South America · ILHA GRANDE TOURS
Here are 14 ilha grande tours that hold up, each one with its price, its length and the thing worth knowing before you commit to it.
Travel from Rio to Angra dos Reis by comfortable coach, then spend about five hours by boat around Ilha Grande. Swim at Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde, visit Cataguases and Freguesia de Santana, and eat at a buffet in Japariz. Guides such as Marcelo, Fabio, Nayt, and Tiago have led this multilingual tour.
“Super fun! Eventhough it rained the water was warm and overall a great day activity”
Spend a full day traveling from Rio to Angra dos Reis, then cruise among Ilha Grande’s forested islands by schooner. You’ll stop at Blue Lagoon, Cataguases, and beaches such as Japariz or Araçá, with time to swim and snorkel. Guides may include Leo, Alex, Leonardo, Luisa, or Monica, and lunch is served near a fishing village.
“The overall day trip was very enjoyable and fun. The pickup was prompt and right on time. We are then whisked away and dropped off in a small port with other group parties and loaded in a boat which could have limited the people in there because it was somewhat crowded & not everyone was wearing a mask for obvious reasons. The boat then stopped for a couple of times for swim time. The island stop was cool & the lunch buffet by the beach was not that bad. Alex the guide was super helpful & helped translate with the Portuguese language.”
Leave Rio around 7 a.m. for Angra dos Reis, then board a schooner toward Ilha Grande. Swim at Lagoa Azul, visit quiet beaches, stop at the Green Lagoon, and eat a buffet lunch at Japariz. Guides such as Nayt, Elainne, Felipe, and Flavia have led this trip. Expect a full 14-hour day, plus possible traffic delays.
“We ended up not going on this tour after the operator (less than 24 hours before the tour and after the cancellation period had passed) unilaterally changed the pickup place and then repeatedly insulted us for not agreeing to the new pick up location. We also were informed at the last minute that the included lunch would not be provided until late in the afternoon. We also realized that the advertising failed to explicitly advise us of an almost 3 hour bus ride each way to the boat. After repeatedly insulting us and questioning our motives, they finally agreed to pick us up at the agreed time and place. By…”
Travel from Rio to Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande for a full day of swimming, snorkeling, beaches, and island views. You’ll visit Lagoa Azul, Praia de Araça, Freguesia de Santana, and Praia de Japariz, with lunch included. Guides such as Daniel, Nayt, Flavia, and Marcello have earned strong praise, though the boat can feel crowded.
“Had the best time on this trip and would totally recommend it to anyone thinking about it. The only thing I’d mention is that it was a bit crowded—around 120–150 people on the boat—so it felt a little packed at times. But honestly, everything else made up for it. The spots we stopped at were absolutely beautiful and the food was pretty good as well.”
Join Angra dos Reis Turismo at 11:30 am for a roughly six-hour schooner ride around Ilha Grande. You will snorkel at Lagoa Azul and Botinas Islands, stop at Araca Beach and Praia das Setas, and have time for lunch at Bar do Luiz. Choose carefully between the lunch-included and lunch-not-included options.
“Passeio básico para quem vai a Angra, pelo preço vale a pena e você consegue mergulha e curtir um pouco a praia. Porém, levem lanches. No barco a única opção de compra era fandangos e o preço do almoço (se não estiver incluso) é absurdo. Um prato simples de filé de frango com batatas fritas é 170 reais, e não há outra opção para se alimentar. De resto, o passeio vale a pena.”
Travel from Rio to Angra dos Reis, then explore Ilha Grande by speedboat with up to 19 people. Your bilingual guide may take you to Blue Lagoon, Cataguases, Botinas, Green Lagoon, Japariz, or Saco do Céu. Bring snacks, swimwear, sun protection, and a change of clothes. An upgrade adds drinks, snacks, snorkel gear, and underwater photos.
“The beaches we visited were incredibly beautiful! We had plenty of snacks and drinks while on the tour. We also enjoyed an amazing private lunch at one of the beaches with great views. The food was soooo goood! The tour guides had infectious positive energy. They joined us for photos, a beach football match, diving in the water and snorkeling with fish. Overall a great day well spent.”
Leave Rio at 7:00 am for a full day around Angra dos Reis. You’ll visit Lagoa Azul, Freguesia de Santana, Cataguás Island, and Praia de Japariz, with lunch included. Expect a long bus ride, a shared boat, short stops, and guide service that may vary. Sandra has led some departures.
“Que son poco serios. Nos vendieron el tour y no nos pasaron a buscar por falta de 'cupos'. Sin ninguna explicación y más encima tengo que yo hacer toda la gestión para que me devuelvan el dinero”
This 12-hour trip takes you by licensed bus and schooner from Rio to Ilha Grande and Angra dos Reis. You will swim at Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul, visit quiet beaches, eat a Brazilian buffet lunch, and return late. Bilingual guides such as Daniel, Nayt, Fabio, and Thiago have led recent departures. Bring snacks, water, a jacket, and dry clothes.
“Super fun experience, gorgeous coral reefs, well organized (especially given the size of the group). food was good and the islands were great! Highly recommend”
Spend seven hours speedboat-hopping from Vila do Abraão through Angra dos Reis, with five beach and island stops. Swim at Cataguases and Botinas, visit Piedade and famous Dentista Beach, and choose an optional seaside lunch. The tour runs in Portuguese, but its self-guided format works well for international visitors.
“All the different beaches were beautiful. Snorkeling was fun. Guides were great.”
Travel from Rio’s South Zone to Angra dos Reis, board a schooner, and visit Baleia’s Beach, Blue Lagoon, and Freguesia de Santana. You’ll swim, snorkel among colorful fish, and stop for lunch at Japariz Beach if you choose the lunch option. Portuguese, English, and Spanish support is available on land.
“la compañía que realiza el tour simplemenete no apareció y nos informo 2 horas despues que ese día no se haría el tour. no he recibido el reembolso”
Travel from Rio to Angra dos Reis for a five-hour schooner trip through Ilha Grande Bay. Swim at Lagoa Azul, Cataguases, Freguesia de Santana, Japariz, and Lagoa Verde, with buffet lunch included. A bilingual guide, such as Diego Silva, may assist, though group size and music levels can vary.
“Wonderful views. Relex time. Very well schooner boat. Freindly staff. Excellent guide, responsible and freindly Diego Siva. We were the only English speaking among more than forty people and we got special attention. That is most appreciated.”
Travel from Rio to Ilha Grande in a private, air-conditioned vehicle, then cruise by speedboat to Blue Lagoon, Praia do Funil, Saco do Céu, Camiranga, and more. Guides such as Tatiana, Romeo, and Angelica tailor the day to your group. Expect beautiful water, a long road transfer, and lunch at your own cost.
“Barco estrago com a gente e nao deu pra fazer os ultimos passeios que tinha pra fazer ficamos presos ne uma praia”
Spend 14 hours traveling from Rio to Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande. A bilingual guide leads you by boat to Blue Lagoon, Praia de Araça, Freguesia de Santana, and other calm-water stops, with buffet lunch included. Bring ID, swimwear, and cash for the marina fee, drinks, snacks, and optional snorkeling gear.
“Muy buena actividad. Tuvimos un muy buen guia. Estaba preocupado por nosotros todo el tiempo. En el bus que ibamos tuvo un problema pero rapidamente nuestro guia solucionó el problema y la actividad se hizo a tiempo.”
Join a Portuguese-speaking host for a five-hour shared speedboat trip from Angra dos Reis to Ilha Grande. Swim at Lagoa Azul, Grumixama, Freguesia de Santana, Praia das Flechas, and Cataguás. The boat carries up to 18 people, with a floating noodle included. Lunch and drinks cost extra.
“Não tinha nada de paradisíaco. Passeio simples, pouco atrativo. Não faria novamente”
Pick a coastline, an altitude or a kitchen.
