What to do in Ilha Grande: beaches, jungle, snorkeling and much more
We tell you what are the must-sees of this Brazilian gem that combines activities of all kinds and for all tastes.
Like many Brazilian destinations, Ilha Grande stands out for its lush jungle and white sand beaches and crystal-clear water. But there is something that distinguishes this beautiful island and that is its tranquility. There are no cars, there are almost no motors. It is all about walking slowly and finding your own rhythm, which there is very similar to that of nature. We tell you what to do in Ilha Grande, Brazil, and why it is a beautiful destination to put on your agenda.
What to do in Ilha Grande
- What to see in Ilha Grande
1 - Paseo de Jerónimo: the best way to get to know Lagoa Azul
- Blue Lagoon
- Tips for the walk:
2 - Cascada da Feiticeira and beaches near Abraão
- Variety of beaches
3 - Return to Ilha: Aventureiro, Caxadaço, Parnaioca, Maguariquessaba
- Caxadaço
- Adventurer
- Parnaioca
- Maguariquessaba
- Some important tips for the Volta a Ilha:
4 - Lopes Mendes Beach
- How to get to Lopes Mendes
5 - Parrot Peak
- Recommendation:
What to do in Ilha Grande
What is important to note is that the island, as its name suggests, is very large and has a great range of beaches and activities. We will tell you what to do on Ilha Grande so that you don't miss out on any essential things.
What to see in Ilha Grande
First of all, there is one question to answer. How much time should you spend on Ilha Grande? If you have to come back to reality and you have a limited time for your vacation, the ideal would be 5 to 7 days. If you like the beach, the answer is simple: as much as you want.
Precisely because time is short and there is so much to see, we tell you our top 5 activities to do in Ilha Grande .
Some of the island's most famous attractions, such as Lagoa Azul or Aventureiro beach , are included in bookable excursions. Others, such as Lopes Mendes, can be done on your own.
Ultimate guide to travelling in Ilha Grande, Brazil 2025
This is our list of essential things to do on Ilha Grande :
1 - Paseo de Jerónimo: Lagoa Azul, FreguesÃa de Santana, Isla de los Macacos
2 - Cascada da Feiticeira
3 - Volta a Ilha: Aventureiro, Caxadaço, Parnaioca, Meros
4 - Lopes Mendes Beach
5 - Pico do papagaio
They are not listed in order of importance, but are designed to alternate between walks, hikes and rest. Enjoy!
1 - Paseo de Jerónimo: the best way to get to know Lagoa Azul
It is our first recommendation for one key reason. Whoever gets on is invited to enjoy and share a good experience. The idea is that you are not a tourist, you are a traveler and they treat you as such: a curious being, respectful of the environment and who, obviously, knows how to enjoy the good things in life.
The key is Jerónimo, an Argentinean who has lived in Ilha Grande for more than 20 years and who put together this circuit that combines beaches, an exquisite lunch and a pinch of culture.
On his Instagram you will find photos and you will be able to see the good vibes that radiate from the people who work with him.
The ride takes place on an old, very picturesque wooden boat, which is in tune with the vibe of the ride. It leaves in the morning and returns at around 6 or 7 pm.
On the tour you will visit Macacos Island , the Parish of Santana, where one of the tallest palm trees in the world is located, and the famous Lagoa Azul , one of the best destinations for snorkelling.
Blue Lagoon
After lunch, you will be able to explore Lagoa Azul in kayaks and begin to glimpse the incredible moment of snorkeling that you will enjoy later.
Once the meal is over, everyone gets back on board and the captain of the boat will drop anchor in the indicated spot so that you can see fish of all colors, sizes and species. There are often turtles floating around as well. If you want to be lucky and meet these beautiful reptiles, go a little further away from the boat and swim with your snorkeling equipment. Keep your eyes open.
Among the many tour options, we believe this is the best because of its rich diversity and because the staff is very attentive to ensure you have an excellent day. The relationship between traveler and guide is carefully separated and a complicity arises between people who are enjoying an unforgettable experience.
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Tips for the walk:
Bring your own snorkel. They will lend you some on the tour, but there are not always enough and at that moment you will not want to stop looking at the variety of fish.
If you love selfies, bring a Go Pro or an envelope to put your smartphone in to take photos of yourself with the fish.
Talk to the guides. They are very attentive and know a lot about the island.
2 - Cascada da Feiticeira and beaches near Abraão
We continued with this option to mix in a bit of trekking on the previous day with pure water. It is a very nice walk of approximately one hour .
If you are a moderately fit person, it will be easy. However, you will sweat, so it is recommended that you bring water to hydrate. You leave Abraão to the left and at a fork it indicates how to get to the waterfall, then the path takes you there.
Along the way you will see how prolific life is in the jungle. You can find monkeys, thousands of different spiders, lizards, and, very rarely, snakes.
When you reach the waterfall, you have to carefully approach the flow of water over the rocks and receive a reward for your effort in the form of a natural massage. You will feel the strong jet of fresh water on your neck and you will come out feeling refreshed. And another piece of advice: bring something to eat and sit on the rocks, contemplate the waterfall and rest.
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Variety of beaches
Afterwards you can go to the beaches that are nearby. Feiticeira is about twenty minutes away, where you can easily stay the rest of the day alternating between water and nap. Or you can continue your journey to Preta, which is very close to Abraão.
If you have time left, you can go past Abraão and walk to Praia do Abraaozhino. Snorkeling won't be the same as in Lagoa Azul, but you'll find plenty of life on these beaches with calm waters.
3 - Return to Ilha: Aventureiro, Caxadaço, Parnaioca, Maguariquessaba
The island has many beaches and it is only possible to travel around it by land on foot (and it takes many days) so the return trip is done by boat. All the agencies make the same selection and it is not by chance: these islands are incredible and below we will tell you why.
The total excursion lasts about 9 hours and is basically an hour or less by boat and the same amount of time on the beach. Except for Dois Rios beach where the boats go slower so you can see it as you go by and take photos.
Caxadaço
It is a small beach with lots of rocks, some of them very high, which you can climb and have a good view of the beach or the sea. And you can also go diving if you want to add a bit of adrenaline.
In addition, you can snorkel among the rocks, being very careful with the sea urchins that are everywhere and especially embedded in the rocks.
Adventurer
It is a long beach of about 500 meters with fine white sand and the clearest water on the island. One of its main attractions, the magnet for all selfies, is an L-shaped palm tree with a natural lagoon underneath. This beach is also ideal for spending a whole day (there are agencies that offer this option) although when you have a short agenda we recommend Lopes Mendes for spending the whole day at the beach.
Parnaioca
The particularity of this beach is that it has a lagoon with fresh and very cool water. Ideal for alternating between swimming in the sea with good waves, then cooling off in the lagoon, taking a nap and... repeating.
Maguariquessaba
The last stop on the tour of the island is a nice, quiet beach, where all the agencies take their clients for lunch. The problem is that the arrival time is at 4pm, too late for lunch. The ideal thing is to bring food and have lunch on the boat, if your stomach allows it, on the trips between beaches.
This way you can fully enjoy each stop. Meros, for example, is very nice for swimming (more so than sitting in a restaurant chair for an hour).
Some important tips for the Volta a Ilha:
The trip has to be by speedboat, ask how long they stay at each beach. The answer should be around an hour.
Don't sit in the front of the boat; you'll be under the sun for many hours and no sunscreen will last.
Bring your own drinks. Water and ice are usually included, so cold beers are on you.
Bring your lunch. There are no or very few places to eat at the various stops, and it is better to spend time enjoying the beaches. If you have a cooler, you can ask for ice to be put in it so that the food is preserved properly.
4 - Lopes Mendes Beach
It is one of the most famous beaches in Brazil for its attractions: a long white sand beach, waves of all sizes, and a beautiful row of trees that provide the perfect shade for taking a nap with the lullaby of the sea. Or if there are waves and you know how, surf all day.
The ideal is to go early and dedicate a day to it. Bringing food is key. Although there are some (very small) stalls that sell the basics (drinks and some snacks), the ideal is to bring some sandwiches and plenty of water.
How to get to Lopes Mendes
Walking : You start from Abraão and it takes about three hours to walk through the jungle. There are very large bamboos, you can see monkeys and rarely snakes. You will arrive at Palmas beach (where you can have lunch). We recommend taking advantage of the beach and returning by slow boat or taxi boat.
By boat : This is the safest and cheapest way, but it is slower. It costs 7 USD (approx.) round trip and takes about an hour.
By taxi boat : It is faster and a little more expensive, 12 USD (approx.) also round trip. But they are not as safe, the boats are very full and there have been accidents due to reckless driving.
5 - Parrot Peak
It is a night hike through the mountains that ends at dawn. The sunrise photos are incredible and worth the effort, but so is getting in touch with the jungle and all the life there. The animal sounds are an attraction in themselves and the feeling of adventure will not go away for a long time.
The tour leaves Abraão at 1am and ends at Pico Do Papagaio, a rock formation shaped like a papaya and visible from Abraão Bay and other points on the island.
Recommendation:
Do it with a guide. Although it is done on a trail, you have to know the way and at night it is easy to get lost.
The difficulty is medium to high. Don't do it if you haven't been physically active for a long time (say, years).
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