While Fernando de Noronha is beautiful and pristine, it's the mix of raw and refined that makes the place unique.

WSJ: Brazil Three Ways: Art, Eco-Escape, Surf City

In a land known for its beautiful destinations, it's telling that there is near consensus that Fernando de Noronha is the loveliest of them all.

WSJ: Brazil Three Ways: Art, Eco-Escape, Surf City

The bodies were found floating about 440 kilometers (273 miles) northeast of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago northeast of the Brazilian coast on Monday, military officials said Monday evening.

CNN: More bodies found from Air France crash

The crew of a TAM Linhas Aereas flight travelling over the area in the other direction shortly after the Airbus' last signal had reported seeing "bright spots" in the ocean about 1, 300 km (800 miles) from the Fernando de Noronha archipelago off Brazil's north-eastern coast.

BBC: Atlantic searched for lost plane

All of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago is fantastically empty, as the hyper-protected islands have room for only about 700 tourists at once (along with fewer than 4, 000 locals), and those visitors have their choice of 17 beaches, most of which are easier to reach than Sancho.

FORBES: Just possibly Brazil's greatest beach