Ilhabela & São Sebastião

A forested island on São Paulo's North Coast, 90% state park, with hidden beaches, rainforest waterfalls and wreck diving, plus São Sebastião's old town across the channel.

Ilhabela ("beautiful island") lies off the North Coast of São Paulo state in Brazil, facing São Sebastião on the mainland across a channel about 2 km wide. The main island, São Sebastião Island, covers about 340 km² of steep, densely forested mountains, most of it within Ilhabela State Park, which protects coastal Atlantic Forest. Roads only cover the west coast facing the mainland: in the middle is the colonial-era Vila; to the north are calm bays such as Jabaquara and Ponta das Canas; to the south are lively beaches such as Curral and Feiticeira, as well as the Toca waterfalls. Castelhanos Bay on the east coast can only be reached by 4x4 on a dirt road or by boat, and the fishing village of Bonete at the southern tip requires a hike or boat ride. Ilhabela is Brazil's sailing capital, and the many shipwrecks around the channel support a thriving scene for diving, snorkelling and sailing. Across the water, São Sebastião has a compact colonial old town, and about 25 km southwest is the surf spot of Maresias. Getting there: drive or take a bus from São Paulo to São Sebastião (about 3–4 hours), then a 15–20-minute car ferry to the island; on peak-season weekends the queue can last several hours, so book the ferry online in advance. The climate is hot and humid: Dec–Mar is both the rainy season and peak season, while Apr–Jun and Sep–Nov bring steadier weather and fewer people. Biting blackflies (borrachudo) are a serious nuisance on the island, so be sure to bring insect repellent. Plan on 3–4 days, including a day by 4x4 or boat to the east coast.

Top sights

• Baía de Castelhanos – A half-moon bay on the east coast of Ilhabela, backed by rainforest and largely undeveloped. It is the island's classic destination for off…
• Praia do Bonete – A beach in a remote fishing village at the island's southern tip, reachable only by a roughly four-hour rainforest trail or by boat. It is…
• Ilhabela State Park – A protected area of Atlantic Forest covering much of the island, with waterfalls, mountain trails and east-coast beaches within its bounds.
• Cachoeira da Toca – A ticketed waterfall park in the rainforest with natural pools, rock slides and short trails. It is Ilhabela's most popular family spot.
• Vila de Ilhabela – The island's colonial old town, with a white church, flagstone lanes and waterfront bars. It is the center for evening meals and strolls.
• Praia do Jabaquara – A broad bay at the end of the North Road, with calm waters, rock formations on both sides, and a river mouth good for splashing around.
• Ilha das Cabras – A small island just off the coast south of the ferry landing, inside a marine protected area, where snorkelers can see schools of tropical…
• Praia do Curral – The liveliest beach on the island, with beach bars, seafood restaurants and sunset parties, plus a shipwreck nearby for snorkeling.
• Pico do Baepi – The island's most popular hiking trail, climbing a rocky peak about a thousand meters high for views over the channel, the old town and the…
• Príncipe de Asturias Shipwreck – A Spanish ocean liner that ran aground and sank in 1916, and the most famous shipwreck dive site in Ilhabela.
• Praia da Feiticeira – A small bay on the south side of the island, with clear, calm water and tree-shaded shores, named after a legend of a witch who buried trea…
• Cachoeira do Gato – A rainforest waterfall beside Castelhanos Bay, where water pours into a deep pool, and a regular stop on the east coast off-road day trips.
• Praia da Fome – A secluded small bay on the northeast part of the island, reachable only by boat or on foot, with clear water and few visitors.
• Ponta das Canas Lighthouse – The old lighthouse at the northwest corner of the island, with a calm beach on its headland and views of the channel entrance and the mainl…
• Fazenda Engenho d'Água – A late-18th-century sugarcane mill estate that preserves the island's colonial-era agriculture and the history of enslaved labor.
• São Sebastião Historic Center – The old colonial town across from the ferry landing, with a 17th-century cathedral, a religious art museum and a seaside promenade.
• Praia de Maresias – The most famous surfing beach on São Sebastião's south coast, with about 4 kilometers of sand and a lively bar scene.

Where to eat

• Pimenta de Cheiro – A popular seafood restaurant right on the sand at Perequê Beach, known for generous Caiçara moqueca and pumpkin-baked s…
• Portofino – A sea-view Italian restaurant in the garden of a hotel by Viana Beach, with seafood risotto and squid-ink rice highly p…
• Cheiro Verde – An affordable home-style restaurant in the old town of Vila, famous for its huge Brazilian PF plates and usually with a…
• Viana Beach Restaurant – A third-generation family-run seafood restaurant on Viana Beach, famous for its shrimp served in edible crisp shells.

Itineraries

• Rio to São Paulo Coast Road – Follow the Rio–Santos Highway to connect Ilha Grande, Paraty, Ubatuba, and Ilhabela.
• São Paulo North Coast Islands & Beaches – Descend from São Paulo, stay three nights in Ilhabela, and head to Ubatuba for island boat trips.