Ilha Grande Favorites

Favorite thing: We all know that Ilha Grande is an island!!! You will have to go to the south of Rio and arrive in one of the two cities...Mangaratiba which is closer to Rio, you will spend about 2 hours to get there, sometimes less than two hours; and the other port is a little bit more distant, a city called Angra dos Reis.

From Mangaratiba there is a nice possibility for you to get to the island as soon as possible. The Ferry boat leaves at 8:00 am.

YOU WILL HAVE TO LEAVE RIO VERY EARLY!!! And I am talking about 5:00 am!!!!

But if you get to Mangaratiba with more time, it is also a nice place for you to see the beaches and some natural attractions.

Favorite thing: Ilha Grande has countless forest full of life, different birds, monkeys, wild cats, different butterflies and all kind of insects, and SNAKES too, but they areall part of the nature and keeps life so bewildering in the island!!!

Being there you will feel like the first european explorers for sure!

The picture was taken close to Feiticeira beach

Fondest memory: It is so fascinating to explore such a wonderful island like Ilha Grande specially when you do have special freinds with you!!!

Getting to know my country is my great privilege!

Favorite thing: The first hike we did was to Dois Rios... we went with local friends.... which are acostummed to walk in that jungles....
We walk for 2 hours and a half......between bambus....up to the "morro" and only the last 30 min were falling down... but..... we get the most interesting place in the Ilha, cause there stood the abbandoned prison....(The Island in the before 1993 was used to get prisoners....) Besides this, the place is specialy amazing, because it has a river next to the sea....with a beautiful scenery all around.... is difficult explain it....

Fondest memory: Please try to carry with you a lantern , cause we back at 5:30 and was dark....and monkeys, spiders, snakes, are all around....I was scared to death.....only the moon and glow-worms brighted lighting our way...
Consider the time and your personal phisical state, cause if you go walking, there's no boats can brings you back..

Favorite thing: Ilha Grande is the only place in the world that I have visited where you actually foget that there are places where it snows, or where cars sit bumper to bumper waiting to exit the parkway. Everytime that I imagine being back on the beach at Vila do Abraao I have an immense feeling of affection and nostalgia for this beautiful place. I dream of returning to this place where the island itself has it's own energy and personality and to pet one of the dogs that live in it's arms.

Fondest memory: One of my fondest memories of Ilha Grande was waking up the first morning and looking out over the balcony at our pousada over the water glimmering in the sun and the excitement of knowing that I was starting what would be one of the most beautiful days of my life.

Favorite thing: My mother has an album of pictures she took along the years in Ilha,a place she loves a lot!
I scanned some pictures because I love this album,the pictures showed the island the way she felt it during the years she went to there,in diferent moments of life!
Here's one,the rest will be in my travelogue!

Fondest memory: Here is her picture of Abraao's beach!

Favorite thing: Ilha Grande,as mentioned,is part of Angra,and its located in the Ilha Grande Bay.
The highest point in the island is " DO PAPAGAIO (parrot) PEAK ",with 982m.
Brazil was found in 1500,and Angra,2 years later,and,in that expedition,the Portuguese navigators believed they found the Guanabara Bay instead.
In the past,the natives were Indians,later,they became slaves by the Portugueses.
This picture was taken in the way between Aracatiba to the Acaial Grottos.

Favorite thing: Just being on Ilha Grande is enough, you can hike any of the trails and just soak up the nature (don't miss the big blue butterflies)

Fondest memory: Although it may not sound like much fun to most people, I think that my best memory of Ilha Grande was getting caught in a tropical rainstorm while walking on the island. A lot of Brazilian tourists were also caught, and all huddled under trees with their umbrellas.
I had no umbrella, and in any cae the rain was warm, so I continued walking, and got totally soaked, but I really enjoyed it !

Favorite thing: snorkeling
hanking
boat cruise
restaurant
posadas
speed connexion, taxi

http://www.ilhagrande.fr