Things to Do in Ilha Grande

Ilha Grande has no cars and no direct road access — everything moves by boat and on foot, which is exactly why its beaches stay this quiet. Lopes Mendes, reachable only by a forest trail or a boat plus a walk, is the one to plan a day around; the old Dois Rios prison ruins and a full loop of the coastline fill the rest of a stay. Below are the top-rated ferry transfers, boat tours and hiking trips from Rio and the Costa Verde.