Portuguese for ‘big island’, Ilha Grande is like a South American version of the Whitsundays, but with a cultural twist.
It’s accessible only by boat — either a 45-minute catamaran ride (which I was supposed to be on had it not broken down) or a 1½ hour journey in an old brightly coloured wooden boat.
I shared the latter with tourists and locals bringing meat (leaking blood over the boats floor) and produce from the mainland of Angra dos Reis. However, this failed to spoil the idyllic views of the crystal clear bay and the Brazilian eye candy, in the form of two chocolate-skinned boat captains. And so the cultural experience began.
The 10-minute walk to the hotel, a hut complete with hammock, was made easier with the help of a local man happy to carry my luggage for a small tip.
While admittedly I spent many hours reading in the hammock during my time on Ilha Grande, for the adventurous the island has more than 100 beaches and plenty of activities from boat cruises to hikes, cave diving and bathing under waterfalls.
The island wasn’t always a tourist destination. It once served as a route to the slave trade and until 1994, housed an operating jail.
Along with the beautiful surrounds and friendly locals, the oasis also had some cheap but tasty food. Brazilian buffets were a hit and it was hard to pass up a delicious slice of cake from the roaming night stalls.
To top it all off, the weather was perfect. Depending on the season, you can expect 18- 28 degrees — a nice escape from Melbourne’s cooler weather. Another perk of the island is there are virtually no cars, which helps create a quiet and pollution-free environment. The English-Portuguese language barrier varies depending where you visit (accommodation, eateries, shops). Some locals speak English while others don’t, so a quick lesson in Portuguese before you arrive could make life easier.
Exchanging money before arriving on the island is advised.
This is a great, unique destination for travellers who want to surround themselves with picturesque scenery.
