Ilha Grande is an hour by boat from the coast of Angra dos Reis and is one of the most pristine remnants of Brazil's Atlantic rainforest. The island houses one of the richest ecosystems in the world, and a hotspot for biodiversity and conservation. It holds some of the largest remaining populations of many endangered species.
The seas around the island feature a unique convergence of tropical, subtropical, and temperate-zone marine life, where is possible to see corals and tropical fish along with some turtles and Southern right whales.
The entire island is a protected area, with most of its territory included in Ilha Grande State Park, and the rest subject to stringent development restrictions. Small-scale ecotourism, however, is encouraged, and the island, which is roadless and off-limits to cars, features over 150 km of hiking trails connecting the handful of coastal villages and hamlets, where lodging is available, to one another and to the many beaches, mountain peaks, waterfalls, and pristine forests.
