Parcel das Paredes

The crown jewel of Abrolhos, Parcel das Paredes is a shallow plateau ringed by towering chapeirão formations — mushroom-shaped coral structures unique to this region that rise from the sandy floor like ancient columns. During the austral winter, humpback whales pass through in numbers unmatched anywhere else in the South Atlantic, their songs echoing through the water column. Reef sharks patrol the outer edges while manta rays glide over the coral gardens in effortless, sweeping arcs.