Northwest beaches
West coast of Ilhabela.
The beaches of the Northwest coast are easily accessible using the main avenue and the non-pavimented road in the north. Most have calm waters and are adequate for swimming and nautical sports.
-
Armação, (12 km north of ferry). Suitable for windsurf and kitesurf. Contains a charming church, Capela Imaculada Conceição, and some kiosks and restaurants.
-
Pedra do Sino, (between Siriúba and Poço). One of the most famous beaches of Ilhabela, it gets its name from its rock formations, which produce a bell-like sound when they hit each other. With shallow and calm waters, and white sands surrounded by coconut trees.
-
Ponta Azeda, (accessible from Praia do Pinto). Small and with calm waters. edit
-
Siriúba, (8 km north of the ferry). Quiet beach surrounded by coconot trees, with calm waters
-
Barreiros, (7,5 km north of ferry). Beautiful beach with 600 m extensions and calm waters. Before reaching the beach there is a nice view of the São Sebastião channel.
-
Itaquanduba. Small and quiet beach, with calm waters. Mostly frequented by locals.
-
Pequeá. Close to downtown and good for sailing. With bars and restaurants.
-
Engenho d'Água, (5 km of ferry). With narrow sands, it is popular among sailors and families and contains a sailing school. The sugar cane farm Engenho d'Água, from the XVII century, sits in front of the beach.
-
Oscar, (Between Pedras Miúdas and Feiticeiras). With only 50 m, it has a big stone on its middle, that forms a natural swimming pool.
-
Pinto, (Between Pedra do Sino and Armação). Accessible by a gated community, it is one of the most beautiful of the island. Has coconut trees and some kiosks.
-
Portinho, (4 km south of ferry, between Pedras Miúdas and Feiticeiras). With transparent waters and visibility of up to 10 meters, it is good for diving. Has parking lots, kiosks and a chapel constructed in 1938.
Southeast beaches
The beaches of the Southeast Coast are difficult to access and mostly desert. Many have strong waves, being indicated for surfing.
-
Caveira, (south of Serraria island). Diving point. Only accessible by boat.
-
Enchovas, (50 min. trail from Bonete). One of the most beautiful spots of the island. With thick and yellow sands, rocks and a river.
-
Indaiúba, (near Enchovas/Bonete). With white sands and calm waters. Only accessible by boat.
-
Bonete, (12 km trail from Ponta de Sepituba). Considered by the British Guardian newspaper one of the 10 most beautiful beaches of Brazil. With strong waves.
-
Castelhanos. With 1.5 km, it is the largest beach of Ilhabela. It is accessible by a 22-km trail that requires a 4x4 vehicle or a mountain bike. Another option is to go by the sea, taking a boat at Perequê beach. With strong waves, it is appropriate for surfing, and it is one of the few beaches in the East coast that offers an infrastructure of kiosks.
Many of the Brazilian windsurfing champions are based in Ilhabela and also train here. Savvy kitesurfers and windsurfers head to Ponta das Canas, at the island’s northern tip. Side-by-side beaches Praia do Pinto and Armação, both located 12 km (7 miles) north of the ferry dock, also have favorable wind conditions.
BL3. You can take kitesurfing, windsurfing, and sailing lessons at BL3, the biggest school in Ilhabela. Individual lessons are priced from R$200. Av. Perimetral Norte 4260, Ilhabela,11630–000. 012/3286–5885; www.bl3.com.br.
Ihabela has no shortage of stunning beaches. Those on the west coast facing São Sebastião have calmer waters, but they are also smaller and often more crowded. They can be easily reached by car as well as the municipal bus line that goes up and down the main paved road. This road extends along the western coast from Porto do Frade in the south to Ponta das Canasat the northern tip, where strong breezes attract windsurfers and kite surfers.
Ilhabela
South from Ponta das Canas, among the nicest beaches are tiny Praia do Viana, Feiticeira, andPraia do Julião, all of which are relatively tranquil and popular with families. The young and restless tend to congregate on Praia do Curral, known for its restaurants, bars, and nightly festas where DJs and dancers take to the sand. Its neighbor, the more tranquil but up-and-coming Praia Veloso, is the last beach accessible by car.
The most gorgeous and wild beaches are those on the eastern coast—which also happen to be the most tricky to get to. While some beaches can be reached by following the hiking trails that wind through the jungle, others are only accessible by Jeep, and getting to the most far-flung spots requires a boat.
Praia do Bonete, a tiny fishing village on the southeast coast, attracts surfers, as does Praia de Castelhanos, a magnificent 2-kilometer (1-mile) stretch of beach with a waterfall named after the Castilian pirates that frequented it centuries ago. The macabre name of Praia do Fome came from the slaves who arrived from Africa com fome (“with hunger”) and were taken to this beautiful beach to gain weight before being sold. Relatively more accessible, on the northeastern coast of the island, Jabaquara is a lovely beach fed by two streams and a freshwater lagoon.
