Locate your stop

Beaches in Ilha Grande: where the island lies, and its history

Summary

The beaches in Ilha Grande range from the long surf sand of Lopes Mendes to tiny Caxadaco and the capped Aventureiro, on an island in the bay off Angra dos Reis.

Island essentials

  • Lopes Mendes has about 3 km of sand19
  • Aventureiro is limited to 560 people a day29
  • The island is reached only by sea2

Discover 24 stops

Ilha Grande and the Angra dos Reis coast on the map

Pick a route and tap a pin or a stop: you get its note and a Google Maps link.

Map of Ilha Grande with Abraão village, Pouso and Lopes Mendes beaches, Feiticeira waterfall, Dois Rios, Papagaio peak, the Castelhanos lighthouse, Parnaioca and Aventureiro beaches and Provetá village

  1. The main arrival point on Ilha Grande, with the most inns, restaurants, agencies and other services.

    Google Maps

  2. The main access point to Lopes Mendes, from where the walk is 1 km and about 20 minutes.

    Google Maps

  3. About 3 km of white sand with rough water, shaded by almond trees.

    Google Maps

  4. The most visited waterfall in the state park, with a drop of about 15 m.

    Google Maps

  5. The village of the former Dois Rios prison, now used for research by the state university.

    Google Maps

  6. The second highest point on the island at 982 metres and its hardest trail.

    Google Maps

  7. A lighthouse opened in 1900 at the far end of the island; visits must be authorised by the Navy.

    Google Maps

  8. A beach on the south-east side of the island, drawn here to show how far the island runs beyond Dois Rios.

    Google Maps

  9. A beach inside a sustainable development reserve, limited to 560 people per day.

    Google Maps

  10. Reached by boat, at the opposite end of the island from Lopes Mendes.

    Google Maps

Map data: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Ilha Grande is the large island in the bay off Angra dos Reis, reached only by boat. This guide places its beaches and trails on a map and walks through the story of the island.

Editorial team, angradosreisboattrip.click · Updated November 12, 2026 · 8 mins to read

Essentials

  • SizeIlha Grande measures 192 square kilometers and counts 106 beaches, waterfalls and mountains.1
  • AccessThere is no road link: the island is reached by sea from Costa Verde piers.2
  • Main villageVila do Abraão has the most inns, restaurants and agencies.3
  • ParkMore than 80 km of trails run through the state park.4
  • HeritageThe island and Paraty were listed by UNESCO in 2019.5

Where Ilha Grande is

The name Ilha Grande fits several places in Brazil. This one belongs to the municipality of Angra dos Reis on the Costa Verde, the coast of four municipalities, Angra dos Reis, Itaguaí, Mangaratiba and Paraty, in the state of Rio de Janeiro.6 The municipal portal counts 193 km2 of island territory out of 819 km2 for the whole municipality, which shows how much of Angra is water and islands.7

The island lies in the bay, a short boat ride from the mainland piers. Only boats get you there, says the state tourism portal, and the state park names Mangaratiba, Conceição de Jacareí and Angra dos Reis as the starting points of the daily ferries.2,8 By road, Angra lies 150 km from Rio and Mangaratiba about 85 km from the capital.9,10

On the map on this page, the island runs west to east, with the village of Abraão on the north-east shore and the Aventureiro and Provetá beaches at the far end. The municipal portal says the island covers 192 square kilometers, a large area for a place with no road link.1 Our page on getting to Ilha Grande lists every route from Rio, Angra and Paraty.

Beach by beach

Beaches in Ilha Grande and how to reach them

BeachWaterHow to get thereNote
Lopes MendesRough, open sea20Walk 7.8 km or boat21About 3 km of sand19
MerosCalm and clear26Boat circuitsSnorkeling stop
AventureiroCan be rough27Boat, wristband first28Limit of 560 a day29
AraçatibaGreen and calm30Boat trips start there31Snorkel and paddling30
CaxadaçoLittle boat traffic32Trail of 9 km33Only 15 m long32
ProvetáBy the west end34By boat34Beyond the biological reserve34

Notes follow the municipal and park pages; check each landing with your operator.

Vila do Abraão and the beaches near it

Vila do Abraão is where most visitors land. The municipal portal calls it the main arrival point on Ilha Grande, with the most inns, restaurants, agencies and other services, and the state park keeps its headquarters there.3,8 A tourist pier serves the village, and it is the landing point of the shared transfers from Rio.

From Abraão, the state park describes a chain of beaches along one route. The path via Palmas, Mangues and Pouso covers 5 km and takes 2h30 to 3 hours, with a viewpoint over the bay of Abraão on the climb, and Pouso is the main access to Lopes Mendes beach.17 From Pouso to Lopes Mendes the walk is 1 km, about 20 minutes, over ground that needs care in the rain.18

Lopes Mendes is the beach people travel for. The municipal portal says it has about 3 km of white, fine sand, rough water that surfers like and almond trees that shade the shore.19 It lies on the south, open-sea side of the island, where the water is wild, unlike the sheltered north side and the mainland.20 The direct walk from Abraão is 7.8 km and 4 hours, so the boat or the shorter walk from Pouso saves time.21

Trail lengths

How far the island walks run

  • Pouso to Lopes Mendes1 km
  • Abraão circuit1.8 km
  • Via Palmas to Pouso5 km
  • Pico do Papagaio5.5 km
  • Dois Rios to Parnaioca7.6 km
  • Abraão to Lopes Mendes7.8 km
  • Abraão to Dois Rios9 km

Distances are the state park's own figures; difficulty runs from light to intense.18,22,17,23,24,21,25

The far beaches: Aventureiro, Parnaioca, Provetá and Caxadaço

Aventureiro is the beach with rules. It sits inside a sustainable development reserve and is limited to 560 people a day, and visitors must collect a wristband at the Santa Luzia station in Angra, open from 07h to 19h every day, after filling in a form and signing a commitment.29,28,35 The same page says it is hard to reach, and that when the sea is rough it is not advisable to sail past the Drago and Meros points.27

Parnaioca is one of the most isolated beaches of the island. The state park rates the trail from Dois Rios at 7.6 km and 5 to 6 hours, a heavy walk.24 Caxadaço is smaller than most of its neighbors: the municipal portal says it is only 15 meters long, ringed by preserved Atlantic Forest, between the beaches of Dois Rios and Lopes Mendes.32 The trail from Abraão is 9 km and about 4 hours, and the park advises against leaving Abraão after midday for it.33

Provetá lies at the other end of the island from Lopes Mendes and is reached by boat, beyond the Praia do Sul Biological Reserve.34 These far beaches are the reason boat circuits exist: the 8-hour speedboat circuit of the island lists stops at Caxadaço, Parnaioca, Aventureiro and Meros beaches. Many of them fall inside protected areas, so a landing is not guaranteed, and sea conditions decide what the boat does.

Pick your beach

Which beach suits your plan

Say what you want from a beach and see where to look.

  • If I want a long beach for a walk and surf

    Lopes Mendes

    About 3 km of white sand with rough water.19

  • If I want calm water for snorkeling

    Meros or Araçatiba

    Both have calm water, clear at Meros and green at Araçatiba.26,30

  • If I want a remote beach with rules

    Aventureiro

    The beach is limited to 560 people a day, with a wristband.29

  • If I want a tiny hidden bay

    Caxadaço

    The beach is only 15 meters long, ringed by forest.32

  • If I have just a few hours

    The Abraão circuit

    The gentle loop is 1.8 km and takes about 1h30.22

Beaches compared

A surf beach, a rule beach and a calm bay

South coast

Lopes Mendes

Long sand with rough water

  • LengthAbout 3 km19
  • WaterRough, open sea20
  • Walk1 km from Pouso18
See the day trip

Reserve

Aventureiro

A beach with a daily limit

  • Limit560 people a day29
  • HoursStation open 07h to 19h35
  • EntryWristband and form28
See the day trip

North-west

Araçatiba

A calm bay for paddling

  • WaterGreen and calm30
  • DoSnorkel, paddle, canoe30
  • RoleBoat trips start here31
See the day trip

Araçatiba, Meros and the calm north shore

The north-west coast has calmer water. Araçatiba ranks as the second tourism hub of the island, a starting point for boat trips and walks, and its calm green water invites snorkel floating, stand-up paddling and canoeing.31,30 Lagoa Verde, a shallow, green-tinted lagoon, lies close to its inlet.39 That calm, typically green water is what gives the lagoon its nickname.

Meros beach is another calm, clear-water spot. The municipal portal says its calm, clear sea suits snorkeling to see marine life up close.26 Boat tours that circle the island list it, and one speedboat circuit gives it a stop for swimming and snorkeling. The sea at Meros can be a good place to ask a skipper for a quiet half hour in the water, away from the busier landings, and to check what the day's swell allows.

The north shore is also where the day trips stop. The day-trip stops lie along this north shore: the Blue Lagoon on Ilha dos Macacos, at the nearest point of the island to the mainland, and Freguesia de Santana, birthplace of the island settlement, home to 50 residents now.37,38 Our page on the lagoons and stops describes them one by one, with the tide, the corals and the time boats spend at each landing.

The story in order

Ilha Grande through time

  1. Early peoples

    The Sambaqui peoples

    The island was first inhabited about 3,000 years ago.11

  2. Pirate era

    Pirates and the navy

    Visited by pirates until the 18th century; the navy patrolled from 1850.12

  3. 1886 to 1913

    The Lazareto

    A quarantine hospital for immigrants at Vila do Abraão.13

  4. 1903 to 1994

    The Dois Rios prison

    Now used for research by the state university.14

  5. 1970s and 1991

    Park and biosphere

    A state park, a biological reserve and a UNESCO biosphere listing.15,16

  6. 2019

    World Heritage

    Listed with Paraty as a mixed cultural and natural site.5

The state park and its wildlife

Most of the island is protected. The state park, managed by the state environment institute, keeps its headquarters in Vila do Abraão, with an office open on weekdays from 8 to 17h.8,47 More than 90% of the park is dense Atlantic Forest, crossed by over 80 km of trails.48,4 The paths link beaches, waterfalls, viewpoints and old ruins, so a walk on the island is also a lesson in its history.

The wildlife is part of the draw. The brown howler monkey, a critically endangered species, is the symbol of the park; the wider World Heritage area also records the jaguar and the muriqui among its rare mammals, and holds 57% of the endemic birds of the Atlantic Forest hotspot.49,50,51 Visitors are asked to watch animals from a distance and not to feed them.44

The park also supplies water. The state pages say it is the producer of the water that supplies all the villages and settlements of the island.52 The rules are short: keep to the trails, light no fires, carry first aid materials and leave pets at home.44,53,46 Following them keeps the paths open and the animals wild.

Video

Things to do on Ilha Grande in three days

Axperience on YouTube · Tap play to load the video; not before.

On that open-sea face the waters are wild, unlike the north side and the mainland itself, whose beaches are protected and therefore calmer.
Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026)20

Island checklist

Before you go beach hopping

On the trails3

  • Keep to the marked trails, as the park asks44
  • Carry water and food on long routes23
  • Tell someone where you are going45

At the beaches3

  • Watch wildlife from a distance44
  • Light no fires on the sand or in the forest44
  • Collect the Aventureiro wristband in Angra first28

Getting around3

  • Do not start the Caxadaço trail after midday33
  • Leave pets at home46
  • Book a boat for beaches no trail reaches

Ilha Grande history, from first peoples to the prisons

The island has been lived on for a long time. The state park says it was first inhabited about 3,000 years ago by the Sambaqui and Pedra Polida peoples, and later by the Tupinambá.11 The municipal portal adds that the Tamoio and Tupinambá peoples named it Ipaum Guaçu, which means Ilha Grande, and that they opened the trails still used today.54

Pirates and smugglers followed. The municipal portal says that until the 18th century the island interested few people and was visited mainly by Dutch, French and English pirates, and that the Brazilian navy began to patrol its waters in 1850.12 In the 18th century Freguesia de Santana was the economic center, with coffee, vegetables, cereals and sugar mills.55

The prisons come next. Quarantine came first: the Lazareto for immigrants was built between 1884 and 1886 and operated until 1913, and around the 1940s its building became the Candido Mendes penal colony, shut in 1954 and torn down in 1961.56,13,57 A second prison at Dois Rios operated from 1903 to 1994, and the writers Graciliano Ramos and Origenes Lessa spent time there and wrote about it.14,58

From park to World Heritage

The modern protections come in layers. Protection arrived in layers: a state park and the Praia do Sul Biological Reserve in the 1970s, then UNESCO biosphere recognition in 1991.15,16 July 2019 brought the World Heritage listing shared with Paraty, Brazil first property to be both cultural and natural.5,59 UNESCO bases the listing on both the cultural landscape and the biodiversity of the Atlantic Forest.60

UNESCO's own record describes a serial property of six component parts, four of them protected areas, among them the Ilha Grande State Park and the Praia do Sul Biological Reserve, with the Paraty Historic Centre and the Morro da Vila Velha.61 The two protected areas on the island cover most of the largest island in the bay, and they also hold cultural assets of indigenous people and of European settlers from the 16th century onward.62

Visitors can still see the relics of this past. Relics remain for visitors: the old aqueduct, the Lazareto ruins, the Castelhanos lighthouse, the Mansão do Morcego and the Santana church, with the 1900 lighthouse open to visits only when the Navy authorizes them.63,42,43 The Abraão circuit passes the aqueduct and the Lazareto ruins on a gentle loop of 1.8 km.22

Planning a visit around the island

Start from the village and think in half days. The Abraão circuit takes 1h30, the Feiticeira waterfall is a walk of about 1h30, and the road to Dois Rios and the former prison is 9 km and 3 hours.22,40,25 Choose one for the afternoon you land and a bigger walk for the next morning, and leave the long trails for a day with no rain.

For the beaches you cannot walk to, book a boat. A boat day from Rio starts from $75 and visits the lagoons and Freguesia de Santana, while the speedboat circuit reaches the far beaches. Ask the operator about landings, because sea conditions can stop a boat at a safe distance from the shore.

Add the history if you like it. The ruins of the Lazareto and the prison at Dois Rios are on the walking routes, and the park advises hiring a conductor for the harder trails.45 Check the rules of each protected area before you go, and read the weather page of this guide before you choose a date, since rain changes both the trails and the sea.

FAQ

Common questions, answered fast.

Where is Ilha Grande?
Off Angra dos Reis, Rio state.

It belongs to the municipality of Angra dos Reis on the Costa Verde, reached only by sea.6,2

How many beaches are on Ilha Grande?
106, says the city.

The Angra dos Reis portal counts 106 beaches, waterfalls and mountains on an island of 192 square kilometers.1

What is Lopes Mendes beach like?
Long, white, with rough water.

The portal says it has about 3 km of white, fine sand and rough water that surfers like.19

How do I get to Lopes Mendes?
Walk 7.8 km or take a boat.

The park rates the walk from Abraão at 7.8 km and 4 hours; from Pouso it is 1 km and 20 minutes.21,18

Is Aventureiro beach open to everyone?
Yes, with a wristband.

Visitors register at the Santa Luzia station and the beach is limited to 560 people a day.28,29

What was the prison on Ilha Grande?
The Dois Rios colony.

A prison at Dois Rios operated from 1903 to 1994 and is now used for research by the state university.14

What is the Lazareto?
A quarantine hospital.

It received immigrants suspected of disease and worked from 1886 to 1913 at Vila do Abraão.13

Sources

  1. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Corredor Turistico da Ilha Grande ↩
  2. Rio de Janeiro State Tourism portal (turismo.rj.gov.br) · Costa Verde ↩
  3. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Vila do Abraao ↩
  4. Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande: Sobre o Parque ↩
  5. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Corredor Turistico da Ilha Grande ↩
  6. Rio de Janeiro State Tourism portal (turismo.rj.gov.br) · Costa Verde ↩
  7. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Angra dos Reis (a cidade) ↩
  8. Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande ↩
  9. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Angra dos Reis (a cidade) ↩
  10. Rio de Janeiro State Tourism portal (turismo.rj.gov.br) · Mangaratiba ↩
  11. Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande: Sobre o Parque ↩
  12. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Corredor Turistico da Ilha Grande ↩
  13. Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande: Sobre o Parque ↩
  14. Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande: Sobre o Parque ↩
  15. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Corredor Turistico da Ilha Grande ↩
  16. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Corredor Turistico da Ilha Grande ↩
  17. Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande: Trilhas ↩
  18. Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande: Trilhas ↩
  19. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Praia de Lopes Mendes ↩
  20. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Corredor Turistico da Ilha Grande ↩
  21. Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande: Trilhas ↩
  22. Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande: Trilhas ↩
  23. Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande: Trilhas ↩
  24. Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande: Trilhas ↩
  25. Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande: Trilhas ↩
  26. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Praia dos Meros ↩
  27. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Acesso a Vila do Aventureiro ↩
  28. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Acesso a Vila do Aventureiro ↩
  29. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Acesso a Vila do Aventureiro ↩
  30. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Praia Grande de Aracatiba ↩
  31. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Praia Grande de Aracatiba ↩
  32. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Praia de Caxadaco ↩
  33. Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande: Trilhas ↩
  34. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Corredor Turistico da Ilha Grande ↩
  35. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Acesso a Vila do Aventureiro ↩
  36. Rio de Janeiro State Tourism portal (turismo.rj.gov.br) · Paraty
  37. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Lagoa Azul ↩
  38. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Igreja de Freguesia de Santana ↩
  39. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Lagoa Verde ↩
  40. Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande: Trilhas ↩
  41. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Pico do Papagaio
  42. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Farol dos Castelhanos ↩
  43. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Farol dos Castelhanos ↩
  44. Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande ↩
  45. Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande: Trilhas ↩
  46. Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande ↩
  47. Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande ↩
  48. Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande: Sobre o Parque ↩
  49. Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande: Sobre o Parque ↩
  50. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Corredor Turistico da Ilha Grande ↩
  51. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (archive copy) · Paraty and Ilha Grande - Culture and Biodiversity ↩
  52. Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande: Sobre o Parque ↩
  53. Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande ↩
  54. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Corredor Turistico da Ilha Grande ↩
  55. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Igreja de Freguesia de Santana ↩
  56. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Ruinas do Lazareto ↩
  57. Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande: Sobre o Parque ↩
  58. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Ruinas do Presidio Candido Mendes ↩
  59. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Corredor Turistico da Ilha Grande ↩
  60. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (archive copy) · Paraty and Ilha Grande - Culture and Biodiversity ↩
  61. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (archive copy) · Paraty and Ilha Grande - Culture and Biodiversity ↩
  62. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (archive copy) · Paraty and Ilha Grande - Culture and Biodiversity ↩
  63. Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Corredor Turistico da Ilha Grande ↩

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GuideAngra dos Reis and Ilha Grande trip pricesGuideThe Ilha Grande day trip from Rio, hour by hourGuideHow to get to Ilha Grande from RioGuideSchooner, speedboat or private boat

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