Ilha Grande in 5 days

Car-free island paradise: jungle trails, powder-white beaches, and crystal water two hours from Rio. Best time to visit: November-March. Average daily budget: $50 to $85 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: Vila do Abraao, The island's main village with pousadas, restaurants, boat docks and the trailhead to most beaches. The only place with infrastructure.

Morning: Walk to Praia do Lopes Mendes. A 2.5-hour jungle trail from Abraao to what many call Brazil's most beautiful beach: 3 kilometres of white sand, clear water and no development. Bring water and snacks.

Afternoon: Explore Vila do Abraao, The island's main village with pousadas, restaurants, boat docks and the trailhead to most beaches. The only place with infrastructure.

Evening: Sunset at Praia da Julia. A small beach facing west, perfect for watching the sun drop behind the mainland mountains with a caipirinha from the beach bar.

Eat: Moqueca capixaba, the Brazilian seafood stew with coconut milk, palm oil and fresh fish, cooked in a clay pot

Day 2, Iconic sights

Base: Praia do Lopes Mendes area, No village, just beach camps and small pousadas at the end of the island's most famous trail. For those who want nature over nightlife.

Morning: Boat tour of the Blue Lagoon. A full-day boat trip stopping at snorkelling spots, the Blue Lagoon, secluded beaches and a floating restaurant for fresh fish. Book the day before in Abraao.

Afternoon: Explore Praia do Lopes Mendes area, No village, just beach camps and small pousadas at the end of the island's most famous trail. For those who want nature over nightlife.

Evening: Hike to Cachoeira da Feiticeira. A jungle waterfall trail through primary Atlantic rainforest. The pool at the base is deep enough to swim and refreshingly cold.

Eat: Grilled peixe fresco, the catch of the day cooked over charcoal at any beachfront restaurant

Day 3, Local neighbourhoods

Base: Praia do Pouso, A quieter beach area on the eastern side with a few family-run pousadas and direct boat access. Less crowded than Abraao.

Morning: Eat moqueca and fresh grilled fish. The local seafood is extraordinary: moqueca, grilled fish, octopus rice and shrimp stews served at beachfront restaurants with your feet in the sand.

Afternoon: Explore Praia do Pouso, A quieter beach area on the eastern side with a few family-run pousadas and direct boat access. Less crowded than Abraao.

Evening: Hike to Lopes Mendes beach. Trek through Atlantic rainforest to Lopes Mendes, regularly named one of Brazil's most beautiful beaches, with squeaky white sand and turquoise water.

Eat: Acai na tigela, the Amazonian berry bowl that fuels hikers and beachgoers across the island

Day 4, Day trip or nature

Base: Vila do Abraao, The island's main village with pousadas, restaurants, boat docks and the trailhead to most beaches. The only place with infrastructure.

Morning: Boat tour around the island. Island-hop the bays and lagoons by schooner, snorkelling in clear water at spots like Lagoa Azul. With no cars on the island, boats and trails are how you explore.

Afternoon: Explore Vila do Abraao, The island's main village with pousadas, restaurants, boat docks and the trailhead to most beaches. The only place with infrastructure.

Evening: The trail to Praia do Aventureiro, a quieter beach with a shipwreck photo spot and far fewer visitors than Lopes Mendes.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Pastel de angu, a corn pastry filled with meat or cheese, the perfect trail snack from Abraao vendors

Day 5, Slow finish

Base: Praia do Lopes Mendes area, No village, just beach camps and small pousadas at the end of the island's most famous trail. For those who want nature over nightlife.

Morning: The bioluminescent plankton at Praia da Julia on moonless nights, best seen by swimming or paddling after dark.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Praia do Lopes Mendes area, No village, just beach camps and small pousadas at the end of the island's most famous trail. For those who want nature over nightlife.

Evening: The small waterfall and natural pool at Aqueducto, a short walk from Abraao that most visitors miss entirely.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Caipirinha with fresh tropical fruit, the classic Brazilian cocktail made with cachaça, lime and sugar, best enjoyed at sunset

Hidden gems

The trail to Praia do Aventureiro, a quieter beach with a shipwreck photo spot and far fewer visitors than Lopes Mendes.
The bioluminescent plankton at Praia da Julia on moonless nights, best seen by swimming or paddling after dark.
The small waterfall and natural pool at Aqueducto, a short walk from Abraao that most visitors miss entirely.
The old prison ruins at Dois Rios, a historical site at the end of a long trail with a fascinating and dark history.
Sunrise at Praia do Bananal, the easternmost beach, where the first light hits Brazil before almost anywhere else on the island.

Getting around

Ilha Grande has no cars, no roads and no airstrip. You walk everywhere on jungle trails or take water taxis between beaches. The main trail from Abraao to Lopes Mendes is well marked and takes 2.5 hours. Water taxis depart from the main pier in Abraao to most beaches and cost $5-15 depending on distance. Bring cash: there are no ATMs on the island.

Safety

Ilha Grande is very safe. The main risks are environmental: strong sun, dehydration on trails, and rip currents at some beaches. Lopes Mendes has no lifeguards and occasional strong waves. Bring enough cash for your entire stay, good walking shoes for the trails, and insect repellent for the jungle sections. Tell someone your hiking route if going alone.

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