Ilhabela, or ‘beautiful island’ is just a short ferry ride from São Sebastião. It’s known as the capital of sailing, as the channel which separates the island from the mainland offers an ideal combination of calm waters and strong winds. Ilhabela is a popular destination for kite and wind surfers too.
This island has a small town centre which has some well preserved colonial buildings and plenty of great restaurants and bars. Lovers of seafood will be spoiled for choice.
There are plenty of excellent beaches to explore – those on the northwest coast are more easily accessible and therefore more popular. If you want to explore the more deserted beaches in the south, you’ll need a 4WD. Bonete, Julião and Curral beaches are among the most popular places to swim, as is Castelhanos Bay.
Use a very strong insect repellent at all times. This will help keep the borrachudos at bay. These notorious mosquito-like insects are commonly found in the area.
The island is popular with scuba divers, as the island has a number of shipwrecks which fell foul of its rocky shores. There are also some 400 waterfalls on the island. Be sure to visit Cachoeira do Gato (above) – a 50m high waterfall which falls into a natural pool underneath, ideal for swimming. To reach the waterfall, there is a 4km walking trail through the Atlantic forest which starts at Castelhanos Beach.
How to get to Ilhabela
First you will need to get to São Sebastião. From there you will need to take a ferryboat across to Ilhabela. Keep in mind, if you are traveling by bus, be sure you are dropped off at the ferryboat terminal, or you will end up at the bus station instead – that’s a 15 minute walk away.
Boats leave from Ilhabella Ferryboat terminal (Travessia São Sebastião – Ilhabela). The address is Av. Antônio Januário do Nascimento, s/n – Centro, São Sebastião.
The ferry terminal is open 24 hours a day. Ferries leave every half an hour between 6am and midnight, and hourly for the wee hours. In high season, don’t be surprised if you’re waiting in long queues to get onboard. The ferry is free if you’re on foot or on a bike, but for cars it’s between R$19-28 and for motorbikes R$9.50-14.20 (prices correct as of Nov 2023).
Once you arrive in Ilhabela, you’ll most likely need to jump in a taxi or on a bus to reach your accommodation. The island can get quite steep, so keep that in mind if you’re planning to bring a bicycle with you.
Last updated: 25 Nov, 2023
Photo: Maristela Colucci – MTUR, Photo: Alberto Alerigi CC, (Cachoeira do Gato, Ilhabela)