Best Beaches of Ilhabela: A Perfect Weekend Trip from São Paulo

Located about two and a half hours southeast of São Paulo, on the beautiful stretch of coastline known as the Costa Verde, Ilhabela is a fantastic weekend getaway offering picturesque beaches, exhilarating water sports, and large areas of lush, unspoiled tropical forest. Much like its neighbor Ilha Grande a few hours up the coast, Ilhabela represents an important sanctuary of Brazil’s endangered Mata Atlântica (Atlantic Forest), considered one of the world’s foremost biodiversity hotspots. The protected Parque Estadual de Ilhabela covers 85% of the island’s total area, with development limited to the western side of the island that faces the town of São Sebastião on the mainland just a short ferry ride away.

Read on for a guide to some of Ilhabela’s best beaches.

Praia do Julião

Just a short drive south of the port, Julião is one of the island’s best beaches that is reachable by car. It sits at the point where the channel separating the island from the mainland begins to widen, with expansive views of the coastline and calm, pool-like waters. You can park your car on the main road and walk down to the beach through a charming path of thick forest. For a great lunch with a view, check out Restaurante Prainha do Julião.

Praia do Curral

A few minutes south of Julião, Curral offers an even better stretch of sand, with beautiful palm trees framing your view. Both of these beaches are excellent spots to watch the sunset; just beware of infamous borrachudos, a type of black fly with an extremely itchy bite that comes out all over the island at dawn and dusk.

Praia de Castelhanos

Widely considered to be the top beach on the island and among the best in Brazil, Castelhanos is located on the far eastern side of the island, accessible only by boat or by a bumpy ride in a 4x4 jeep for 14 miles (22 km) through the mountainous jungle. The road conditions are pretty rough, so it’s best to leave the hour-and-a-half ride to a professional; I recommend going with Castelhanos Turismo, who will take you by some beautiful waterfalls, natural pools, and overlooks along the way. They offer trips by jeep or speedboat; I recommend the jeep there and the boat back. On the return journey, you’ll also stop at two more great beaches that you can see below, which are only accessible by boat.

Saco do Eustáquio

Located in a protected inlet northeast of Castelhanos, Saco do Eustáquio is a hidden paradise, with warm, calm waters lined by thick jungle on both sides. It is an excellent place for a relaxing dip after the sometimes rough waters of Castelhanos.

Praia da Fome

This is another calm beach on the island’s north side, with a miraculous L-shaped palm tree and some attractive colonial-era buildings.

Looking for more places to explore in the region? Check out our São Paulo page here.