Humpback whales
Breeding season.
Turismo Bahia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Turismo Bahia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Daniel Souza Lima — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Turismo Bahia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · RobertoCostaPinto — CC BY-SA 4.0
Abrolhos was created on 6 April 1983 as Brazil's first marine national park, protecting about 91,000 hectares of the Abrolhos archipelago and its reefs off the coast of southern Bahia, said to hold the richest marine life in the entire South Atlantic. The archipelago has five islands of volcanic origin, but landing is allowed on only one, Siriba, circled by a 1,600-metre trail; Santa Bárbara island belongs to the navy, which runs its lighthouse. The water is clear and the coral reefs flourish, and diving is allowed on the reefs and around the wreck of the Rosalinda. Seabirds such as boobies and frigatebirds nest on Guarita, Sueste and Redonda islands, and sea turtles lay eggs in summer. Charles Darwin stopped here on the voyage of the Beagle and was struck by the variety of life. Its great draw is the humpback whale season, roughly July to October, when thousands come to breed and nurse their calves. Day trips leave from Caravelas, about 70 km away, last 9 to 10 hours and start at about R$300, and there are liveaboard trips too.
Breeding season.
A 1,600 m trail.
The Rosalinda wreck.
Abrolhos archipelago off southern Bahia; boats from the Caravelas municipal pier
Roughly July to October, when humpbacks come to breed, on day trips from Caravelas.