  • Build in a buffer day for wind and crossing conditions.
  • Ask whether your itinerary includes the archipelago, Parcel dos Abrolhos, and/or Recife de Timbebas.
  • Respect park rules: no gloves, no knives, no coral contact, no collecting, and no in-water whale encounters.

Conditions Fallback

  • Build in a buffer day for wind and crossing conditions.
  • Ask whether your itinerary includes the archipelago, Parcel dos Abrolhos, and/or Recife de Timbebas.

Avoid

  • Do not ignore open-ocean wind and cancellations advisories from local operators.