Best Holiday with a Visit to Ilha Grande

The largest island in the Angra dos Reis bay, Ilha Grande gathers more than one hundred beaches - among them, some of the most beautiful in Southeast Brazil, such as Lopes Mendes, Aventureiro and Cachadaço. The archipelago, however, offers more than idyllic scenarios. The crystal clear waters harbor rich marine life; The trails in the middle of the Atlantic rainforest uncover rivers and waterfalls; And the rustic climate is guaranteed by the informality of Vila do Abraão, the centrinho of the island. There, there are no cars or motorcycles - just by boat, departing from Angra or Mangaratiba, for about an hour and a half.

The unconventional access is just one of the factors that contributes to the Ilha Grande continue with the astral village of fishermen, although during the holidays and in the high season the movement is intense. The other reasons are due to the transformation of the region into State Park and Biological Reserve, which helped to end the irregular settlements and constructions.


Also the existence of a maximum security prison - deactivated in 1994 - contributed to the isolation of the island for many decades.

The exuberant nature makes the day start early on the Big Island - you can not sleep much considering the plethora of attractions to be discovered during the tours. By boat, one arrives at Lagoa Azul, a natural aquarium and one of the postcards of the region due to the transparency of the waters and the quantity of colorful fish and starfish.

For accredited divers, the stopping points are the many shipwrecks and the slabs filled with turtles, sea bass and moray eels. Already walking - there are trails for all the beaches -, the main itinerary is what leads to the paradisiacal landscape formed by the fine white sands and the blue-green sea of ​​Lopes Mendes.


To get into the climate of the island, circle around Abraão Village, where you will find inns, simple restaurants and bars with plenty of room to dance forró all night long. Already to try the best seafood dishes of the region, include on the boat trip the cove of Saco do Céu. There are the rustic Coqueiro Verde and the sophisticated Kings and Magi, which serve moquecas and paellas to the height of the vistas that uncover .