Ilha do Algodoal Transportation

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Reaching Ilha de Algodoal is half the fun! The jumping-off point is the small town of Maruda, a four-hour bus ride from Belem. In my case it took more than five hourse because of so many stops that we made. Rapido Excelsior company has several buses daily. Buy a ticket a day before (if possible) and catch one that leaves early in the morning to ensure that you don't have to stay the night in Maruda.

The bus leaves you close to the port (actually it is no more than a wooden jetty) where a fourty-minute boat crossing takes you to Ilha do Algodoal. If you are lucky you can see many dophins that sometimes come very close to the boat. I was quite lucky on the way back and saw many of them! I really enjoyed looking at them playing around :))

The rough ocean tides make it impossible for ferryboats to make it to the island, so there are no cars and the island remains pristine and rustic. Arriving at Algodoal you will be met by a number of mule-pulled carts that brings you to the village.