Where to Stay in Ilha Grande (Vila do Abraão) — an honest guide
Almost everyone stays in Vila do Abraão, the island’s main village and where the boats arrive. It has the most pousadas, restaurants and services, and it’s the natural base for the beaches and trails. But where in Abraão you stay matters more than most guides admit — so let’s start there, then go by budget.
First: which part of Vila do Abraão
Abraão is small, but it has two very different sides:
- The west side is fully cobbled, so you can wheel a suitcase, and it stays calmer. This is the easier, more comfortable side to stay on (it’s where Pousada CostaVerde is).
- The central-east side has unpaved dirt streets that flood when it rains, which makes hauling luggage hard. Accommodation there is often cheaper for exactly that reason.
As a rule: the closer to the pier, the more convenient and lively; the further out, the quieter. If you’re bringing a suitcase, favour the cobbled side (and pack light either way — see our practical FAQ).
Where to stay, by budget
A quick, honest word on prices: like everything on the island, accommodation runs higher than on the mainland. Here are real options across three budgets.
One thing guides my picks: I choose places run by their owners, not by staff. I mean no disrespect to anyone — but when the owners are there, the care is simply different: warmer, more human, more attentive. All three below are owner- or family-run, and you feel it.
Budget — MPB
On a tighter budget, MPB is the hostel I’d point you to. It’s run by its owner, Sol, who genuinely looks after both the place and her guests — warm and attentive. It sits a little tucked away from the bustle, but that’s part of the charm, and the infrastructure is excellent: sturdy beds and service that’s hard to beat. It’s well rated on Booking — and you can feel the owner’s care.
Mid-range — Pousada CostaVerde (my own — full disclosure)
Full disclosure: this is the pousada I run, so take my word with the appropriate pinch of salt — but I’d far rather tell you openly than pretend this guide doesn’t have an author. And yes: by the very logic above, CostaVerde is owner-run too — by me.
CostaVerde is a rustic house — which is really what a pousada is in Brazil: the owner’s home, opened to guests. It’s on the cobbled west side of Abraão (easy with luggage) and is geared to adults and hikers — in fact, we don’t take children. Most of our guests are trekkers, so we’ve put in orthopedic mattresses for tired legs, along with smart TVs, Starlink if you need to work online, and the ponchos and umbrellas few places lend. It’s mentioned in the printed Lonely Planet, and rated 9.5 on Booking.com and 9.8 on Expedia — you can see it at pousadacostaverde.com.
And if it isn’t the right fit for you, the options above and below are genuinely good. The point of this guide is a great trip — not a booking.
Upscale — Pousada Bonito Paraíso
For a higher-comfort stay — and the best pick if you’re travelling with children or as a family — Pousada Bonito Paraíso is the upscale, family-run choice, more of a relaxed lodge than a boutique hotel. It’s on a secluded beach, so they bring you across by boat, and it has its own bar and restaurant, both excellent. It’s strongly rated on Booking, and the reviews speak for themselves. This is the one if you want comfort, quiet and a place that welcomes families away from the village bustle.
A few booking tips
- Book early for high season (New Year, Carnival, July). In the shoulder months you’ll find more space and better rates — see the best time to visit.
- Check that your accommodation is registered/legal — it halves the Taxa Viva Angra access fee (R$50 instead of R$100).
- Ask about Starlink if you plan to work online; ordinary village Wi-Fi isn’t reliable for that.
- Favour the cobbled west side if you’re not travelling light.