Beaches, trails, waterfalls and itineraries on Brazil’s largest sea island.
Ilhabela's bars by region and style: the Vila waterfront, the live music houses, the beach kiosks and our group's two bars in the forest. No clubs, plenty of charm.
Read article · 7 min readIlhabela beaches for a trip as a couple: the calmest sands, the right sunset spots on the channel and how to close the night in the historic center.
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The best beaches in Ilhabela for families: calm sea, shade, bathrooms nearby and honest warnings about shore breaks, the borrachudo fly and holiday crowds.
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The hikes worth doing in Ilhabela: Baepi peak, the southern crossing, Água Branca, Cachoeira do Gato and more, with honest difficulty and real times.
Read article · 7 min readThe spots where the Ilhabela sunset really delivers: the Vila waterfront, channel beaches, viewpoints and the right time in each season, by people who live here.
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Ilhabela month by month: rainy, pricey summer, ideal April and May, a winter of whales and Sailing Week. By people who live the island's weather every day.
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Guide to Bonete beach, Ilhabela: the caiçara village of 300 residents, getting there by trail or boat, where to sleep, the shore break and visiting with respect.
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The Bonete trail section by section: 16 km from Ponta da Sela to the village, 4 to 6 hours, Laje and Areado waterfalls, what to pack and why to return by boat.
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Complete guide to Castelhanos, Ilhabela's heart-shaped beach: the 17 km park road, jeep or boat, the Coração viewpoint, Cachoeira do Gato and when to go.
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Complete guide to Praia da Fome, Ilhabela: speedboat from Perequê or trail from Jabaquara, the island's clearest water and the heavy origin of the name.
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2, 3, 5 or 7 days in Ilhabela? What fits and what gets left out at each length, explained by locals who watch travelers get the math wrong every week.
Read article · 8 min readA 3 day Ilhabela itinerary tested by locals: arrival and sunset on the channel, southern beaches with a waterfall, and Castelhanos or whales in season.
Read article · 8 min readFive days in Ilhabela cover the whole island: the Vila and channel, southern beaches, Castelhanos, the north by boat and a real hike. By people who live here.
Read article · 8 min readA week in Ilhabela: the Vila, southern beaches, Castelhanos, two nights of caiçara rhythm in Bonete, a rest day and a rain plan B. The complete itinerary.
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The Vila in Ilhabela: the mother church raised with whale oil, the pier, the craft fair, where to eat by type of cooking and why it is the island's best base.
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Whales in the channel, dry trails, clear seas, an empty island and low season prices: why winter is the favorite season of the people who live in Ilhabela.
Read article · 8 min readIlhabela's night by people who live it: the lit-up Vila, the craft fair, live music, the Floresta Bar switching on in the forest and the truth about low season.
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Lodging, food, ferry and tours at 2026 prices. Three budget profiles for Ilhabela, what is free and what costs real money, by people who live on the island.
Read article · 8 min readIlhabela's viewpoints one by one: Piúva, Barreiros, Baepi, the Coração lookout and more, with how to get there, effort level and the right hour, by locals.
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The Ilhabela waterfalls that deliver: Água Branca for free, the paid Toca, Gato, Laje and Areado on the southern crossing, best season and the golden rain rule.
Read article · 7 min readCan you visit Ilhabela without a car? The ferry is free on foot, the local bus costs R$ 4.80 and the Vila solves a lot. The honest guide from people who live here.
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Guide to Jabaquara beach, in northern Ilhabela: the 8 km dirt road, whether you need a 4x4, the freshwater lagoon, the shore break and what to bring.
Read article · 7 min readAn honest ranking of Ilhabela's most beautiful beaches, from Castelhanos to Curral: how to reach each one, what the sea is like and which to skip on holidays.
Read article · 9 min readIlhabela's most secluded beaches: Fome, Saco do Eustáquio, Serraria, Pacuíba and Bonete, reached by speedboat or trail, with the ground rules for going.
Read article · 7 min readBeaches by region, trails, waterfalls, winter whales, the historic center and nightlife: things to do in Ilhabela from people who live here all year.
Read article · 11 min read
Rain in Ilhabela? The honest plan from people who live here: full waterfalls done safely, the historic center, a long table and a heated pool. Rain is part of it.
Read article · 7 min readWhere Ilhabela is, how the ferry works (2026 prices, Hora Marcada, schedules) and how to arrive from São Paulo, Rio and the airports, by frequent crossers.
Read article · 8 min readWhere to eat in Ilhabela without falling into traps: fish on the waterfront, real caiçara cooking, Vila cafes and beach kiosks, explained region by region by locals.
Read article · 7 min read