The jet lag-free winter sun escape that’s perfect for beach lovers

Only two hours behind GMT and home to one of the world’s finest beaches, this exotic archipelago is an intriguing option

Brazil is the most beach-loving country in the world. Its epically long coast probably has more swimmable and sunbathing-friendly spots than anywhere else on earth. Brazil’s music, sports, food and fashions have their source right on the beach. Even Brazil’s newly re-elected president – the left-leaning, trade union hard man Lula da Silva – spends his hols on a beach.

So, the 31-million real (six million dollars in local) question is: which one is the best? 

Answering that, you might think, would involve a long discussion beside the coconut stall, perhaps with a chilled Brahma in hand. After all, Brazilians get very worked up about football (Pele or Neymar?), cities (Rio or São Paulo?) and, right now, politics.

But when it comes to praias or beaches the consensus is that Fernando de Noronha – an archipelago of 21 volcanic islands and islets in the Atlantic Ocean, 220 miles from Natal on the northeast coast – is most definitely the winner.