Tour Operators -- Formerly just a buggy rental company, LocBuggy (tel. 081/3619-1490; www.locbuggy.com.br) is evolving into a full-service tour agency, currently offering a variety of tours including a dawn trip to see the spinner dolphins, a historic walk, an island tour, several hikes, trips to Atalaia beach, and planasubbing. Reservations can be made in advance via the company website. A similar range of tours is offered by Alquimista Tour (tel. 081/3619-1283; www.alquimistanoronha.com.br).

Boat Tours & Operators -- You have several options for getting out on the water. You can go on a 3- to 4-hour dolphin/snorkeling cruise. Tours depart Porto Santo Antonio and run along the shore of Noronha, looking at the steep cliffs and seabird rookeries on Ilha do Meio and Ilha do Rata, before heading down to cruise the edge of Dolphin Bay, hoping to be surrounded by a spinner school coming out for the day. The 3-hour tours go as far as Ponta da Sapata and include a stop for snorkeling in Baía do Sancho. Afternoon tours have better luck with dolphins. Morning tours focus on snorkeling. The other alternative is a planasub tour, a strange but fun activity in which you get towed at a fast speed behind a boat holding on to a piece of shaped plastic. By tilting your board up or down you can dive way down and then shoot back up when your breath runs out. In the clear water it's a bit like gliding through a science fiction film (Fantastic Voyage, for example).

Abatur, in the building across the street from the port (tel. 081/3619-1360), uses converted 7.5m (25-ft.) wooden fishing boats. They offer a dolphin-spotting and snorkeling cruise for R$70 per person, with departures daily at 8:30am and 1pm. Abatur's 2-hour planasub trips cost R$70 and depart daily at 9am and 1:30pm. They take six people, and each person is guaranteed 30 minutes of planasubbing. All prices include transfer to and from the port (cash only). Abatur also has moonlight cruises and tours to the offshore island, but these depend on weather and demand.

Santuário, on the dock at Porto de Santo Antonio (tel. 081/3619-1247), offers planasubbing, snorkeling, and dolphin spotting on a modern speedboat. Planasub tours last 2 hours, depart at 9am and 2pm, and cost R$75 per person. Snorkeling tours leave in the morning and afternoon on demand. Cost is R$75 per person. Dolphin tours leave in the afternoon. Cost is R$70 per person. Cost includes transfer to and from the port.

Similar tours (often with a slightly different name) are offered by LocBuggy (tel. 081/3619-1490; www.locbuggy.com.br) and Alquimista Tour (tel. 081/3619-1283; www.alquimistanoronha.com.br).

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.