Ilha Grande Trails: The 5 Best Hikes (and the T-trail network)

Ilha Grande is, before anything else, a hiking island. There are no cars — just a network of marked forest trails (the numbered “T” trails, T1 to T16) that link Vila do Abraão to empty beaches, waterfalls, 19th-century ruins and a 982-metre peak. Almost every walk starts a few minutes from the Abraão pier, and they are all free.

Below are the five trails I’d send any guest on, from an easy family stroll to a serious all-day climb. For most of them you don’t need a guide — just water, decent shoes and an early start. The one real exception is Pico do Papagaio, where a local guide is strongly recommended.

The five trails at a glance

Before you go: safety & what to bring

The trails are wonderful but it is still real rainforest. A few things that matter on every walk:

• Start early — before 8–10am. You avoid the heat, the afternoon rain and the risk of finishing in the dark.
• Carry at least 2 litres of water per person. Most trails have no drinking water.
• Wear proper hiking shoes. After rain the ground is slippery and you’ll often grab roots, branches and rocks — keep your hands free.
• Sunscreen, insect repellent, energy snacks. Reapply repellent.
• Check the forecast before leaving, and tell someone your plan.
• Respect the markings and don’t leave the signed trail — this is how people get lost.

Lopes Mendes (T10 + T11)

We have a saying at the pousada: “if you don’t know what to do today, go to Lopes Mendes.” It’s the island’s most iconic beach — famous across Brazil and known worldwide — and a perfect full-day plan for almost anyone.

The classic walk follows T10 then T11, starting in Abraão and passing Praia de Palmas on the way to Pouso. It’s about 7.2 km and roughly 3.5 to 4 hours one way, rated moderate to hard. The T10 stretch from Abraão to Palmas is beautiful, shaded by forest; Palmas itself is a lovely place to pause. After rain, take extra care — it gets slippery.

📍 See the full route on Wikiloc

Local tip — the deserted end. Instead of T11, you can combine T10 + T12 (about 4 km) and come out at the far end of Lopes Mendes — a stretch of beach that almost nobody walks to, so you often have it to yourself. To get back, either return towards Pouso along T12, or walk about 2 km along the sand and return on T11.

Dois Rios

The walk to Praia de Dois Rios mixes history, nature and a little adventure. On foot it’s trail T14 (Abraão → Praia de Dois Rios), following the road used by the university (UERJ) vehicles — well signed, about 7 km, taking around 2.5 hours through beaches, forest and hills.

At the end you reach an almost-abandoned village, the museum of the old prison (the façade of one of Brazil’s most infamous jails), university buildings slowly being reclaimed by the forest — and a paradisiacal beach framed by the two freshwater rivers that give it its name.

Start before 8am and head back by ~15:30: boats back to Abraão aren’t guaranteed, and when they exist they can be expensive. Bring water and food for the day.

📍 See the full route on Wikiloc

Feiticeira

One of the most rewarding walks on the island: from Vila do Abraão to Praia da Feiticeira, through forest, historic ruins and a string of beaches. About 6.4 km, moderate, with a maximum elevation of ~203 m — a one-way route of roughly 90 minutes to 2 hours.

Along the way you pass Praia Preta (dark-sand beach), the Lazareto ruins (a 19th-century quarantine station), an old aqueduct, the Poção natural pool, and finally the Feiticeira waterfall and beach. You can walk back the same way, or check for a boat from Feiticeira beach.

📍 See the full route on Wikiloc

Pico do Papagaio

The most sought-after trail on Ilha Grande — and the most demanding. Pico do Papagaio is the island’s second-highest point at 982 m, just below Pico da Pedra d’Água (1,035 m). From the top, on a clear day, you can see much of the island and the mainland — Restinga da Marambaia, Pedra da Gávea in Rio, even Dedo de Deus in the Serra dos Órgãos.

It’s trail T13 (Abraão → Pico do Papagaio, ~6 km each way): a hard climb, roughly 6 km uphill through dense forest with rocky, root-tangled sections, and a descent that’s no easier — about 12 km and 6–8 hours round trip.

Hire a local guide. The forest is dense and it is genuinely easy to get lost here — people have been stranded for days and needed rescue by the fire brigade. There is no drinking water on the trail, the summit is exposed, you need good fitness, and camping or fires are not allowed.

📍 See the full route on Wikiloc

Historic Circuit of Vila do Abraão (T1)

The easiest and most accessible walk, perfect if you want the island’s history without a hard hike. T1 (Circuito Abraão) starts in the centre of Vila do Abraão, near the main pier, and is mostly flat. The core loop is about 1.8 km / ~1 hour; allow 2–3 hours if you stop to explore the ruins and Praia Preta. Easy to moderate, good for families.

Highlights: the 19th-century aqueduct, the Lazareto ruins (a quarantine hospital for immigrants, 1884–1913), traces of the island’s darker prison history, and several viewpoints over the bay of Abraão and the Atlantic. If you still have energy, T1 connects to T2 towards the Feiticeira waterfall and beach.

📍 See the full route on Wikiloc

The trail network (T1–T16)

Ilha Grande has 16 marked trails (T1 to T16). For reference, here are all of them with their official distance and walking time — the five hikes above are built from these: