The areas of Paraty where we pick up are from locations within the city limits of the town, and also the neighboring beach town of Jabaquara.

Travessia Ilha Grande uses Flex Boats which are the fastest passenger crafts ferrying people from Conceição de Jacareí to Vila do Abraão.

From the tourist pier of Conceição de Jacareí, the distance to Vila do Abraão is 12 kilometer and the crossing takes between 15 to 25 minutes depending on the sea conditions of the day.

As a result of bad weather, the seas are not always calm, but the majority of the boat crossings are not uncomfortably bumpy. Just be prepared in the event of high seas, where it can get a little rough.

The boats feature undercover seats to protect from the sun and rain, although we also advise having a raincoat in case of bad weather and sunscreen to protect from the sun’s reflection on the water.

The boats from Conceição de Jacarei arrive to Ilha Grande at the main pier of Abraão (Estação Abraão) which is centrally located on the shore of the town’s beach.

Because there are no public vehicles on Ilha Grande, getting to your accommodation is either by:

• Walking  – the majority of visitors to Ilha Grande stay in the town of Abraão and make their way to their hotels by foot.
• Local taxi-boat – if you are staying outside Abraão, then hire a taxi boat from the same pier to get to your hotel. But if you are staying on the west side of the island (eg. Araçatiba or Praia Vermelha) then take a boat to Ilha Grande from Angra dos Reis instead of Conceição de Jacarei.

Make use of the luggage porters

The roads on Ilha Grande are more like sandy foot trails and not the easiest to navigate with luggage on wheels, but if traveling light you should be able to walk to your pousada easily enough with your luggage because it is not a big place.

On the other hand, if you are traveling with a lot of luggage or you would simply like a little help, there are porters for hire who are waiting on the pier for arriving boats. By following a hired porter it is also a great way to easily locate your accommodation in Vila do Abraão.

These porters are easily spotted with their yellow shirts that feature the words Carreteiro Legal printed on them.

Bring some cash to Ilha Grande

Although plenty of places accept credit cards, you should not count on finding banks to withdraw cash in Abraão because there are no banks on the island. It is best to bring currency in Brazilian Reals because local exchange rates may not be as good as you will find on the mainland.

Luggage allowance for the shared service is 1 standard-sized suitcase or backpack per person and 1 carry-on bag per person. The carry-on item needs to able to fit at your feet or on your lap if no other space is available with the rest of the luggage.

You are responsible for carrying your own luggage to the boat, and then the staff will load your bags onto the boat for you. During the crossing luggage is covered to protect from rain.

If you have more luggage than this, please contact us to see if we can accommodate them.  Extra charges may apply.