Ilha Grande, directly translated to ‘big island’, is 75 square miles of backpacker paradise. Boasting turquoise waters, some of Southern Brazil’s best surfing and vast tropical jungles, it’s a real paradise.
With the island only being around 2-3 hours from the infamous Rio De Janeiro, it’s the perfect escape after a few too many Caipirinhas and street parties in Rio, and a chance to truly immerse yourself in Brazilian island life, and trust me, you won’t want to leave.
If you’ve been to Brazil, you’ll know it’s certainly not the cheapest country around South America, so how can you enjoy island paradise on a budget? Well, here is our complete guide to Ilha Grande Rio De Janeiro.
Getting to Ilha Grande
Most people make the journey to Ilha Grande from Rio since it’s only around 150 km down the southern coast. So the best and cheapest way:
-Take a bus from Rio De Janeiro bus station to Angra Dos Reis. This journey is around 3 hours long, and for cheaper prices I would recommend booking a little in advance. The best site to do this is through BusBud, which is used all across South America. For this leg, expect to pay around $8 USD (50-60 BRL)
-Next up, from the small beach town of Angra Dos Reis. head down from the bus terminal to the port, where you will find clearly marked ferry stations, heading to Villa Do Abraão, Ilha Grande. Again, I would recommend booking in advance, especially on a weekend as many locals from Sao Paulo and Rio head to Ilha Grande for a weekend getaway.
The journey is about an hour long and should cost around $20-30. If you have a bit of time to kill in between arriving in Angra and getting your ferry, definitely have a wander around the Charming old town of Angra Dos Reis, and you may just adjust your travel plans to go back!
So now you’ve arrived,
Where is best to stay on Ilha Grande?
Ilha Grande Rio de Janeiro has a host of hostels, all situated in the main town ‘Villa Do Abraão” since it’s fast becoming a backpacker hotspot on the route around South America. Depending on what you’re looking for, here are a few options:
My absolute favourite, Hi Holandes Hostel.
Starting at around $14 (USD), Hi Holandes is a tropical oasis located roughly a 15-minute walk from the pier and 10 minutes from the beach. This hostel has the perfect balance of social and chill. There’s no music and no parties but the layout and social area, alongside the exclusivity of this hostel’s location, makes it easy to meet people to explore the island with. The dorms are comfy and they have lockers, pretty basic but more than enough for what you need.
And now for the best bit, Breakfast. Included.
Every backpacker’s favourite two words. And no it’s not that dreaded stale bread and cheese brekky. There is a really good variety of options to cater for all, plus a kitchen if you fancy something of your own.
Mambembe Hostel
A similar vibe to HI Holandes, surrounded by palm trees and lush jungle. Mambembe Hostel, starting at around $10 for a dorm room, has a super relaxed atmosphere, with a common space with a TV and Netflix for those tropical rainy days. With hammocks dotted around the common spaces and a noise curfew at 11 pm, this is a perfect hostel for those who want a little peace and quiet whilst they stay on Ilha Grande.
Now for the Party People, Aquario Hostel
Aquario Hostel hosts the weekly parties on Ilha Grande, so if you’re looking for somewhere to continue the samba from Rio, this is your place. Dorms start at about $15 a night, this hostel is located right over the ocean and has facilities such as a gym and kitchen. The parties are free for hostel guests, and there is an entry fee for outside guests, so you can still party and go back to a good night’s sleep if you don’t have the minerals for an all-nighter.
Che Lagarto Hostel
Che Lagarto hostel is seated in an attractive location over the seafront, with a beach bar to match, and live music on certain nights. The bedrooms are a little outdated and somewhat cramped, but if you’re willing to put up with that for gorgeous views and live music, this is the spot. Dorms start at around $10 a night.
Ok, so now you’ve got where you’re sleeping sorted.
What is there to do on Ilha Grande?
Hiking
lha Grande Rio de Janeiro is one of the most pristine examples of Brazil’s endangered Atlantic rainforest habitat, containing a multitude of species of plants and animals. If this is up your street there’s an abundance of hikes boasting incredible waterfalls and plenty of wildlife to encounter along the way.
There are options from short single day hikes, or multi day ones that take you all around the island. All of which are marked from T1-T16, they are all connected between themselves and can be completed as part of shorter separate circuits, or if you’re feeling adventurous, you can connect them and cover more of the island.
This is an easy list of the hikes on the island. However I would recommend following at least an online trail, so you don’t get stranded in the jungle. And yes, unfortunately, that is speaking from experience.
Cost: Free!
Praia De Lopes Mendes
Probably the island’s most popular beach due to its surfing heritage and many local competitions being held there. Lopes Mendes is a 3 km stretch of untouched white sand and turquoise water. You can rent surfboards on the beach here for roughly $10 giving you a few hours to ride some of Brazil’s best waves. That being said, some days the waves here aren’t so friendly, they can get up to 9 feet. So if you’re not a confident surfer, choose your times wisely.
You’ll find lifeguards frantically running from side to side making sure people stay within safe distance to the beach, so you are in very capable hands on Praia De Lopes Mendes, but always take precautions.
Cost: Free! ($10 to surf)
Scuba diving
Ilha Grande has crystalline waters and is host to over 900 marine species, making it an ideal spot for avid divers.
There are a few options with this one, if you don’t already have your Padi licence, you can become certified here, the prices differ between each company and certification, but I would recommend putting at least $300 away if you want to do this.
However, if you are already a certified diver, you’re in luck. With Dive & CIA, who are located just 5 minutes from the pier, you can do 2 dives with a max depth of 12-15 metres, making it possible for all certified divers, for only $70.
Next up.
How to get around Ilha Grande Rio de Janeiro?
This section is going to be short, as there are only two ways.
Ilha Grande has no motor vehicles besides a couple of motorbikes for local workers. -Since Most of the island is such dense jungle, the island operates on taxi boats, which go to specific beaches on the hour, and offer services back to the main town later on in the day.
These can be found just next to the pier, however, there will be people offering their services all around the main street which means one thing. Bargain with them, a lot of them will have local prices and tourist prices, and since you’re already on a budget make sure you lower the price by at least a few dollars. You shouldn’t be paying more than around 6-7 dollars for a round trip to Lopes Mendes beach.
These scenic boat taxis however sometimes come with some chaotic drivers, so hold on to any hats and if you suffer from back problems, well good luck.
-The next option, Walk!
The town is tiny; a 20-minute stroll covers it. Beaches are accessible by foot or walk and use a boat taxi for return. For instance, Lopes Mendes beach is a 2-3 hour walk from Villa Do Abraão, offering scenic viewpoints.
And finally,
Where to eat for cheap?
The food around Ilha Grande is pretty reasonably priced, with most meals varying between $5-10. However, for those seeking affordable dining options and hearty portions, here are a few places to consider:
- Lady Roots, along Villa do Abraão’s main street, you will find a small family-run restaurant, Lady Roots, offering an all you can eat buffet on select days for $7! And other tasty, well portioned meals on the normal menu.
Lady Roots is the best place to go for bang for your buck. Ps, they have a tour agency next door with the best staff ever!
- Atelie Cafeteria, Atelie Cafeteria has the perfect Island vibes you are looking for. All outdoor seating, on the beach, and they serve mango Caipirinhas which are nothing short of life-changing.
The food is reasonably priced at around $6 per meal and is perfect to enjoy with a beach view.
- Street Vendors. In the evenings, along the main street of Villa Do Abraão, vendors come out selling delicious snacks and meals such as churros, burgers, and Brazil’s famous Acai.
Bargain with them for a good price and you can get a main and sweet snack for all of $4-5.
And there you have it! Now you know how to enjoy paradise for no more than $35 a day.
We want to say a massive thanks to our guest author Arthur Heckstall-Smith for this great piece! I am sure there will be more coming from him in the future!
If you are looking for some more articles on South America click HERE.
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