Beyond Rio
Ilha Grande: an island without cars
The back story
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Nathan Chor · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Ilha Grande: an island without cars
Ilha Grande lies off Angra dos Reis, west of Rio: a mountainous island covered in Atlantic Forest, with no cars, a small village at Abraão and trails and boats to its beaches, among them Lopes Mendes. With Paraty, it is part of the World Heritage site inscribed by UNESCO in 2019.
Getting there
By road from Rio to the mainland quays, then by ferry or boat to Abraão.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © José Carlos B Fialho · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsThe island
Walk the trails or take a boat to the beaches; Lopes Mendes is one of the most beautiful in Brazil.
Ferries and boats leave the mainland for Abraão; there are no cars on the island.
Our advice: travel light: everything on the island is carried on foot or by boat.
Why it's on our list
- Getting there
- The island
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Ilha Grande: an island without cars before you go.