Pool
The Blue Lagoon
A natural pool for swimming
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Ilha Grande day trip: the Blue Lagoon, Green Lagoon and other stops
Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande day from Rio
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Summary
The Ilha Grande day trip sold here lists the Blue Lagoon and Freguesia de Santana as guided stops, and its description also names the Green Lagoon and Cataguases.
Stops essentials
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.
The main pier in Angra dos Reis, where most boat tours leave and where the 35-minute speedboat crossing to Abraão starts.
Google MapsA natural pool on Ilha dos Macacos, the point of Ilha Grande closest to the mainland.
Google MapsThe settlement of Ilha Grande began at Freguesia de Santana, which today has 50 residents.
Google MapsAn island of the Angra bay, drawn here to place the day's stops in the bay.
Google MapsA shallow, calm lagoon on the north-west coast near Araçatiba, tinted green.
Google MapsThe second most important tourism point on Ilha Grande, where boat trips and walks start.
Google MapsThe main arrival point on Ilha Grande, with the most inns, restaurants, agencies and other services.
Google Maps
Rio's international airport, where the shared van transfers to Abraão start.
Google MapsThe city airport, listed with Galeão as a pickup point by a Rio to Abraão shuttle.
Google MapsMangaratiba lies about 85 km from the capital by the Rio-Santos highway, and the state park lists ferries from here to Abraão.
Google MapsA pier on the Mangaratiba shore, one of three departure points for the daily park ferries to Abraão.
Google MapsThe main pier in Angra dos Reis, where most boat tours leave and where the 35-minute speedboat crossing to Abraão starts.
Google MapsParaty bay has 50 beaches, some of them reached only by boat, and a shuttle links the town with Abraão.
Google MapsThe main arrival point on Ilha Grande, with the most inns, restaurants, agencies and other services.
Google Maps
The main arrival point on Ilha Grande, with the most inns, restaurants, agencies and other services.
Google MapsThe main access point to Lopes Mendes, from where the walk is 1 km and about 20 minutes.
Google MapsAbout 3 km of white sand with rough water, shaded by almond trees.
Google MapsThe most visited waterfall in the state park, with a drop of about 15 m.
Google MapsThe village of the former Dois Rios prison, now used for research by the state university.
Google MapsThe second highest point on the island at 982 metres and its hardest trail.
Google MapsA lighthouse opened in 1900 at the far end of the island; visits must be authorised by the Navy.
Google MapsA beach on the south-east side of the island, drawn here to show how far the island runs beyond Dois Rios.
Google MapsA beach inside a sustainable development reserve, limited to 560 people per day.
Google MapsReached by boat, at the opposite end of the island from Lopes Mendes.
Google Maps
Map data: © OpenStreetMap contributors
A boat day on this coast is a chain of short stops, each with its own water, its own story and its own rules. Here is what each one is, on a map and in the order the listings use.
Editorial team, angradosreisboattrip.click · Updated November 12, 2026 · 7 mins to read
Essentials
- Blue LagoonA natural swimming pool on Ilha dos Macacos, the part of Ilha Grande nearest the mainland.1
- Green LagoonA shallow, calm lagoon near Araçatiba, tinted green by its corals.2,3
- CataguasesAlmost every tour from the Santa Luzia pier stops at this island.4
- SantanaThe place where the settlement of Ilha Grande began, with 50 residents today.5
- On the tourThe site day starts from $75 and lists the lagoon and Santana as guided stops.
The chain of stops on a boat day
A boat day at Angra is built from short landings and swims rather than a single destination. The municipal tourism portal says the area has about 365 islands and 8 bays, so even a short trip passes many candidates, and the operators pick the ones that suit the sea and the group.6 An Ilha Grande day trip from Rio follows the same logic with one long coach ride at the start and the end.
For the site tour, two parts of the record describe the stops. The itinerary names guided stops at the Blue Lagoon of Ilha Grande, Freguesia de Santana and Velinn Angra Sunset, while the description walks through the Lagoa Azul, the Lagoa Verde, the beaches of Cataguases and Freguesia de Santana and finishes with lunch at Japariz beach. The two lists overlap but do not match, so treat the route as a guide and expect your skipper to adjust it.
A typical Angra dos Reis boat tour listing shows the shape of a shorter trip. The shared speedboat tour from Santa Luzia allots 30 minutes to each of Cataguases island, the Blue Lagoon, Grumixama beach and Ilha Grande, then 1.5 hours to the Beach of Arrows. A sister tour spends 30 minutes at the Botinas islands, 30 minutes at Jurubaiba beach and 1.5 hours at the Beach of Arrows.
Stop by stop
The main stops compared
| Stop | What it is | Listing time |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Lagoon | A lagoon at Ilha dos Macacos1 | 30 minutes to 1 hour |
| Green Lagoon | A shallow green-tinted lagoon2 | 45 minutes to 1 hour |
| Cataguases island | A postcard island near the mainland8 | 30 minutes |
| Botinas islands | Islets with a pirate legend9 | 30 minutes |
| Freguesia de Santana | Where the island settlement began5 | Guided stop |
Times belong to the listings named in the notes; your own tour may differ.
The Blue Lagoon on Ilha dos Macacos
In Portuguese it is Lagoa Azul, a lagoon at Ilha dos Macacos on the edge of Ilha Grande facing the mainland. The municipal portal says the film Blue Lagoon from the 1980s gave it its name and that it is predominantly blue.1 The name is a reference point on every listing, so a search for the Blue Lagoon or Lagoa Azul finds the same place, and the Portuguese form helps when you ask a skipper or read a sign on the pier.
The portal says tour companies add it to their routes and that visitors swim, float with noodles, snorkel among shoals of small fish or just stop and enjoy the view.7 The listings agree. The shared speedboat tour from Angra gives it 30 minutes, the lagoon tour from Rua Santana gives it 1 hour, and the Abraão lagoons tour gives it 45 minutes.
Expect other boats at the Blue Lagoon, since boat companies include it in their routes.7 A small mask and snorkel, or the ones the boat lends, will show you the fish, and a life jacket helps if your swimming is weak. The site tour says life jackets are available for emergencies and that recreational use carries a fee.
Minutes at the stops
How long a shared speedboat stays at each stop
- Cataguases30 minutes
- Blue Lagoon30 minutes
- Grumixama beach30 minutes
- Ilha Grande30 minutes
- Beach of Arrows1.5 hours
These stop times come from a single shared speedboat tour leaving Santa Luzia; other tours differ.
The Green Lagoon and its tides
The Green Lagoon, Lagoa Verde, sits on the north-west coast of Ilha Grande close to the Araçatiba inlet. The portal calls it a corner of shallow, calm, typically green water and adds that Lagoa Verde is a tourist nickname, like Lagoa Azul, while the geographic name is Ilha da Longa.2 Booking pages use the nickname, so look for the name Lagoa Verde or Green Lagoon.
The islet changes with the tide. At normal or high tide it stands apart from Ilha Grande, and when the tide is very low a narrow strip of sand and stones joins them.10 That means the look of the stop depends on the hour, so your photographs will not match a friend's from another time of day, and a stop that is a sandbar at one hour may be an islet at another.
The corals are the reason for the name. The portal says it is one of the few places on the planet where greenish corals are found, and that the marine fauna is visible even from outside the water because the water is shallow and calm.3 The lagoon is a 1-hour stop on the lagoon tour from Rua Santana and a 45-minute stop on the Abraão lagoons tour, so the time depends on the listing.
Pick your stop
Which stop is for you
Choose what you want from the water and find the matching stop.
If I want to snorkel among fish
The Blue Lagoon
Visitors swim, snorkel and watch shoals of fish there.7
If I want shallow, calm water for a slow swim
The Green Lagoon
The portal calls the water shallow, transparent and calm.3
If I want the postcard view for photographs
Cataguases island
The portal calls it a postcard of the city.8
If I want history on the day
Freguesia de Santana
The island settlement began here, with 50 residents today.5
If I want a walk after the swim
Add a night on the island
The Abraão circuit is 1.8 km and takes 1h30.11
Stops compared
The water at the main stops
Lagoon
The Green Lagoon
Shallow, calm, green corals
See the day trip
Island
Cataguases island
A postcard stop near the pier
See the day tripCataguases, the Botinas islands and the postcard stops
Cataguases is a stop that most tours from Angra share. The municipal portal describes it as a scene of clear, calm water, a postcard of the city and a good place to snorkel and relax, and says the island lies close to the mainland, so almost every tour from the Santa Luzia station stops there.8,4 Because it lies near the mainland, it makes a natural opening swim.
The Botinas islands carry a legend. The portal says they were named for two little boots, and that, according to the legend, a pirate ship fleeing the English fleet ran over an island, cut it in half and created the two islets in the middle of the sea.9 A speedboat tour from Angra stops there for 30 minutes, and a schooner ride lists the Botinas islands at sunset.
Cataguases and the Botinas are the postcards of the bay. What you do at each stop depends on the listing: some list swimming and snorkeling at a stop, others only a photo stop. If the water matters to you, check the listing for the words swimming and snorkeling on each stop before you book, and ask the operator what the swimming rules are if the group includes children.
In order
The stops as the record names them
Opening stop
Lagoa Azul
A lagoon at Ilha dos Macacos with snorkeling and noodles.1
Next
Lagoa Verde
Shallow, calm, green-tinted water near Araçatiba.2
Next
Cataguases
A postcard island close to the mainland.4
Next
Freguesia de Santana
Where the settlement of Ilha Grande began.5
2:30 to 3:30 PM
Lunch at Japariz
A buffet with a sea view; drinks and desserts are extra.
Freguesia de Santana and the lunch stop
At Freguesia de Santana the history is the point. History runs deep here: per the municipal portal, the settlement of Ilha Grande began at Freguesia de Santana, which counts just 50 residents now.5 During the 18th century it was the economic hub of the island, with farms for coffee, vegetables and cereals and mills for sugar and cane spirit.27
The church is the landmark. The portal calls the Igreja de Freguesia de Santana the most important religious monument on Ilha Grande, and the list of relics of the island includes the Santana church alongside the Castelhanos lighthouse, the Lazareto ruins and the old aqueduct.28 On the site tour it is a guided stop, which means a guide can explain what you see.
Lunch comes after the water. On the site tour the sea-view lunch at Japariz is a buffet without drinks and desserts, served in the afternoon window late in the afternoon. The Abraão lagoons tour has its own lunch stop of 1 hour at Enseada das Estrelas. Plan to eat when the listing says, and carry a snack for the long coach rides.
Video
From Angra dos Reis to Ilha Grande, a tropical escape
Equatours on YouTube · Tap play to load the video; not before.
It is one of the few places on the planet where greenish corals are found, hence the name; the shallow, transparent and calm water makes the marine fauna visible even from outside the water.
Stop checklist
What to carry and ask at the stops
In the water3
- Check whether snorkel gear is provided on your listing
- A life jacket for fun use carries a fee on the site tour
- Tell the crew if you cannot swim
On deck3
- Wear sunscreen and a hat for the open water
- Arrive 15 minutes before a speedboat tour starts
- Carry money for food and drink
At the listing3
- Look for the words swimming and snorkeling at each stop
- Check the lunch stop and what it excludes
- You can cancel for free until the day before
More to do on Ilha Grande: Araçatiba, Meros and the trails
Ilha Grande activities go beyond the boat stops, and the island portal names several. Araçatiba is the second most important tourism point of the island and the place from which several boat trips and walks start; its green, calm water suits snorkel floating, stand-up paddling and canoeing.16,29 Meros beach has calm, clear water that suits snorkeling to see marine life.30
On land the state park lists trails with times. The Abraão circuit covers 1.8 km in 1h30, the Feiticeira waterfall, a drop of about 15 m, draws the most visitors in the park, and the route from Abraão to Lopes Mendes stretches 7.8 km over 4 hours.11,20,31 None of these fits inside a boat day from Rio, but the 8-hour island circuit by speedboat visits Caxadaço, Parnaioca, Aventureiro and Meros beaches.
History is the other activity. The portal lists the ruins of the Lazareto, the Candido Mendes prison and the Castelhanos lighthouse among the sights, and says the lighthouse, opened in 1900, can be visited only with Navy authorization.28,23,24 For a longer look at those places, our island guide page covers the beaches, the trails and the history.
Rules and manners at the stops
The stops sit inside protected areas, and the rules are simple. The state park asks visitors to watch animals from a distance, not to feed them and not to light fires, and to keep to the paths.32 Those lines are written for the trails, but they apply just as well to any landing on a protected shore: step lightly, leave the animals alone and bring nothing ashore that you will not take away again.
Sea conditions govern what is possible. Some listings caution that sea conditions can keep the boat off the beach, so getting ashore may mean wading or a short swim, and guests who cannot swim may remain aboard. A listing from Angra adds that weather and sea can alter the experience and promises a new time or date. Tell the crew about your swimming ability before the first stop.
Finally, choose your operator carefully. Check your operator against the list of legalized boats, taxi boats, businesses and guides that Angra dos Reis publishes.33 The site tour keeps running in poor weather; it stops only when the Navy will not clear the boat to leave. On the day, the skipper and the guide make the practical calls, so follow their instructions at each landing and keep your belongings in a bag that can get wet.
FAQ
Common questions, answered fast.
What are the stops on an Ilha Grande day trip?
Lagoons, islands, lunch.
The site tour lists the Blue Lagoon, Freguesia de Santana and Velinn Angra Sunset as guided stops, with lunch at Japariz.
Where is the Blue Lagoon?
On Ilha dos Macacos.
At Ilha dos Macacos, the stretch of Ilha Grande closest to the shore.1
Why is it called the Green Lagoon?
How long do boats stay at each stop?
30 minutes to 1 hour.
A shared speedboat gives 30 minutes at most stops and 1.5 hours at the Beach of Arrows.
Is snorkeling included at the stops?
Yes, on several tours.
The Angra lagoons tour lists swimming and snorkeling at its stops of 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Can I land at the Castelhanos lighthouse?
Only with Navy permission.
The portal says visits to the lighthouse must be authorized by the Brazilian Navy.24
Is lunch included on the day trip?
Yes, a buffet at Japariz.
The site tour serves a buffet at Japariz late in the afternoon; drinks and desserts cost extra.
Sources
- Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Lagoa Azul ↩
- Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Lagoa Verde ↩
- Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Lagoa Verde ↩
- Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Ilha de Cataguases ↩
- Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Igreja de Freguesia de Santana ↩
- Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Pontos Turisticos ↩
- Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Lagoa Azul ↩
- Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Ilha de Cataguases ↩
- Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Ilha Botinas ↩
- Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Lagoa Verde ↩
- Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande: Trilhas ↩
- Rio de Janeiro State Tourism portal (turismo.rj.gov.br) · Mangaratiba
- Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande
- Rio de Janeiro State Tourism portal (turismo.rj.gov.br) · Paraty
- Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Vila do Abraao
- Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Praia Grande de Aracatiba ↩
- Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande: Trilhas
- Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande: Trilhas
- Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Praia de Lopes Mendes
- Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande: Trilhas ↩
- Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande: Sobre o Parque
- Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Pico do Papagaio
- Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Farol dos Castelhanos ↩
- Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Farol dos Castelhanos ↩
- Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Acesso a Vila do Aventureiro
- Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Corredor Turistico da Ilha Grande
- Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Igreja de Freguesia de Santana ↩
- Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Corredor Turistico da Ilha Grande ↩
- Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Praia Grande de Aracatiba ↩
- Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Praia dos Meros ↩
- Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande: Trilhas ↩
- Inea, the Rio de Janeiro state environment institute (archive copy) · Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande ↩
- Angra dos Reis municipal tourism portal (Visite Angra, archive copy of 19 January 2026) · Navegue Legal ↩