The island Ilha Grande is located in the state of Rio de Janeiro to the south of the city of Rio and it is a popular destination among Brazilians as well as foreigners. If you have a couple of days to spare on your trip to Rio it is definitely worth a visit. This article will introduce you to 5 highlights of the island.
1. Lopes Mendes
Ilha Grande's main attraction is its nature, specially the beaches which offer good opportunities for relaxing, surfing and snorkeling. Lopes Mendes is the most famous beach and has on several occasions been voted Brazil's best beach. The water is crystal clear and since it is on the side of the island facing the open ocean it is also good for surfing. To get to Lopes Mendes from Ilha Grande's main village, Abraão, take a boat to Saco das Palmas followed by a short walk.
2. Dois Rios
Another great beach that is a bit harder to reach is Dois Rios. To get there you either need to pay for a boat to take you or do a 3 hour hike from Abraão along a dirt road (and another 3 hours to get back). This may sound tough but the reward is incredible. The beach is beautiful and the limited accessibility means that it doesn't get crowded. There is a small village next to the beach where you can buy drinks, but considering the long walk it is a good idea to bring water and snacks.
3. Pico do Papagaio
For the adventurous of you how about getting a bird's eye view of the whole island? Pico do Papagaio, Parrots Peak, is Ilha Grande's toughest hike. It starts basically at sea level and takes you to 982 meters where there are great views of the island. On clear days you can even see Pedra da Gávea in Rio. The trail is between 5 and 6 km long (the exact figure varies) which means that when you add an almost 1 km height difference the hike becomes steep. It is not a good idea to do this hike after a lot of rain since the trail becomes very muddy and the numerous tree roots scattered along the way become slippery.
The trail starts along the dirt road Estrada da Colônia and the first 2 km are the same as the trail to the Dois Rios. After these 2 km there is a sign marking a small path leading straight into the woods on the right hand side, this is the trail to Pico do Papagaio. Some people do this hike on their own, but it is recommended to go with a guide.
4. Howler Monkeys
Ilha Grande is home to a large amount of Howler Monkeys. Along the hiking routes, specially the inland ones to Dois Rios, Feiticeira waterfall or Pico do Papagaio you will have good chances of seeing and hearing them. Experiencing them in wild in the middle of their howling sessions is an impressive sight. I can imagine that if people don't know that it is howler monkeys the sound can be quite intimidating.
5. Sea Turtles
In the bays of Ilha Grande there are plenty of sea turtles. If you paddle around with a kayak you will be able to see heads pop out of the water now and then for breathing. And on sunny days you will be able to see the whole body shape. They are generally not afraid of humans so there are great opportunities to get really close while snorkeling or scuba diving. So make sure to have an underwater camera available.
Chris N. runs the informational site Best of Rio where more information about ilha grande and other Rio de Janeiro excursions can be found.
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