A little bit of background information on Ihla Grande. Despite the name, the island is actually quite small. It is very tranquil, there are no roads or cars and no cash points on the island, so be sure to have cash before you come or else you are going to be stuck. Furthermore, the Internet connection on the island is poor to say the least so if you need to sort transfers etc out ensure you do this before or have a plan B to contact the necessary people.
Ultimately, this place is a little piece of paradise, perfect if you have just been in the hustle and bustle of Rio.
So to get to Ihla Grande from Rio, you need to get a public bus or shuttle bus to the town of Jacareí. The hop off hop on bamba pass we have for the trip means all travel is included so the boat and bus is all taken care of, but if you are going it alone I would recommend booking in advance to guarantee you have a boat before travelling. The company we used was called easy transfer brazil so check out their website to see what they have to offer.
The view once you get off the bus is phenomenal as you can see below.
The boat takes about an hour and I would recommend going on the top of the boat however make sure you are wearing lots of sun cream because it's so easy to burn up there.
The boats often stop in two different ports, I would recommend looking at this to decide which pousada/hostel you stay in because you don't want to be walking for ages especially because there are no cars so this would mean a walk across the beach. In normal circumstances a walk across the beach sounds like a dream but when you are faced with a massive backpack/suitcase it slowly becomes a nightmare. Believe me, I have seen it happen!
Praia Julia
The island itself has several beaches, you can really take your pick. We often went to this one because it was round the corner from our hostel, was never crowded and you did not have to treck to get to it. As always, I left valuables back at the hostel...better to be safe rather than sorry! So again, will have to wait for the disposables to really appreciate the beauty of this beach!
Umbrella Restaurant
The main restaurants here are located on the main beach front near the ports. We stopped at this restaurant which I have named the umberella restaurant because they use umberellas as lights, giving the restaurant a unique feel and stand out. Marketing as its best if I do say so myself!
Seats are on the beach, just adding to that peaceful vibe that Ilha Grande effortlessly has. As we sat, we were given mosquito repellant cream which I thought as a nice touch especially because the Mosquitos have taken a real fancy to me!
We ordered the seafood risotto to share and of course a couple of caipirinhas- because when in Brazil! The seafood risotto was amazing, just the right amount of saltiness and so many types of seafood; octopus, mussels, prawns and much more.
The only downside to this place is not only do they charge a 10% service charge but also R$5 each for live music. As we were not informed of the music charge they did actually take this off for us when we inquired what it was. All in all, a really good night with really good food!
Che Lagarto Night Fun
Due to Ilha Grande being a small island, nightlife is not a massive priority here. Che Lagarto however has a good bar which keeps beers and caipirinhas flowing all night long. You also don't necessarily have to be a guest here to enjoy. It is a great way to integrate with other travellers, swap stories and you are bound to have lots of fun. So definitely get involved!
A Few Snaps of the View
I couldn't let this blog post end without showing you the real beauty of Ihla Grande and highlight why it is definitely a must if you are planning a trip to Brazil.
Love Imogen xoxo
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