Paradise Island

Ilha Grande. A location we had never heard of before. After hearing about this great place from Craig and Laurie (s/v Alberta Crewed) we made sure to put this on our list. In fact, we plan on spending at least 3 weeks cruising this area! We already have friends flying down to Rio to join us for a week.

"Ilha Grande is one of the most pristine remnants of Brazil's Atlantic rainforest, one of the richest ecosystems in the world, and a hotspot for biodiversity and conservation. It holds some of the largest remaining populations of many endangered species, including the red-ruffed fruitcrow (Pyroderus scutatus), the brown howler monkey (Alouatta fusca), the maned sloth (Bradypus torquatus) the red-browed Amazon parrot (Amazona rhodocorytha), and the broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris). The seas around the island, which are also protected, feature a unique convergence of tropical, subtropical, and temperate-zone marine life, and may be the only waters in the world where it is possible to see corals and tropical fish along with Magellanic penguins and Southern right whales.

The entire island is a protected area, with most of its territory included in Ilha Grande State Park, and the rest subject to stringent development restrictions. Small-scale ecotourism, however, is encouraged, and the island, which is roadless and off-limits to cars, features over 150 km of hiking trails connecting the handful of coastal villages and hamlets, where lodging is available, to one another and to the many beaches, mountain peaks, waterfalls, and pristine forests.  


The largest village on the island is called Vila do Abraão, with 1900 inhabitants. Most of the visitor facilities and the park headquarters are located there. The village can be reached from the mainland by local ferries and fast catamarans." Source: Wikipedia

We are getting very excited about sailing Brazil. So much so we changed flight plans yesterday to ensure we had ample time to explore without being rushed!