Skip to content
Voykit
Set your trip — dates, party, bagsPlanner

Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · Brazil

Ilhabela

Go for 2–3 nights if you want beaches, trails and sailing; skip if you only have a day — the ferry queue and 1-road island eat the time.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
BRL
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov
avoid Dec–Feb (crowds, ferry queues, rain), Jul school holidays
Airports
GRU · CGH · SJK
Nights
2–3
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
  • South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
  • South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
  • South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
  • Brazil ↗US, Canadian and Australian citizens need an e-visa (about US$81 — check) applied for online at the official VFS portal before travel; EU and UK citizens do not. Check your passport with Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs before booking.
  • Brazil ↗Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for many areas, including the Amazon and Pantanal; check with a travel clinic at least 10 days before travel.
  • Brazil ↗Keep your phone out of sight in the street and on beaches; phone theft is the most common crime against visitors in big cities.
  • Brazil ↗Carnival 2027 runs about 5–10 February (Tuesday 9 February; Salvador from 4 February): book Rio, Salvador and Recife/Olinda months ahead or avoid those dates.

Ilhabela is an island municipality off São Sebastião, reached by a 15-minute ferry. Almost everything sits on one west-coast avenue, so you sleep near the Vila or along the beaches and move by bus, car or boat. Two to three nights covers the accessible beaches, a waterfall walk and a boat trip; the wild east coast (Castelhanos, Bonete) needs a full day each.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Ilhabela, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeR$8–15 (≈ US$2–3)
  • BeerBeer: draught / can at a shopR$12–20 (≈ US$3–4) / R$5–8 (≈ US$1–2)
  • Metro or bus rideIsland bus rideR$4 (≈ under US$1)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekR$40–80 (≈ US$8–15)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personR$60 (≈ US$12)
  • Mid-range bedPousada double room, a night, per roomR$420 (≈ US$80)
  • High-end bedPousada double room, a night, per roomR$900 (≈ US$170)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget R$180 (≈ US$35) · Mid R$400 (≈ US$75) · High R$800 (≈ US$150)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Beaches along the west coastSailing and kitesurfCastelhanos beach and state parkRainforest trails and waterfalls
Airports
GRU São Paulo–Guarulhos (About 3.5–4.5 h by road to São Sebastião ferry, then the crossing) · CGH São Paulo–Congonhas (Closer to the coast road; same onward drive) · SJK São José dos Campos (About 2–2.5 h by road to the ferry)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Ilhabela: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

30°C

23°C

16 rd

Feb

30°C

23°C

14 rd

Mar

29°C

22°C

13 rd

Apr

27°C

20°C

10 rd

May

25°C

18°C

8 rd

Jun

24°C

16°C

7 rd

Jul

23°C

16°C

7 rd

Aug

24°C

16°C

7 rd

Sep

25°C

17°C

10 rd

Oct

26°C

19°C

12 rd

Nov

27°C

20°C

13 rd

Dec

29°C

22°C

15 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

One main avenue runs the west coast; buses cover its length (about R$4 one-way, less with an IC card). A car helps for the north beaches and the Castelhanos track. The Castelhanos road is unpaved and one-way by time of day: west-to-east in the morning, east-to-west in the afternoon, controlled at the park entrance. The east and south coasts are boat or trail only.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Castelhanos beach

go

Door to door: 1.5–2.5 h each way by road

4WD or car on the unpaved park road, or a boat from the Vila

Road is one-way by time of day; go early and respect the return window.

Bonete

overnight

Door to door: Half a day or more

12 km trail from the south of the island (4–5 h) or a boat from the Vila

No cars, little light; sleep one night rather than rush back.

São Sebastião

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Ferry to the mainland, then bus or car

Mainland beaches and the onward bus terminal.

Ubatuba

overnight

Door to door: 2–3 h

BR-101 north by car or bus

Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep there.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Vila (Ilhabela centre)

Ferry landing, restaurants, shops; walkable, good for a first night without a car.

Perequê and Barra Velha

South of the Vila along the main avenue; pousadas and hostels, bus stops on the road.

Northwest beaches (Siriúba, Armação, Pedra do Sino)

Quieter, calmer water; you need a car or bus and each beach is a short walk off the avenue.

Castelhanos and Bonete

Reached by trail or boat only; simple camping and pousadas, no cars in Bonete.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
R$180–320 (≈ US$35–60) excl. bed
Mid
R$350–650 (≈ US$65–130) excl. bed
High
R$700 (≈ US$130)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Pousada double room1 × 3 nights × R$420R$1,260
Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × R$400R$2,400
Ferry, car each way1 × R$14 · R$11–17 depending on vehicle; foot passengers freeR$14
Island bus, one ride2 × R$4 · About R$2.50 with IC cardR$8
Boat trip to a remote beach2 × R$150R$300
eSIM, about a week of data2 × R$60R$120
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeR$410
Trip total≈ R$752 per person per day, bed includedR$4,512≈ US$850

2026 estimate in reais; long-distance travel to the coast excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeR$8–15 (≈ US$2–3)
Self-service lunch by weightR$50–90 (≈ US$10–17) per kg
Moqueca or seafood plateR$70–140 (≈ US$13–30)
Beer: draught / can at a shopR$12–20 (≈ US$3–4) / R$5–8 (≈ US$1–2)
Island bus rideR$4 (≈ under US$1)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekR$40–80 (≈ US$8–15)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Ilhabela is calm by Brazilian city standards; the real risks are slippery trails, sand flies, strong surf on the east coast and swimming after heavy rain. Keep valuables out of sight on beaches and use the 190 police line if needed.
  • Sand flies (borrachudos) on many beaches: cover up and use repellent, especially at dusk.
  • Ferry queues for cars can reach an hour or more in high season; foot passengers and cyclists cross free.
  • Some northwest beaches get mainland pollution after heavy rain; check local advice before swimming.
  • The Castelhanos track is one-way by time of day — miss the window and you wait.
  • Trails are slippery when wet; the Bonete trail is 12 km and takes 4–5 h on foot.

Emergency numbers

Police
190
Ambulance
192
Fire
193

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

IlhabelaIlhabela

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Para este endereço, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police190
  • Ambulance192
  • Fire193

Embassy

No embassies on the island; consulates-general are in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Ferry São Sebastião → Ilhabela, foot passenger: free, about 15 min, every 30 min 06:00–00:00
  • Ferry, car: R$11–17 (≈ US$3–4) each way
  • Island bus, one ride: about R$4 (≈ under US$1)

Say or show

  • Com licença / Desculpe — Excuse me / Sorry (kong lee-SEN-sah / des-KUL-pee)
  • Obrigado / Obrigada — Thank you (oh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-dah)
  • Quanto custa? — How much is it? (KWAN-too KOOS-tah)
  • Posso pagar com cartão? — Can I pay by card? (POH-soo pah-GAR kong kar-TOWN)
  • Onde fica a praia? — Where is the beach? (ON-jee FEE-kah ah PRY-ah)
  • Preciso de ajuda — I need help (preh-SEE-zoo jee ah-ZHOO-dah)

Ferry runs 24 h; last buses on the island are early — check times before a late beach.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Ilhabela. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov · avoid Dec–Feb (crowds, ferry queues, rain), Jul school holidays · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Ferry contract: foot vs car, high-season queue windows, last crossing times field-checked.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Vila, Perequê–Barra Velha, northwest beaches, Castelhanos.
  3. Place pages with verified access rules (Castelhanos one-way window, Bonete trail) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Boat-trip and trail fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Brazil

Sources