Ilha Grande is one of the most beautiful islands in Brazil. Its location makes it the perfect getaway from the bustling cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo.
Ilha Grande is a lush, tropical island with great weather and crystal clear beaches. A trip to Ilha Grande shuld be a part of any Brazil travel itinerary. Here is a guide to how to get to Ilha Grande from Rio de Janeiro.
The easiest way to get to Ilha Grande
This is a pretty well travelled route both with local holiday-makers and international tourists. Therefore there are a few tourist shuttle services available that do a combination ticket for the bus and the boat.
If you would rather door to door transportation, opt for a shuttle service like this one.
The best way to get to Ilha Grande from Rio de Janeiro
The best way to get to Ilha Grande from Rio, taking into account both price and time, is to take a bus from the Novo Rio bus station to Conceição de Jacareí and then a boat to the island.
The total cost of doing it this way is about R$145. The good news is that it is also really easy and doesn’t take much longer than the shuttle.
If you are looking for how to get to Ilha Grande from Rio cheaply and quickly, this is a great option.
Most people visiting Ilha Grande will stay in Vila do Abraão. This post details how to get to Vila do Abraão in Ilha Grande from Rio. If you are looking to get to other parts of the island you can check ferry schedules to/from other destinations here.
How to get to Ilha Grande from Rio – step one: Bus from Rio Novo to Conceição de Jacareí
To get to Ilha Grande from Rio, first go to Rio Novo bus station in the north of the city. The metro doesn’t connect to the station but depending on where you are staying in Rio, there are local bus connections. The best option is taxi or Uber.
How to buy bus tickets to Ilha Grande from Rio
The most regular buses to the ferry terminals for Ilha Grande are operated by Costa Verde buses.
You can buy tickets in advance on their website here or in person at the terminal.
If you take a taxi or Uber to Rio Novo, turn right as you enter the terminal. The ticket office for Costa Verde is around the back of the stairs and escalators. There are signs to go upstairs to the ticket offices, but Costa Verde’s closest office is on the ground floor. Close to platform 8.
Buy your ticket at the ticket window with the clerk. There are machines where you can buy your tickets but they seem pretty glitchy. We saw a few people attempt to use them and then eventually end up joining the line to buy the tickets in person.
The person who sold us our tickets didn’t speak English but seemed very used to dealing with people who couldn’t speak Portuguese. He turned his screen around and showed us everything he was doing which made it really easy.
To buy a ticket to Ilha Grande from Rio, or any bus ticket in Brazil, you will need to show your passport. Tickets are R$70 which you can pay in cash or card.
The bus departs from one of the platforms directly behind the ticket office. There are toilets, comfortable reclining seats and air conditioning on the bus.
How to get to Ilha Grande from Rio – step two: Boat from Conceição de Jacareí to Ilha Grande
After about 3 hours on the bus, including a 20 minute food and toilet stop, the bus arrives at Conceicao de Jacarei. It is not a bus station, just a stop on the side of the highway where a few people will get off so be ready.
How to buy boat tickets to Ilha Grande
If you cross the street at the crossing, you will be on the street you need to buy a boat ticket. There are loads of touts and ticket offices along this street selling tickets over to Ilha Grande. There is even an office right as you get off the bus on the highway. Buying a ticket is very easy. You can pay with credit card at most offices.
We checked a few prices and they were mostly very similar. We were there during Carnival though so there might be a bit more flexibility in prices at quieter times. Our tickets cost R$75 and were for a boat leaving in 15 minutes.
Continue to walk left down to the end of the beach until you find the boat departure point. The boat is a speed boat and takes 15-20 mins to cross to Ilha Grande.
If your bag has a waterproof cover it is a good idea to use it. Bags are stored at the front of the boat which can be a bit of a splash zone.
The cheapest way to get to Ilha Grande from Rio de Janeiro
If you’re looking for how to get to Ilha Grande from Rio the cheapest way possible, there is another option. You can take a bus from Rio Novo bus terminal to Angra dos Reis. Then take the public ferry to Ilha Grande.
This is the same Costa Verde bus that stops in Conceição de Jacareí however you will just stay on the bus for another 45 minutes.
The ferry is operated by CCR Barcas and only runs from Angra dos Reis to Vila do Abraão once a day. On weekdays the ferry leaves Angra dos Reis at 3:30pm. On weekends and holidays departure is at 1:30pm. Tickets are R$20.5 and the ferry takes 1.5 hours to arrive in Ilha Grande.
Although this is the cheapest option, you’re considerably more restricted in the times you can leave. It will also add at least 1.5-2 hours to the journey. If your money is more important than your time, it is still a very easy and doable option!
There is a third option of getting a bus to Mangaratiba and then the ferry. While it is technically the shortest and cheapest option, the only ferry departs at 8am making the bus connection almost impossible. Unless you plan on getting a taxi, Uber or transfer to Mangaratiba, this route isn’t really an option.
Where to stay on Ilha Grande
The main area to stay in Ilha Grande is Vila do Abraão, which is where the boats from Conceição de Jacareí dock. It is a cute little island town with restaurants along the beach.
As a tourist, Vila do Abraão is the best part of Ilha Grande to stay. From here you can organise all of the day trips and excursions to other beaches or islands.
Here are a few of the best accommodation options for Vila do Abraão.
Pousada Costa Verde is where we stayed and loved it! It is in a quiet part of the town and literally backs onto the jungle. The rooms are clean and comfortable and the host, Ricardo, is a wealth of knowledge about the island. He gave great restaurant recommendations, information about hikes and even got us a discount on a day trip to other parts of the island. If I come back to Ilha Grande, I will stay here again.
Mambembe Hostel is the best hostel on the island. If you’re looking for cheaper accommodation that doesn’t feel cheap, this is the best place to stay!
Looking for more inspiration for your South America holiday? Read my other posts here!
