There are 2 departures per day for the transfer from Rio de Janeiro to Araçatiba and Praia Vermelha, and the following pickup schedules are listed according to pick-up zones within the city:

FIRST TRANSFER (06:15 – 08:15)

06:45 – 07:00 am:  Downtown, Centro, Maracanã Stadium, Vila Isabel, Tijuca Shopping Center, Estácio.

07:00 – 07:45 am:  Santa Teresa, Lapa, Flamengo, Laranjeiras, Catete, Gloria, Botafogo, Humaita, SDU airport.

07:15 – 08:15 am:  Copacabana, Leme*, Ipanema, Leblon, Arpoador, Gavea, Jardim Botanico.

06:15 – 09:00 am:  Barra da Tijuca, São Conrado,  ou Recreio dos Bandeirantes.  Pick-ups from these last locations could be either before or after the pick-up in the other locations.  You will be advised of the time the night before.

SECOND TRANSFER (10:15 – 12:15)

10:15 – 11:00 am:  Downtown, Centro, Maracanã Stadium, Vila Isabel, Tijuca Shopping Center, Estácio.

11:00 – 11:45 am:  Santa Teresa, Lapa, Flamengo, Laranjeiras, Catete, Gloria, Botafogo, Humaita, SDU Airport.

11:15 – 12:15 pm:  Copacabana, Leme*, Ipanema, Leblon, Arpoador, Gavea, Jardim Botanico.

10:00 – 13:00 am:  Barra da Tijuca, São Conrado,  ou Recreio dos Bandeirantes. Pick-ups from these last locations could be either before or after the pick-up in the other locations.  You will be advised of the time the night before.

Locations which the van will not pick up in Rio de Janeiro

– Vidigal
– Location accessed by Ladeira Ary Barroso street on the hill of Leme*,
– Rua Saint Romain & other streets accessed by it.
– Maracana Area (except from a meeting point at the stadium)
– Neighbourhoods around the GIG international Airport,
– Niterói
– Others located out of pick-up zones or difficult for the van to access.
–  Sheraton Leblon, and any other location on Av. Niemeyer Second Departure only (first is ok)

If staying in one of the above places, we will give you the closest meeting point.

IMPORTANT –  Although we do everything we can to stick to the above schedule, the reality of navigating in a big city means that there are possibilities of road delays that could affect the schedule on your day of travel. The above times for transport to Araçatiba & Praia Vermelhato are a guide only and based on daily averages rather than rigid schedules.

You will be informed by a WhatsApp message when the shuttle van is in your area so that you may make your way outside to wait.

If staying in a hotel or hostel we ask you to be checked out and waiting close to the entrance of the building for your transfer to Araçatiba or Praia Vermelha to arrive. While if you a being picked up from an apartment or private residence, we ask that you be ready to depart from out front of the building.

If you are arriving by flight and need transport to Araçatiba or Praia Vermelha from the airport, then it is possible to travel directly from the Rio GIG airport to Ilha Grande.

Transfer to Araçatiba from the GIG Airport Shuttle Pick-ups

First transfer to Araçatiba / P.Vermelha
The van passes between 08:15 – 08:45.

Second transfer to Araçatiba / P.Vermelha
The van passes between 12:00 – 12:45.

• The operational team will send you a WhatsApp Message when the van is close to the airport.
• Allow yourself at least an hour from your scheduled arrival time to make it to the meeting point.
• The pick-up point is outside one of the terminal 2 doors on the top floor (the level where flight check-ins are made). The van will be coming from the city with other passengers already on board.
• After you make your booking, the confirmation will feature the exact location where the van will pass to collect you.
• During the reservation, please provide your flight arrival time and flight number so that we know that your flight has arrived on the day of the service.
• If you know your flight is going to be delayed and you may miss the van, you must contact the operational team to organize a new transfer.

Transport to Araçatiba from the SDU Airport

The transfer from the Santos Dumont SDU airport to Araçatiba or Praia Vermelha is made on the same shuttle that picks up from city hotels.  The van will swing by a meeting point at the airport to collect you and then will continue to pick up other passengers at hotels.

FIRST DEPARTURE
The van passes between 07:00 – 07:45 am.

SECOND DEPARTURE
The van passes between 11:00 – 11:45 am.

• The operational team will send you a WhatsApp Message when the van is close to the airport.
• Allow yourself at least an hour from your scheduled arrival time to make it to the meeting point.
• The pick-up point is outside the departure terminal (where flight check-ins are made).
• After you make your booking, the confirmation will feature the exact location where the van will pass to collect you.
• During the reservation, please provide your flight arrival time and flight number so that we know that your flight has arrived on the day of the service.
• If you know your flight is going to be delayed and you may miss the van, you must contact the operational team to organize a new transfer.

You carry your own bags onto the pier and until the boat, and then the crew will help with the loading of the bags.

The duration taken to reach your destination depends on where the other passengers are going and the order along the route your accommodation is located. On average, after departing the port of Angra dos Reis, the crossing to Araçatiba is usually between 20 to 30 minutes, and to Praia Vermelha it takes between 30 to 40 minutes.

Because the route to Ilha Grande is mainly protected from the open sea, the trip is not usually overly bumpy, but there can be higher seas in times of bad weather.

The boats from Angra dos Reis to Araçatiba and Praia Vermelha are called Flexboats, which are speedboats purpose-built for this type of transport. They have inflatable tubes along the side, which make them the fastest and safest craft for ferrying passengers to Ilha Grande.

The boats are equipped with regulation safety equipment such as:

• Two-way radio;
• Individual life jackets (children’s sizes available);
• Floatable rescue devices.

The seats onboard are undercover, and there are plastic siding that comes down in case of rain. But do bring a raincoat in case of rain comes in through the front while the boat is moving.

The boat makes stops at safe piers along the coast of the Araçatiba & Praia Vermelha communities. There is a regular order for the stops along the route, first passing Araçatiba and then Praia Vermelha.

If your pousada/hotel has a pier then you will be dropped off directly there. If not, you will be dropped off at the public pier closest to your accommodation. There are no vehicles in these communities and therefore you will need to walk with your luggage to your pousada from the pier.

Araçatiba boat stops and their related hotels

Araçatiba hotels that have their own pier
Pousada Canto da Saracura, Bem Natural Pousada e Camping, Pousada Cruzoé, Pousada Popeye, Pousada Mar da Lua, Hotel Boutique Verde Mar, Bangalô do Lugar Preferido no Mundo, Pousada Convés, Pousada Refúgio do Capitão,

Cachoeira Pier
Mar de Sonhos, Pousada Casa da Ilha, Treetop Chalet.

Principal Pier
Suítes Ilha Grande, Pousadas Tropical, Cantinho de Ará, Tony Montana, Maravilha de Ara, Pousadas Gabriel, Cibelis, Ilha Hostel, Encanto do Pai, Recanto do Sol, Encanto da Ilha,, Nena Suítes, Pouso do Sol, Pousada Gabriel, Mar de Araçatiba, Casa dos Coqueiros, Casa do Artista, Fiote.

Quiosque Pier
Pousada Cibelis, Suítes Pica-Pau, Ilha Hostel, Encanto do Pai, Recanto do Sol, Pousada Gabriel.

Araçatibinha Pier
Hostel da Praia Ilha Grande, Pousada Joãoe e Maria.

Praia Vermelha boat stops and their related hotels

Praia Vermelha hotels that have their own pier
Espaço He’Nalu, Suítes Arpoador, Pousada Vila Pedra Mar.

Vermelha Pier
Lagamar, Dolce Vita, Praia Vermelha, Sítio Itaguaçú, Pousadas Ponta da Barca,

Bring some cash to Ilha Grande

Although plenty of places accept credit cards, there are no banks on the island. It is best to bring currency to Brazilian Reals because local exchange rates may not be as good as you will find on the mainland. Make sure to take out money before the transfer to Araçatiba and Praia Vermelha arrives, because the shuttle will not be able to stop for you to get money out on the way.

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.

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

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.