Ilha do Mel Travel Guide

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Excellent location of Barranco Bar right on the beach gives you some great advantages. You can have a nice drink or lunch in the shadow, with the beautiful and relaxing view of the ocean and great music. If you come here for dinner you might prolong your visit as there is live music every weekend. We spent the previous night here and it was interesting to see how different the place looks during the daytime.

They offer snacks, salads, main dishes (mostly seafood), ice cream, natural juices, water, beer (which Brazilians drink a lot!), caipirinha and other drinks.s

Favorite Dish: It was still early to have a lunch so we just had an appetizer, casquinha de siri (stuffed crab). It was delicious and just a perfect companion to pineapple juice.

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Ilha do Mel also has nightlife however it is limited to weekends and public holidays. Programs can vary from vivid native forro, traditional Brazilian music from northeast of the country, to rock or reggae.

In the night of my visit of Ilha do Mel there were two places to listen and dance forro, Forro do Wando in the village of Nova Brasilia and Barranco Bar on Praia de Fora. We asked some local people and they recommended the latter, so we decided to go there.

Barranco Bar is a nice place right on the beach. During the daytime it serves as a bar/restaurant but at night it changes into a popular nightspot. In the low season they have live music only on special nights and in the high season every night. The lively party with forro music, dancing and drinking starts late in the evening and takes until wee hours. Don't forget to take a small flashlight with you as there is almost no light on the island.

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To reach Ilha do Mel you have to take the bus to Pontal do Sul first. There are six buses daily. The journey takes a little more than two hours and it costs RS 21 (December 2007). On the way you can enjoy a stunning view of Atlantic Rainforest. The company that runs from Curitiba to Pontal do Sul is

Graciosa
www.viacaograciosa.com.br
phone number: 041 3213 5511

Timetable:
Curitiba - Pontal do Sul: 07:30, 11:00, 12:45 (only on Saturday), 14:30, 17:30, 20:45
Pontal do Sul - Curitiba: 07:15, 10:15, 14:15, 17:15, 18:15 (only on Sunday), 20:15

To get to Pontal do Sul by car, you follow the highway BR-277.

In Pontal do Sul you take a boat to Ilha do Mel. Most boats drop off their passengers at the island's main village, Nova Brasilia. The trip takes about 30 minutes.

Timetable:
Pontal do Sul - Ilha do Mel
08:00 to 17:30 from Monday to Friday and 08:00 to 18:00 Saturday and Sunday, every hour

Ilha do Mel - Pontal do Sul
07:00 to 17:00 from Monday to Friday and 07:00 to 17:00 Saturday and Sunday, every hour

Luggage and bags: For short hikes on the island, a small backpack to carry water, sun protection, camera..., is most suitable.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: If you intend to spend most of the time around the beach, a pair of Havaianas, the famous Brazilian flip-flops, is a must. And for longer hikes, a pair of comfortable sandals might be well suited as well.

You may be out on the sun a lot, so hat is a very good idea.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: There is no pharmacy on the island, so make sure you take first aid with you.

It gets sunny and warm all year round and the island is especially hot during summertime. So don't forget to carry a lot of sun protection.

Also take along a good mosquito repellant because sometimes there are quite a lot of pernilongos (mosquitos).

Photo Equipment: Take all filming and photography accessories with you as you can't get anything on the island.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Water sports lovers - bring snorkeling and surfing accessories!

Miscellaneous: Always wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from bright light from the sun.

Small flashlight might be especially useful when you go out at night as there is almost no light on the island.