Ilhabela the Active Way Travel

Ilhabela the Active Way

As Required

This tour takes you to Ilhabela, the beautiful island of São Paulo State. The Costa Verde island has a rugged, mountainous interior covered in verdant Atlantic Rainforest, and lined with sub-tropical beaches, and lies only 3 hours but a whole world away from the big city. Crystal clear waters, beaches and waterfalls galore make Ilhabela the perfect active break from Sao Paulo.

Hiking, mountain biking, stand-up paddle, kayaks, scuba diving and more can be arranged to spice up your stay on Ilhabela.

Combines With: Sao Paulo; Paraty & Ilha Grande as part of a Costa Verde route between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro

Best Time to Visit: This tour can be taken all year round with December to February being the hottest, most humid and busiest months, but also with more rainfall. April to June can often be the best time of the year. The island gets very busy during peak holiday periods!

from $ 600 USD

Ilhabela the Active Way

As Requi
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Destinations Visited

  • Ilhabela

Trip Style

Adventure

Activities Included

  • Ecotourism
  • Beaches

Tailor Made Tours

All our Brazil and South America Tours, are completely flexible with regards to dates, duration or the tours, activities and accommodation that we can include. All the tours featured on our website are our recommendations based on our experience of how to make the very best of your time in South America. We can adjust these details in any way that you wish. We are here to organise a tour that suits you after all!

Itinerary

Day 1
Arrive on the Beautiful Island

Destination: Sao Paulo to Ilhabela

In the morning you leave Sao Paulo for the three hour journey to Ilhabela, the beautiful island of the most populous state in Brazil. Just 2km across the strait from the port of Sao Sebastiao, the ferry boat journey shows you the rugged mountains covered in the verdant Atlantic Rainforest, and the clear waters surrounding that make it a perfect active break. After landing and transferring to your hotel, the rest of the day is free to enjoy some of the sub-tropical charms of Ilhabela. The mainland side has beaches with calm waters along most of the 25km of coastline. The northern part has the main town, while the southern half is more lively in terms of nightlife.
Day 2
Mount Baepi Hike

Destination: Ilhabela

Ilhabela has many mountain trails that you can hike, with Pico de Sao Sebastiao and Morro do Papagaio in towards the south being the two highest at over 1,300m. The most popular option is in the north though, with the trail to the 1,048m summit of Mount Baepi. Beginning at sea level in the Engenho D\'Agua district between the port and the main town, the trail is less than 4km, beginning on the open slopes but disappearing into the forest before emerging onto the peak after around 3.5hrs. The panoramic views over the island and along a huge range of the Costa Verde are stunning. A possible extension to the Bananal waterfall adds on another couple of hours to make a full day\'s hike.
Day 3
Mountain Biking to Castelhanos

Destination: Ilhabela

A day out mountain biking takes you across the middle of the island and up into the forest of the Ilhabela State Park. Stops at waterfalls and viewpoints come during the 17km dirt road ride, with the crossing from west to east coast taking you up to over 700m. After a fun, twisting descent and a few rivers to cross, a 2km hike through the rainforest takes you to the impressive Cachoeira do Gato, a 70m waterfall with cool rock pools at the bottom. The postcard beach of Castelhanos is the place to remove your helmets and stop for lunch, before you make the return journey back in the afternoon, finishing with the fabulous downhill back to town.
Day 4
The Bonete Trail

Destination: Ilhabela

Another day exploring Ilhabela has you heading around the south-west corner by road and then the trail to Praia do Bonete. This stunning stretch of sand faces south, with Atlantic waves and good surf. The only way to arrive is by boat or the 12km hiking trail around the rocky headlands. The beach is home to a local caiçara community, people who live a simple lifestyle along the Costa Verde coastline based around fishing. Trails to waterfalls and freshwater pools can be enjoyed before a simple seafood lunch with a beautiful view. After returning in the afternoon, evening can bring lively nightlife around the Praia do Curral area towards the southern end of the island.
Day 5
Away from Ilhabela

Destination: Ilhabela to Sao Paulo

Your time in Ilhabela comes to an end with the return journey to Sao Paulo, either to accommodation in the city or to one of the airports. The island has many more options as well for tours and activities as well as those included here, with private boat hire; more mountain, waterfall and beach trails to hike; a coastal cycle path on the west side; and scuba diving and snorkelling possible at many points around the island. Ilhabela can also be a stop on a road trip up the spectacular Costa Verde between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. As with all our tours, we can adjust the trip to Ilhabela to your wishes, and also combine it with any other parts of Brazil.

Prices

* Domestic Flights Estimated Price
N/A
** Prices Per Adult based on two people travelling and sharing accommodation
Simple B&B
from $600 USD
3 Stars
from $725 USD
4 Stars
from $975 USD
5 Stars
from $1,075USD

* Prices vary depending on travel dates and flight availability. Peak periods in Brazil including Carnaval, public holidays and Christmas/New Year usually require a minimum number of nights, so in these cases itineraries may need to be changed.

** Domestic flight prices are estimated on typical values when reserved six months before travel. Prices can never be guaranteed until reservations are made, and do usually become more expensive closer to the travel period.


* Domestic Flights Estimated Price ** Prices Per Adult based on two people travelling and sharing accommodation
N/A
Simple 3 Stars 4 Stars Luxury

from

$600 USD

from

$725 USD

from

$975 USD

from

$1,075 USD
 

* Prices vary depending on travel dates and flight availability. Peak periods in Brazil including Carnaval, public holidays and Christmas/New Year usually require a minimum number of nights, so in these cases itineraries may need to be changed.

** Domestic flight prices are estimated on typical values when reserved six months before travel. Prices can never be guaranteed until reservations are made, and do usually become more expensive closer to the travel period.