Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ARRIVAL AND GETTING AROUND
ILHABELA
By ferry
Ferries (24hr; pedestrians and bicycles free;
motorbikes R$7.10 weekdays, R$10.60 weekends; cars
R$14.10 weekdays, R$21.20 weekends;
T
0800 773
3711,
W
dersa.sp.gov.br) depart from São Sebastião's
waterfront every half-hour (hourly midnight-6am) and
the crossing to the island's ferry terminal at Perequê
takes about 20min. If you're driving, be prepared for a
long queue for the ferry during the summer, particularly
Friday evenings from São Sebastião, and Sunday
evenings from Perequê, unless you book in advance.
By bus
Getting around the island can be a problem. The
main bus route is along Ilhabela's western shore north as
far as the lighthouse at Ponta das Canas and south to Porto
dos Frades, and no buses serve the east coast or the Parque
Estadual de Ilhabela. Buses (R$2.80) depart regularly from
outside the Perequê terminal to Vila Ilhabela, and there are
always taxis on hand.
INFORMATION AND TOURS
Tourist information
There's a tourist office in Perequê,
at the junction of the road from the ferry with the main
coastal road (daily 9am-6pm;
T
12 3895 7220), and a
tourist information kiosk in Vila Ilhabela on Rua Dr
Carvalho at the junction with Rua do Meio (daily
9am-6pm;
T
12 3896 3777); both give out maps of the
island and can advise on transport and tours. You can
find online listings (in Portuguese) at
W
ilhabela.in.
Tours
Travel agencies that run various boat and
jeep combinations exploring the island include Webtour
at Rua do Meio (Rua São Benedito) 59, Vila Ilhabela
(
T
12 3896 6519,
W
webtur.com), and Ilha Adventure,
Av Princesa Isabel 605, Perequê (
T
12 3896 5399,
W
ilhaadventure.com.br).
ACCOMMODATION
Ilhabela is the most expensive spot on São Paulo's coast, and in
high season
(Dec-March) it can be di
cult to find a place
to stay (reservations are essential).
Camping
on the beaches is forbidden, but no one seems to care if you pitch a tent on
the island's virtually uninhabited eastern side.
8
Pousada dos Hibiscos
Av Pedro Paulo de Moraes 720
T
12 3896 1375,
W
pousadadoshibiscos.com.br.
A reception and courtyard brimming with flowers make
this one of the prettiest
pousadas
to stay in and it also has a
pool. The rooms feature cool white linen, tiled floors and
wooden furniture - t
he hot
el's website allows you to view
them all in advance.
R$242
Pousada Manga Rosa
Rua Francisco Gomes da Silva
Prado 34
T
12 3896 1118,
W
mangarosailhabela.com
.br.
Three blocks from the centre of Vila Ilhabela, this
modern
pousada
is conveniently located and offers simple,
clean rooms conn
ected b
y a series of wooden walkways,
plus a small pool.
R$260
Pousada Rafimar
Av Faria Lima 71, Perequê
T
12 3896 9999,
W
rafimar.com.br.
While it's not in the
prettiest part of the island, this simple hotel is the area's
cheapest and it has a pool. The nearby ferry l
landing
at
Perequê is convenient for reaching the mainland.
R$195
Pousada Saco da Capela
Rua Itapema 167
T
12
3896 8020,
W
sacodacapela.com.br.
This well-
maintained
pousada
at Saco da Capela, just south of Vila
Ilhabela, has beautiful rooms with verandas, lush
tropical g
ardens
and a pool. Rates are slightly cheaper
midweek.
R$330
HOTELS & POUSADAS
Maison Joly
Rua Antônio Lisboa Alves 278
T
12 3896
1201,
W
maisonjoly.com.br.
Located on a hill above the
village, this is the place to go for a serious splurge. The king
of Sweden has been known to stay, and all of the hotel's
luxurious but tastefully furnished rooms have private
terraces with spectacular ocean views, and their own
jacuzzis in additi
on to the ho
tel's pool. Prices drop by about
a third midweek.
R$632.50
Porto Pacuíba Hotel
Av Leonardo Reale 2392, Viana
T
12 3896 2466,
W
portopacuiba.com.br.
A friendly,
charming hotel across the road from the Praia do Viana and
a 20min walk (or hourly bus) into town. Rooms are fairly
spartan
but there's a nice pool surrounded by palm trees.
R$475
Pousada Canto da Praia
Av Força Expedicionária
Brasileira 793
T
12 3896 1194,
W
cantodapraiailhabela
.com.br.
A short walk from town, this colonial-style
building is one of the island's prettiest
pousadas
although
the rooms' furnishings are a tad fussy. There's a fine pool
and the gorgeous garden ext
ends
down to the very
attractive Praia de Santa Tereza.
R$400
Pousada Ecoilha
Rua Benedito Garcêz 164, Água Branca
T
12 3896 3098,
W
ecoilha.com.br.
This attractive inland
option is on the edge of the Parque Estadual, just off the road
leading to the Baía de Castelhanos. The rooms are basic but
comfortable and the property is entirely surrounded by
tropical forest - making a good supply of in
sect re
pellent
essential. Rates are slightly cheaper midweek.
R$180
CAMPSITES
Canto Grande
Av Riachuelo 5638, Praia Grande
T
12 3894 1506,
W
cantogrande.com.br.
A campsite
right by the beach at the southern end of the west coast,
