'''Ilha Grande''' is a beautiful Brazilian island, about 150 km from Rio de Janeiro and 450 km from Sao Paulo. The largest settlement on the island is called Vila Abrao.
Get in
The only way to get to Ilha Grande is by boat. Ferries operated by [http://www.barcas-sa.com.br/ BARCAS S/A] to Vila Abrao from the mainland leave from Mangaratiba (105 minutes, departure 8:00 am, return 5:30 pm, additional departure Friday 10PM) and from Angra dos Reis (90 minutes, departure M-F 3:30PM, Sa,Su 1:30PM, return 10AM). Note that the schedule is changed frequently. Prices are significantly lower on Monday through Thursday than on Fridays, weekends and holidays.
Another good service is the fast connnection to ilha grande. they pick you up at your hotel in Rio de janeiro and provide your trip to ilha grande for 75 reais per person. Daily trips at 5:00AM or 11:00AM. Visit www.ilhagrandetours.com
There are also several private boats from Angra dos Reis port to Vila do Abraao, leaving almost every hour (depeding on the demand). Prices may vary from R$ 15,00 do R$ 25,00. If you walk near the pier and look like a tourist you will be approached by these boat operators. Note that they may not be entirely truthful about how soon their boat will depart - if you are told to wait on a pier and see no boat nearby, find another operator.
Daily buses operated by Costa Verde[http://www.costaverdetransportes.com.br/] leave from Rio de Janeiro to Mangaratiba and Angra dos Reis. Daily buses from Sao Paulo to Angra dos Reis are operated by Reunidas Paulista[http://www.reunidaspaulista.com.br/].
Get around
There are no roads and no private cars on the island. A good option is to use Vila do Abraao as a base and plan day trips from there. There are several hiking trails to the many beaches on the island. Some trails can be strenuous in the tropical weather, so be prepared and take plenty of fluid. Remember that night falls early and dawn is short near the equator, so carry a flashlight if you plan to return after 6PM. Many beaches can be reached by boat and several agencies in Vila do Abraao sell packages for the numerous schooners serving the island. It is easy to find one-way trips and pick ups back to Vila do Abraao on many beaches in the evening.
It is possible to walk around the outside of the island in about 4 or 5 days if you're not in too much of a hurry. Its best to start at Abraao and go in an anticlockwise direction, through Dois Rios. Note that accommodation on the back side of the island is scarce and free camping is illegal. At Parnaioca beach on the backside, arguably one of the most beautiful spots on the whole island and worth spending at least a couple of days at, you can ask for accommodation in the local houses (there are only about 8 people living there); ask for Sr. Joao, he'll help you out. Meals can also be purchased, but variety is very limited, so it might be a good idea to take some food. There used to be a camping ground there with some very limited infrastructure run by the locals, but in 2006 that was prohibited by the national environmental agency (IBAMA), and was still prohibited at the end of 2007, although the locals were apparently appealing this ruling.
See
There are beautiful beaches, some considered to be among the nicest of Brazil.
'''Art Gallery''' inside of Vivenda das Bromelias Inns
'''Aqueduct'''
'''Candido Mendez Jail Ruins''' en '''Dois Rios''' - It_Ls not preserved or restored but come here and remember that the most dangerous criminals in Brazil were kept here
In '''Parnaioca Beach''' (not easy to reach) there are other remainders of the slave period. The dark past of the island: jail prisioners, slaves, pirates and lepers in the Lazareto Hospital. Many people affirm that they have seen phantoms in Parnaoica or Caxadaco beaches.
'''Enseada do Bananal''', what a nice quiet location.
Do
'''Beaches''' - '''Lopes Mendes''' beach in Ilha Grande was voted one of the top 10 most beautiful in the world by Vogue Magazine 3 years ago. The water is shallow a long way out, making for good surfing conditions. The usual boat route takes you from the main settlement to another beach on the opposite side of the island. From here, there are 20 minutes of relatively steep footpath to Lopes Mendes to get you nice and ready for a dip. Beware of strong currents a bit out.
Snorkeling
Kayaking
Sailing
Diving at '''Sitio Forte'''
Hiking in the rain forest at '''Papagaio Peak'''
Relax
There is no electronic dance nor too much night life-- at night it's drinking beer in the main square and dancing with live local music like bossa nova, forro, and samba.
'''Trails (Trilhas)''' There are thirteen well marked trails which should be used. More on each to follow.
Buy
There are a few souvenir shops in Vila do Abraao selling t-shirts, magnets and other stuff. In fact, there is nothing typical or special to buy in Ilha Grande.
Eat
'''Pastel de frango''' at Crena Beach
There are about 30 restaurants in the island. Some are expensive but there are many cheaper options like hamburgers. Try FOOD for KILO; pay about US $0.80 per 100g for very nice food.
The seafood is generally very good and could perhaps be regarded as a specialty. Many restaurants offer casseroles with several types of seafood, served as a dish for two. Although in the higher price range for Ilha Grande, they are delicious and good value for money. Try one with a lucky friend or significant other!
Drink
'''Beer''', beer, and more beer. The most popular is '''Skol''', but '''Itaipava''' is very good and little cheaper. Another classic is '''Antartica'''.
'''Guarana''', Brazil's ever-present soft drink.
'''Caipirinha''', Cachaca with lime and sugar. Strong but perfect.
'''Fresh Juices''', you can't miss the opportunity to try mango, orange, guava and other fresh juices - and sooo cheap - when in most northern countries they are so difficult to be found!
Sleep
There is plenty of accommodation in Vila Abraao, as are a couple of camping grounds. Free camping is illegal, but you might get away with it on some beaches.
Budget
A couple of youth hostels, the best one is a small trek uphill but it is worth passing the first HI and heading up to this one which is in more natural surroundings. Wildlife abundant.
Abrao basicly comprises of two main parallel streets. First one going right by the ocean and the second one right behind it. As you get off the boat on the pier go to the second street from the ocean and turn left. Most of the budget hostels are on this street. First you should see is Resta 1. There are also 2 hostels at the end of the beach on the left hand side as you get off the boat. In high season a lot of hostels can be full. Several camping grounds are also available. One which is fairly centraly located and is very likely to have some vacancies is Santana_Ls Camping. Located on the opposite side to Resta 1 on the street connecting two main streets.
Pousada do Holandes. ttp://www.ilhagrande.org/holandes. orm bed R$ 25.
Pousada Resta 1. orm bed R$ 50.
Over Nativa.
Bugio Hostel.
Pousada Paloma.
Mid-range
Pousada Beira Mar. ua da Praia. en meters from the eastern pier in Vila Abraao. 55 (0XX) 24 3361 5051. nfo@beiramar2008.com.br. ttp://www.beiramar2008.com.br/. ooms cost from 80 R$ in low season, add about 50% in high season. Clean, pleasant pousada with German management, in a perfect location in Vila Abraao. The breakfast buffet is great. If you want to spoil yourself, get one of the front rooms with hammocks where you can watch the people and boats at the piers.
A few inns with at standard prices of USD 30-45. All clean and well managed:
'''D_LPillel'''
'''Dos Meros'''
'''Bromelias'''
At Crena Beach:
Asalem has a perfect setting, but it's quite pricey.
Aracatiba town is a cheaper option but it doesn't offer much in terms of touristic structure, it_Ls more for weekend tourists who live in Angra dos Reis area already. Its location is far away from Abraao, Lopes Mendes or Dois Rios, so it's not a very convenient choice if it's your first visit to the island. Bananal Beach or Sitio Forte have nice mini-resorts, a good option for honey mooners.
Contact
Internet cafes charge around R$6 per hour. Public phones can be found everywhere.
Get out
There is a '''ferry''' to Angra dos Reis every day at 10AM.
Some boats have '''Mangaratiba''' routes at 10AM with a connection to Rio de Janeiro, but take care choose the Original Fast Connection, with legalized vehicles indixated for the South American hand book. or-- you need take a minibus to the main route and then take a bus on the highway to Rio. It's better to go to Angra dos Reis, take the '''Costa Verde''' bus, wait for the ferry at the pier, and go directly to the bus station in Rio de Janeiro.
A couple of agencies, for instance 'Fast Connnection ''Island Travel''' with an office right by the piers, offer "express connection" to Rio. You go by speedboat to the mainland and a van transports you to your hotel in Rio. At R$65 this can be a good option and actually not much more expensive than paying for a ferry ticket + bus to Rio + taxi from the Rio bus terminal. However, the claims of getting to Rio in less than 2 hours should NOT be counted on. For instance, in case of bad weather the speed boat will not depart and you will be put on the regular ferry - the trip to Rio may then take ''six'' hours or even more. Don't risk missing your flight home.