12 Mar Solo Travel Guide to Ilha Grande – Rio’s Island Paradise
Right outside vibrant Rio de Janeiro is a tropical paradise calling locals and backpackers alike for an island getaway. Ilha Grande is a Brazil must-see in my opinion, it’s accessible to those passing through Rio and has everything a traveler could want: beautiful beaches, lush hiking trails, adventurous activities, island culture, good food, and immaculate vibes. The town is established enough that you’ll have everything needed including restaurants, markets, and shopping, however it’s not completely tarnished by tourism that you can’t find an authentic experience.
Another major plus, it’s a great place for solo travelers! There’s plenty of opportunity to meet others, it’s safe, and the activities are totally doable by those traveling alone.
Here’s everything you need to know to visit Ilha Grande:
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Getting to Ilha Grande from Rio
First things first, how to get to Ilha Grande. Located off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, you’ll need to take a bus or van and then a boat to the island.
The first option is to purchase an all-inclusive transportation package that includes both a van picking you up and the boat to get to the island. Typically something like this would be more expensive, but according to locals and my research, it’s the opposite. This is typically the cheaper and more convenient option. You can either book this through your hotel/hostel or book online on Viator or GetYourGuide. I did this and it was a seamless trip, I didn’t have to deal with any transfers or figuring out separate tickets.
The second option is to take a public bus on your own to Conceição de Jacareí and then take a boat taxi to Ilha Grande. You can purchase your bus tickets for around BRL 60 (~$12 USD) with Costa Verde. If you’re coming from another location than Rio, check your route on Rome2Rio.
From Conceição de Jacareí, you can take a 20 minute boat taxi to Ilha Grande, you’ll see the ticketing booth at the main dock. Tickets cost BRL 100 (~ $20 USD) to get there, and BRL 70 (~ $14 USD) to get back.
Where to stay in Ilha Grande
Ilha Grande has a lot of accommodation options for both the budget traveler and splurging vacationer. Most will be in Villa Abraão which is the main town on the island and where I recommend staying since it’s where all the action is.
For budget travelers or the social butterfly, there are a few hostels in Ilha Grande. The most popular is Biergarten Hostel. This is where I stayed, and as far as beach hostels go I was impressed. The rooms were clean, had AC, people were really cool, there was a good social atmosphere, and the staff was really helpful. Biergarten hostel is usually around $11 USD a night.
Search for more accommodation in Ilha Grande on Hostelworld.com here
For a unique stays on the water and in the forests, search on Booking.com. Some highly rated stays are O Sitio with beachfront access, Atlantic Jungle Lodge with views above the palm trees, and Casa Bonita with a pool to cool down in and 4 minutes from the beach.
Things to do in Ilha Grande
Ilha Grande is an island that is not lacking for activities on either land or sea. Whether you’re looking for a chill day in the sand or an early wakeup call for a day of adventure, you’ve got options.
1. Sunbathe and surf at Lopes Mendes Beach
Often voted one of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil, Praia Lopes Mendes is a must visit. If you want a whole day to chill on the beach, this is your spot. Here you’ll find some of the softest sand and waves decent enough to surf but calm enough to swim. While the beach is popular, the crowds are nothing compared to what you’ll see in Rio de Janeiro and it’s a rather relaxing atmosphere. Even if you are looking for your space from others, the beach is so large, all you need to do is walk down it a bit for some solitude.
Note, when visiting bring plenty of sunscreen, water & food. There are some vendors on the beach but offering only basics (sodes, crisps, etc.) and charging double.
Getting to Lopes Mendes Beach:
You can get to Lopes Mendes beach in two ways: hike the whole way from Abraão or take a boat to Pouso Beach and hike about 15 minutes to Lopes Mendes.
If you choose to hike the entire way, make sure to bring enough water and clear the whole day since it takes about 2+ hours one way and can be strenuous at points. One option would be to hike one way for the experience, and take a boat taxi the other.
If you choose to take a boat to and from Lopes Mendes beach, you can purchase a ticket through a number of vendors in town. Another option is to ask your hotel/hostel and they can refer you to someone. Roundtrip is BRL 40 (~ $8 USD) and can take up to 40 minutes (depending on the boat – mine was rather slow..).
Once at Pouso beach, follow signs for Lopes Mendes. The hike is only 15 minutes or so, but all uphill before tipping down so good walking shoes and water is a plus.
2. Take an island boat tour
There are several boat tours available, but if you’re new to Ilha Grande then the most recommended by locals is the full tour around the island. It’s a long one, but you’ll visit all the most beautiful beaches including Caxadaço, Dois Rios, Parnaioca, Aventureiro, and Dos Meroswhere you can swim, sunbathe, and explore the area.
I really loved this tour, for the beauty of exploring Ilha Grande and highly recommend it. However, a few things I wasn’t a fan of was the exclusion of any extras such as food or snorkeling gear on such a long tour. Because neither are included, I recommend packing drinks, snacks and a lunch, and if you have a snorkel mask, bring it.
To book the island tour you can approach any tour company in Abraão, or inquire with your hotel/hostel. To book online, tours are also available on GetYourGuide. If you’d like to secure your spot, booking online may be a good option however it is $20 more. On the island the tour costs about BRL 200 ( ~ $40 USD).
3. Sunrise hike to Pico do Papagaio
If you’re looking for above the cloud views and willing to work hard to get them, hike to Pico do Papagaio, the highest point on Ilha Grande. This hike is strenuous but those who have taken on the challenge rave about the once in a lifetime opportunity and say it’s worth every bead of sweat.
The hike takes about 8 hours so can be done throughout the whole day, OR you can strap on your adventure shoes and do the sunrise guided trek. You’ll start your trip at midnight and hike through the night to assure you catch the sun coming over the horizon.
To join a guided group with flashlights provided, ask your hotel/hostel who they recommend or hit Hans, a trekking tour guide on Instagram @hansguia
4. Explore the Abraão Circuit
Feiticeira waterfall, The aqueduct, and the Lazareto ruins
This accessible trail is perfect for those looking to explore the island without a demanding trek. The Abraão Circuit is only about a 45 minute walking loop but its path will lead you to some must-see destinations like Feiticeira waterfall, the colonial aqueduct, the Lazareto ruins and Preta beach (the only black sand beach on the island)
Learn more about the Lazareto ruins here
To find the trail, follow the main beach cobbled road in Villa Abraão north, and then follow signs for the trail. Below I pinned it on Google maps to make finding the trailhead easier.
5. Enjoy the town by night
Villa Abraão is the cutest little beach town by day, but really comes alive at night. After a long day in the sun when you’re feeling refreshed from a clean shower, (maybe even a nap 😅) take your flip flops for a stroll around town. At night, all the restaurants set up outdoor seating on the cobbled stone streets, there’s live music happening on every corner, a market of local products near the church, and you’ll be tempted by food vendors with a sweet snack.
My only two tips here are #1 enjoy yourself and let your curiosity go wild, and #2 wear bug spray – dusk is when the mosquitoes are ruthless!
6. Snorkel and scuba dive
For those looking to explore below the island, consider snorkeling and scuba diving. Ilha Grande’s waters are best known for the turtles but are diverse enough that divers have also seen rays, pufferfish, violin sharks, and more.
If you want to scuba dive, I recommend Aquamarina Mergulho who are highly rated on TripAdvisor and speak English.
For snorkeling, you can talk to a number of local tour agencies on the island, almost all offer an affordable tour to Lagoa Azul where the water is clearest. Note though, that the other standard boat tours (i.e. the full island tour) typically do not include any snorkel gear so you would need to bring your own.
Book a snorkeling tour to Lagoa Azul here
GETTING AROUND Ilha Grande
There are no cars on Ilha Grande so everywhere you go you’ll need to either walk/hike or take a boat. If you’d like to take a boat anywhere, you can purchase a ticket at any local tour vendor (you’ll see them throughout the town) or talk to your hotel/hostel and they can help you book one.
Eat & Drink
The most popular thing to eat in Ilha Grande is clearly seafood, fresh from ocean to plate. You also can’t beat a big bowl of acai after being in the sun or tapioca for an afternoon snack.
To be honest, I ate a lot of street food in Ilha Grande and had random choices for dinner (if you’re looking for recommendations, best to check Tripadvisor). The one place I can recommend though for it’s breakfast and ambiance is Atelie Cafeteria where you can enjoy a rich cup of coffee under a tree with your toes in the sand and view of the shore.
TIPS FOR VISITING Ilha Grande
1. Bring bug spray and sunscreen
This may sound obvious but truly you’ll desperately need both and they’ll be much more expensive on the island.
2. Bring some good walking shoes
If you plan to do some of the longer hikes, you’ll definitely need hiking boots or good sneakers. But even if doing short walks to beaches, I still recommend a supportive shoe. The paths are not necessarily tame and having a cheap flip flop break would really suck.
3. Book your transportation ahead of time
If you choose to do an inclusive transport package with the van and boat to Ilha Grande, make sure to book both ways ahead of time as they do tend to fill up.
4. Understand what you’re getting from a boat tour
I’ve been on quite a few all-day boat tours in different countries and have naively begun to assume the price includes snorkel gear and a lunch since you’re out for 7+ hours. This is not the case in Ilha Grande though. When booking, make sure you understand what’s included and then act accordingly whether it be to make sure you bring enough food, book a different one, etc.
5. Bring cash
As a rule of thumb whenever going to a remote destination, always bring plenty of cash. I was able to use my card relatively often at Ilha Grande, but sometimes card systems go down so play it safe and bring enough in assumption that your card won’t work.
Solo Travel to Ilha Grande
Ilha Grande is a great destination for solo travelers! It’s safe, there’s plenty of group activities you can join, and it’s easy to meet people via tours or in a hostel.
A few tips if you decide to travel to Ilha Grande alone:
1. Book the inclusive transport from Rio de Janeiro to Ilha Grande. It’s so safe and seamless, you won’t have to deal with any navigation of public transport and they pick you up directly.
2. Stay in Biergarten hostel if you want a social atmosphere. It’s the most popular on the island so there are a lot of people to meet and there’s a friendly energy. At night they have live-music and everyone hangs out together.
3. Take a group tour and reach out to others. This is an easy way to meet people, and while most will only speak Portuguese, there’s almost always at least one other international tourist.
4. Walking alone at night in Abraão is safe. Normally I don’t recommend walking past dark at all, but this is a small, safe beach town that’s well-lit and plenty of people out and about so it’s not sketchy. Admittedly though, I didn’t stay out too late so I can’t speak for the wee hours of the night, so I’ll leave that to your own judgment.
More Resources for your trip:
flights
To get to Ilga Grande you’ll want to first fly to Rio de Janeiro. Search flights on Skyscanner here for the best deals.
TRAVEL INSURANCE:
Any well-traveled person will tell you traveling without insurance is risky. Beyond the possibility of flights being canceled and bad weather, something could happen to your belongings or god forbid yourself. As a long term traveler who’s lost items, been in accidents, gotten sick or had their plans changed, I can tell you it’s a life saver.
I suggest to check out World Nomads which is made for adventurous backpackers.
*Disclosure: World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, I receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. I do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
Secondly, Safety Wing which is good travel medical coverage for digital nomads.
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