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| The perfect 8-mile (13km) stretch of beach is thickly lined with palm trees, and the clear blue waters reveal coral reefs and natural pools at low tide. From December to March thousands of turtles come ashore to lay their eggs, and with the right timing visitors can witness the miraculous hatching of the tiny turtles. In February a turtle nest hatches out almost every day. Those who want to be pampered in luxurious tropical hotel can opt for the beautiful EcoResort, but to experience the authentic laid-back casual atmosphere, you are better off staying in the fishing village of Praia do Forte. This sleepy little town with a grand total of 3 streets, none of them paved, nonetheless boasts a number of fine pousadas, some located right on the beach. Strict environmental guidelines have kept the beach largely pristine and development very low-key. | The TAMAR turtle reserve, open to visitors, is on the beach next to the lighthouse. This is a project, jontly funded by IBAMA and the navy, that started in 1982 to protect several species of endangered marine turtles. The purpose of the project is to gather about 30,000 eggs a year from along the coast and bury them in the sand to incubate. When the eggs hatch, they are placed in feeding pools until they are big enough to tackle the Atlantic. |