Note: It is best and most practical to let Eric in our Rio Office arrange these visits to coastal towns and islands as we maintain special discount contracts with the inns, guides, and services. If you are lucky, Paul may take you himself.
ANGRA DOS REIS
This town is a popular destination for trips to nearby islands such as Ilha Grande, a nature preserve with great beaches and for yachting and spear fishing. To kill time while waiting for your boat, visit the Nossa Senhora do Carmo church and convent. There's a Club Med in nearby Mangaratiba. 75 mi /120 km west of Rio de Janeiro.
ISLA GRANDE
The Indian's - "Tamoios" and "Tupinambas" - used to call these 193 kms square of beauty and 106 beaches, waterfalls and mountains - Ipanum Guaçu - Isla Grande or Big Island
The old prison at "Dois Rios" (Two Rivers) caused the tourist invasion to be slow and controlled, keeping nature untouched. During the prison years, it was common to hear that a prisoner had escaped and was looking for a boat to take him to the mainland.
After the prison was abolished, the attraction of the tourists grew ... and also the number of bars and inns. Natural environment is protected and tourism strictly controlled. The villages are full of inns, restaurants, bars and handcraft shops.
The most southern and famous beach is Lopes Mendes, facing the open sea, and is good for sports like surfing and windsurfing.
There are nature trails
through the forest that lead to the beaches, water falls, and historical monuments
like the aqueduct and the old leprosarium of the Black Beach.
You can follow one of the walking tracks with beautiful view to get to the Abraham Village.
On South Beach is a biological reserve created during the seventies when the island became a Federal Park.
MAP of the island: MAP
A regular daily ferry services the island to the Village of Abraham ... If one wants to reach other destinations than Vila do Abraão, alternative transportation is available for reasonable prices, leaving generally from Santa Luzia Quay, in the center of Angra dos Reis. Andetur can arrange this from Rio.
August 16, 2006