12.02.2024.
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Ilha Grande is a popular destination in the Rio de Janeiro state, a beautiful island full of gorgeous beaches. You can visit it as a day trip as I did or spend a few days to truly experience its mesmerizing nature.
The marvelous scenery of Ilha Grande is a reason to call it a paradise, but not the only one. Its tranquility and crystal clear waters make it a perfect holiday spot, even for locals.
If you’re on a short trip in Brazil visiting only Rio, Ilha Grande will enrich your itinerary. It’s a stunning choice to absorb more of this amazing country. Located between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, you can easily combine the two.
Alternatively, you can visit another island in the opposite side of Rio- Cabo Frio. Its lovely village Arraial do Cabo is the common choice of travellers due to its fantastic beaches.
See also: Five wonderful viewpoints in Rio de Janeiro;
See also: Why you should visit a beautiful city of Salvador de Bahia;
See also: Morro de Sao Paulo, a fabulous beach destination in Brazil;
About Ilha Grande
Ilha Grande (Big Island) is home to an idyllic nature along the mesmerizing beaches. Today it enjoys the protection of UNESCO, together with the nearby town of Paraty.
The dark past is an unrecognizable sign of the tranquil atmosphere woven into the existence of Ilha Grande. That’s why the Brazilian government didn’t allow any new settlement on the island for almost a century.
Ilha Grande hosted the African slaves years ago and in the 20th century it became a prison mostly for political individuals. The prison was finally closed in 1994, opening the doors to the touristic bloom.
Nowadays, Ilha Grande is a car-free island that offers a marvelous coastline and escape into natural charm.
How to reach Ilha Grande
Your final point on Ilha Grande is the town of Abraão and there are three different ways to come. Angra dos Reis is the best ferry port for people arriving from Sao Paulo and Paraty. If you’re coming from Rio, the closest town to Ilha Grande is Mangaratiba.
From Mangaratiba
You need to take the bus from Rodoviario Nuovo Bus Station with the Costa Verde bus company. The journey takes less than 2 hours.
Unfortunately, there’s only one option to take a ferry from Mangaratiba, at 8 am. The journey to Abraão takes 80 minutes.
Alternatively, you can take a ferry from Conceição de Jacareà which is even closer from Rio. Any bus toward Angra dos Reis is a great solution, just ask the driver to get off in Conceição de JacareÃ. The boats rides the whole day taking only 20 minutes with the fast boats and 50 minutes with the slow ones.
From Angra dos Reis
Angra dos Reis offers the calm routes to Ilha Grande, ideal for those who easily get seasick. With Costa Verde bus from Novo Rio bus station you’ll need about three hours to reach Angra.
The journey is only 20-20 minutes with the fast boast, while the ferries requiere 1,5h to Ilha Grande.
From Sao Paulo the bus leaves from Rodoviario Tiete Station and lasts about 7 h.
If your budget allows, you can even consider a shared transfer with GetYourGuide.
1. Vila do Abraão, the principal village on Ilha Grande
Abraão village is a cute oasis of sandy streets where colourful cottages embrace the hilly surroundings. The long pier welcomes the town with its shops, bars and hostels. Several beaches stretch close to the center where you can enjoy swimming, paddling or chilling in a lovely beach bar.
Though it’s very tranquil, the town turns the vibrant tones at night when people enjoy the waterfront restaurant and bars. The Aquário night club offers a pleasant atmosphere to dive in the fun.
2. Hiking to Lopes Mendes Beach
Lopes Mendes Beach is a marvelous piece of heaven, one of the most popular spot on Ilha Grande. This remote beach will delight you with the crystal clear water in all its wideness.
Stretching at the 3 km, it’s a wonderful oasis of peace without any restaurants and bars. Only the small vendors will enrich your experience so you don’t need to worry about food or drinks.
Arriving here is a bit of a challenge considering the two-hours trail. Alternatively, you can take a boat for 30 reals (5,60$) and you’ll be there in a few minutes. From Abraão the boats are quite common, about every hour.
At Lopes Mendes beach you can expect colder water due to the open sea and thus attractive for surfers.
3. Parrot Peak (Pico do Papagaio)- the best hike on Ilha Grande
Parrot Peak bursts with wonderful views that will take your breath away. Being the highest viewpoint on Ilha Grande, it’s absolutely enchanting during the sunset.
This challenging hike requires about 3 hours to the top from Abraão, passing through the village of Dois Rios.
Afterwards, you’ll need to follow the trail T13. The most advisable would be to go in a group or hike a local guide, particularly for the sunset.
Pico de Papagaio covers 980 m above the sea level overlooking the spectacular views to the whole island.
4. Cachoeira de Feiticeira Waterfall- another beautiful hike on Ilha Grande
The largest waterfall on Ilha Grande is nestled around the tropical forest so you can enjoy the refreshing vibes. The picturesque hike will lead you through Poção and Aqueduto (Aqueduct) and finally take you to the white sand beach of Feiticeira. You’ll also pass by the natural swimming pool along the mesmerizing views.
From the Abraão town, it would take around an hour to complete the hike. If you’re not for the hike, taking a taxi boat is another option.
5. Taking the boat trip around the island
Coming to Ilha Grande will inspire you to explore the amazing scenery around with plenty of small islets. If you want to absorb everything you get, consider to join a boat tour and enjoy the secluded beaches.
Vila do Abraão offers many of them, but this one is particularly advisable.
6. Lagoa Azul- the best snorkelling spot on Ilha Grande
Lagoa Azul absorbs the pristine beauty in the divine colours of the tranquil bay. The rich wildlife makes it a perfect place to snorkel as you admire the turquoise waters.
Surrounded by tropical forest, it feels so refreshing to dive into the mesmerizing charm of Lagoa Azul. Framed by the rocky shore, you can enjoy the view of the nearby islets on the island’s Freguesia de Santana penÃnsula. Seeing a green turtle is a joyful discovery in its natural paradise.
To get to Lagoa Azul, the best would be to take a tour or catch a boat from Abraão. This picturesque spot is accessible only by boat.
7. Enjoying the sunsets
The marvelous scenery of Ilha Grande is ideal to catch the gorgeous sunset. It’s an unmissable and precious gift that Ilha Grande prepared for you in its golden shine that you’ll adore.
The town of Abraão hides the magical colours at the beach restaurants, perfect for enjoying a delicious cocktail. Bar e Restaurante Lua e Mar offers an adorable atmosphere for the miraculous spectacle.
Taking a day trip to Ilha Grande from Rio de Janeiro
Taking a day trip is an awesome opportunity if you’re short on time to experience more than Rio. Introducing you to marvelous scenery you’ll raise a wish to discover even more.
Honestly, I would prefer staying a few days on your own as you’ll truly get to know Ilha Grande. I took a day trip with my hostel but have no idea where we went. Certainly, we didn’t grab a chance to see Lopes Mendes beach, the town of Abraão and similar. Having this in the itinerary would be much more amazing to get a grasp of the basic life on the island.
It was a lovely jump in the picturesque lagoon, visit to the quiet beach and a lunch on another. The pirate style of the boat offers a stunning atmosphere where you can take drinks with an additional price.
Where to stay on Ilha Grande
Che Lagarto is a popular chain of hostels in Brazil where you can enjoy gorgeous seaside views from its terrace. The pleasant lobby in the hostel offers a great social atmosphere with lots of board games, hammocks and similar.
Hi Holandes– is a lovely hostel close to the center of Abrao, a place to be immersed in nature. Enjoying a delicious breakfast and spacious rooms is a privilege here.
Aquario Hostel Bar & Night Club– offers an incredible terrace to enjoy the view and a picturesque pool in the sea. You can enjoy an awesome breakfast and glamping style in the hostel. It’s also very close to the center of Abrao.
Pousada Costa Verde– has a tranquil garden and cozy ambiance with the mountain view;
Practical tips for staying on Ilha Grande
Booking your accommodation in advance is advisable, particularly during New Year’s or Carnival. With plenty of pretty hostels and appartments, you’ll feel delightful and ready to enjoy the abundance of Ilha Grande. In this way you’ll also get the best rates.
Bring the cash with you as there are no ATMs on the island, though you can still use your credit card in the shops or restaurants.
Don’t waste the trash. Ilha Grande belongs to the UNESCO World Heritae Site so be considerable towards the locals.
It rains a lot from December to March so know what to expect. It’s also quite common that electricity gets off so bear in mind.
Prepare yourself for the hikings and bring some snacks with you and good shoes.
Final thoughts
Ilha Grande is your perfect choice if you want to experience the fabulous beaches outside of Rio. The amazing scenery bursts in abundance offering you the the best place to relax.
Giving you a chance to discover Brazilian wildlife, Ilha Grande gives you a way to embrace harmony with nature. Not only you’ll discover the marvelous beaches, but also the ancient traces of history. Ilha Grande is a breathtaking opportunity to admire the splendid scenery, even more with the wonderful hikes it offers. Â
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Wow, it looks and sounds like an incredible region to spend some time in! I am in awe of the natural beauty to be found here; it’s somewhere I would love to travel to.
Ilha Grande looks beautiful. I need to travel to Brazil in the future. Thank you for sharing.
I have always talked about going back to Puerto Rico but maybe before going back anywhere I should try some place new like Brazil, the photos are absolutely gorgeous! I know Spain and Italy are on my list as well.
Lagoa Azul looks like an incredible spot for snorkeling while in Ilha Grande, thanks for the great tips!