The 9 Best Ilha Grande Tours & Boat Trips

1.Schooner ride with or without Lunch Included – Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 132 reviews · from $12Our pick

Join Angra dos Reis Turismo at 11:30 am for a six-hour schooner ride through Ilha Grande’s clear bays. Snorkel at Lagoa Azul and the Botinas Islands, relax at Araça Beach, and stop for lunch at Japariz or Praia das Setas. The $12 starting price is appealing, but check if lunch is included and bring snacks.

“Passeio básico para quem vai a Angra, pelo preço vale a pena e você consegue mergulha e curtir um pouco a praia. Porém, levem lanches. No barco a única opção de compra era fandangos e o preço do almoço (se não estiver incluso) é absurdo. Um prato simples de filé de frango com batatas fritas é 170 reais, e não há outra opção para se alimentar. De resto, o passeio vale a pena.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Ilha Grande with Boat Tour & Optional Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 72 reviews · 10 hours · from $65

Travel from Rio’s South Zone to Angra dos Reis, then cruise Ilha Grande by schooner. You’ll swim at Baleia’s Beach and Blue Lagoon, visit Freguesia de Santana, and stop for optional lunch at Japariz Beach. A bilingual guide joins the road transfer, while the boat portion has no bilingual guide.

“la compañía que realiza el tour simplemenete no apareció y nos informo 2 horas despues que ese día no se haría el tour. no he recibido el reembolso”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.360° Circumnavigation Speed Boat Tour – 8h

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 31 reviews · 8 hours · from $94

From Vila do Abraão, Ilha Grande Hiking takes you on an eight-hour, Portuguese-language speedboat loop around the island. You stop at Caxadaço, Parnaioca, Aventureiro, and Meros for swimming, snorkeling, photos, and shore time. It is self-guided, so you set your own pace, but beach access can require wading or a short swim.

Check availability →Read our full review

4.6-Hour Speedboat Tour to Blue and Green Lagoons

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 31 reviews · 6 hours · from $62

From Vila do Abraão, a Portuguese-speaking captain takes you by speedboat to Green Lagoon, Blue Lagoon, and Enseada das Estrelas. You get time to swim, snorkel, float with pool noodles, and eat at a local restaurant. Bring a jacket, rent snorkeling gear near the pier, and expect a lively shared tour.

“Unfortunately the guide did not understand a word of English so it was hard to know how much time we had at every location. Besides that, the trip was great, the lagoons were amazing and we had enough time to swim in the lagoons and other beaches we visited. We also had a stop for lunch and walking on the beach. Definitely bring a coat or thick jacket as the wind can be very cold on the boat.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Private Hiking with Forest, Beaches & Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 22 reviews · 5 - 8 hours · from $269

Join a private guide such as Quintino or Matteus for a 12-kilometer hike from Vila do Abraão through Atlantic Forest, past imperial ruins, to Feiticeira Waterfall and the beaches of Camiranga, Pereque, and Fora. Plan on steep ups and downs, swimming stops, wildlife, a complimentary drink, and a full day outdoors.

“We loved this hike, it was a beautiful hike over the island. It was an intensive hike over the mountain, the cold waterpool and the beautiful waterfall was really nice to go to. At the end we went over "lonely Planet" beaches, it was incredible. Loved the hike, loved the guide!”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Private Historic Walking Tour with Natural Pool

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 9 reviews · 2h 30m · from $156

Start at São Sebastião Church for a private 150-minute walk through Ilha Grande’s forest and past historic sites. Guides such as Bruno, Rodrigo, Matheo, and Quintino are praised for local stories, bird knowledge, and flexible pacing. Expect unpaved trails, ocean views, a possible natural-pool stop, and no changing rooms.

“Our tour with Matheo through Ilha Grande State Park was unforgettable! His passion for the island’s deep history and stunning nature was contagious, giving us a deeper appreciation for this special place. He led us to hidden spots we would never have dared to explore on our own, revealing breathtaking views along the way. The highlight was a swim in the natural pool—so refreshing and like a dream! His knowledge and storytelling made the experience both engaging and eye-opening, covering everything from history to ecology to geology. If you’re lucky enough to get Matheo as your guide, you’re in for a fascinating, well-rounded adventure. Bonus: he speaks English and French…”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Full-Day Angra dos Reis Cruise & Island Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.3 · 5 reviews · 10 hours · from $98

Travel by hotel transfer from Rio to Angra dos Reis, then spend the day on a guided schooner cruise through Sepetiba Bay and around Ilha Grande. Expect rainforest-covered mountains, small islands, swimming stops, lunch, and wildlife views. The three stops vary in appeal, and the boat can feel crowded. Guides speak English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, or German.

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Snorkeling with turtles in their natural habitat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 6 hours Top rated

From Vila do Abraão, join guide Mateus on a six-hour private speedboat trip to Lagoa Azul, a known turtle-watching site. Snorkel with turtles and colorful fish, visit Freguesia de Santana, then eat Brazilian food by the sand at Saco de Céu. Photos and videos are sent the next day.

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Lopes Mendes Private Hiking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 8 hours · from $224

Spend eight hours hiking from Vila do Abraão to Lopes Mendes with a private bilingual guide. You’ll pass Palmas, Mangues, and Pouso, learn about Ilha Grande’s wildlife and culture, then return by boat. Bruno has earned special praise for his warm guidance and island knowledge.

“Super activité, très belle journée, guide au top 👏🏻”

Check availability →Read our full review