Ilha Grande Trips & Tours

A seaweed-ensconced shell just off the coast of Paraty, Ilha Grande is the kind of place where a successful day is measured in the distance hiked or hours snorkelled. A pirates’ hideout turned leper colony turned high-security prison – aka Brazil’s own Alcatraz – Ilha Grande is now a beach paradise (there are over 100 of them) where cars don’t exist and everyone’s always welcome. A protected Biological Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site, the island’s interiors are a riot of wildlife from toucans to endangered woolly spider monkeys, while its waters are as idyllic as they come – snorkel, surf and beach-hop by boat to your heart’s content. The main hub (if you can call it that) has a handful of charming pousadas and cafes, but zero ATMs, so bring cash, plenty of sunscreen and your sense of adventure.