Ilha Grande Ilha Grande

Ilha Grande

Ilha Grande is a district of Angra dos Reis, in the State of Rio de Janeiro, and is part of the tourist region of the Costa Verde. Before colonization, the island was called Ipaum Guaçu by native Tamoios that inhabited it, meaning big island in tupi guarani.

The island is part of an 187 island cluster and is the largest of the State's coast. There, you will find 192 km ² of lush vegetation, typical of the Atlantic forest, guarded by the Environmental Protection Area of the Tamoios and other three protected areas: the Parque Estadual Marinho do Aventureiro, Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande and the Reserva Biológica da Praia do Sul.

Among the main local attractions, are the Pico do Papagaio, with a panoramic view of the island; the Cachoeira da Feiticeira, highly sought after by adventurers who practice rappelling; the Castelhanos Lighthouse, one of the oldest of the brazilian coast; the Gruta do Acaiá, where you can view the phenomenon of fluorescence when the sun hits the water in the underground lounge; the Largo Verde with transparent waters that reveal a fascinating dive with many colorful fishes; the Lagoa Azul, with varied species of fish, molluscs and corals; and the Lopes Mendes Beach, voted one of the 10 most beautiful beaches of Brasil by the Travelers ' Choice 2014 Beaches.

The practice of canoeing in Ilha Grande offers one of the most classy attractions in Brasil, where the rower is face to face with the incomparable beauty of the beaches of crystal-clear sea.

Canoe around the island and find inaccessible places. You will row for 116 km during 4 days, with at least 4 hours of rowing per day. We recommend that you hire a guide, that also rows, for this adventure.

Throughout the island, there are several types of infrastructure. The Praia do Aventureiro, with 600 m in length and transparent warm waters in the open sea, has the highest concentration of campsites on the island. The Vila do Abraão, main city of the island, has many guesthouses and restaurants.

Check out the maps of Ilha Grande.