23°09′S · 44°14′W

Ilha Grande,
the field guide

Boats, beaches, trails and timing — the facts first, the stories after. Written on the island, in four languages.

Start here: how to get to the island →
Lopes Mendes 3 km of sand that squeaks underfoot Pico do Papagaio 982 m — sunrise above the clouds Lagoa Azul snorkelling in a natural aquarium

Ilha Grande is a large, mountainous island in the bay of Angra dos Reis, a couple of hours from Rio. It has no cars and no roads — just Atlantic rainforest, a network of marked trails, and around 113 beaches scattered along its coast and across a bay famous for its 365 islands.

This guide is written and kept up to date by someone who actually lives here. No fluff, no brochure-speak — just what you need to plan a great trip, in your language.

A field guide kept on the island, updated all year. About the author →