How to get to Ilha Grande: the tropical island of Rio de Janeiro
How to get to Ilha Grande and how to organize your trip to this paradise island? Since I have decided to move to the island… FROM NOW ON I CAN HELP YOU ORGANIZE YOUR TRIP TO ILHA GRANDE! Contact me by email, Instagram, or leave a comment below this article to discuss organizing your trip. If you plan with me, I will personally pick you up at the island pier to begin your adventure together!
If you are looking for how to get to Ilha Grande, you have landed on the right article! As a great lover of Brazil, and especially the state of Rio de Janeiro, I couldn’t help but dedicate a post to the beautiful tropical island of Rio.
Ilha grande, an island that includes more than 100 beaches and countless rivers and waterfalls, is located in the bay of Angra dos Reis and is easily accessible from Rio’s bus station in 4 to 5 hours. If you book your transfer with me instead, you will arrive on the island in 2 1/2 hours!
If you are looking for a place overflowing with tourists and events to attend then you have the wrong island, because Ilha grande is still an unspoiled paradise. In fact, being almost completely virgin, fortunately mass tourism has not yet arrived here.
My advice is to visit the island for at least four or five days. There are many wonderful beaches and places to explore, and it is worth staying a few more days.
Abraao – Ilha Grande
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How to get to Ilha grande in the easiest and cheapest way
There are no cars, buses or motorcycles on Ilha grande. The island is made to be visited completely on foot, by bike or by boat.
You will most likely find yourself in Rio de Janeiro if you are looking for how to get to Ilha Grande. From the Rodoviaria Novo Rio bus station, in fact, you can reach Angra dos Reis in about 4 hours, or about 10 euros.
From Angra dos Reis, then, you will have to take the ferry that will take you to the island in about an hour and a half. In this link you will find the ferry schedule.
This is the cheapest way to get to Ilha Grande, however, to be honest, it is certainly not the most convenient.
Let me explain: public transportation, at least in the province of Rio de Janeiro, does not work excellently. Therefore be prepared for possible delays of the bus from Rio or the ferry to get to the island.
If, on the other hand, what you are looking for is convenience, then a shuttle that takes you directly to Angra dos Reis from Rio de Janeiro is the solution for you, and it will also take care of booking the ferry to the island. When you choose the shuttle service it doesn’t matter if you are in downtown Rio, at the airport, or on morro dois Irmãos, the important thing here is to pay and they will pick you up wherever you are! Send me a message to book your transfer!
What to see in Ilha Grande: the tropical island of Rio
Aventureiro Beach – Ilha grande
Brazil is a wonderful country and home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Ilha Grande, in fact, is home to some of the most beloved and well-known beaches in Brazil.
Ilha Grande is hardly a civilized island, and the only area that could be considered a small village is Abraão, from which you can walk just about anywhere.
Praia do Aventureiro, reachable only by boat, and Praia Lopes Mendes, reachable both by boat and on foot, are among the largest and most heavenly beaches on the island.
The only way to get to Praia do Aventureiro is to pay for a tour that goes around the entire island. It will cost you aboutR$250, or about 35 euros. Contact me to book your tour to Aventureiro.
While instead to get to Praia Lopes Mendes you can take a taxi-boat starting from Abraão or you can also reach the beach inn about 2 hours of trekking.
Other places worth visiting are Lagoa Azul, Praia da Feiticeira, Camiranga, Freguisa de Santana, and more! Text me on Instagram or send me an email to arrange your boat tour with me!
The Cachoeira da Feiticeira
The Feiticeira Waterfall is one of the main attractions of Ilha Grande. It is spectacularly beautiful and remains among the best memories of those who visit it. It is without a doubt one of the best treks on the entire island and is absolutely a safe route for those who want to enjoy the enchanted island to the fullest.
I strongly advise you not to face the trek in flip-flops, just as yours truly did. The result was walking all over the island in a broken flip-flop-which I fixed with a hair tie-while it was pouring rain. Anyway, put on your sneakers and you’ll be fine!
The trail is of medium difficulty, with ups and downs through the rich forest. Upon arrival, the spectacle of the waterfall, about 15 meters high, makes up for the effort and will leave you speechless. The stone slide and natural sorcerer’s pool are also icing on the cake.
Recommendations
There are no banks in Ilha Grande, let alone an ATM from which to withdraw money. So remember to take cash with you, although in restaurants or travel agencies, for example, you can pay with a credit card.
If you have made it this far, you will know exactly how you prefer to get to Ilha Grande, and what are the best tips to follow during your stay on this fantastic island.
If you haven’t booked your flight to Brazil yet because you’re afraid it’s too dangerous, read this guide on Rio de Janeiro safety. It will help give you courage and help you realize that it is not as dangerous as they want us to believe.
Update January 2025
How to get to Ilha Grande? Since I have decided to move to the island…FROM NOW ON I CAN HELP YOU ORGANIZE YOUR TRIP TO ILHA GRANDE! Contact me by email, Instagram, or leave a comment below this article to discuss organizing your trip. If you organize with me I will personally pick you up at the island’s pier to begin your adventure together!
