Half the island's best spots are easier to reach by sea than on foot. Here is how the tours sold in Vila do Abraão differ, what they cost in 2026 and how to pick the right boat.
The most popular boat tour from Vila do Abraão is the meia volta, or half-island loop: about 6 hours, with stops at Lagoa Verde, Lagoa Azul and one or two beaches, plus lunch. In 2026, expect roughly R$100 to R$200 on a schooner or R$180 to R$250 on a shared speedboat. Book in Abraão the evening before.
Walk along the Abraão waterfront in the evening and you will see the same tours chalked on a dozen boards. The names are similar and the prices vary, so it helps to know what you are choosing between before you start comparing.
Lagoa Azul (Blue Lagoon) is not a lagoon in the strict sense but a natural pool of clear, shallow water on the north coast of Ilha Grande, sheltered by a cluster of small islands, among them Ilha do Macaco, Ilha Comprida and Ilha Redonda. The water is calm and very clear on good days, and small fish gather around swimmers. It is the stop everyone wants, so it is also the busiest: in high season, many boats arrive around the same time.
Lagoa Verde (Green Lagoon) sits on the northwest coast and gets its name from the emerald color of the water over sand and rock. It has two small coves back to back, one sandy, the other rockier and better for snorkeling. Tours usually stop there for 40 to 50 minutes, and it often feels a little less crowded than Lagoa Azul.
If someone offers bread to feed the fish, skip it: it changes their behavior and does them no good.
Most agencies sell the same five or six routes. Prices below are per person for 2026, from guides published this year; they move with the season and the boat, and a little negotiation is normal.
| Tour | Main stops | Duration | Price per person (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meia volta (half loop) | Lagoa Verde, Lagoa Azul, Praia do Amor or Feiticeira, lunch stop | About 6 h | Schooner R$100 to R$200; speedboat R$180 to R$250 |
| Lagoa Azul | Lagoa Azul, Freguesia de Santana, lunch at Japariz | 4 to 5 h | Schooner from about R$80; speedboat R$120 to R$160 |
| Lopes Mendes | Boat to Praia do Pouso, 20 to 30 min trail | Flexible, half day or more | About R$40 to R$50 return |
| Super Sul (south coast) | Lopes Mendes if the sea allows, Caxadaço, Dois Rios | Full day | Schooner from about R$80; speedboat R$150 to R$200 |
| Volta completa (full loop) | Aventureiro, Parnaioca and the open-sea coast | About 8 h | Speedboat R$180 to R$280 |
| Private speedboat | Your own route | Half or full day | Quoted per boat |
For a first visit with one boat day, the meia volta covers the essentials. If you want a quieter beach day, the Lopes Mendes boat is cheaper and leaves you free on the sand; our Lopes Mendes guide explains how it works. The full loop is the only practical way to see Aventureiro and the wild southwest coast in a day, but it depends on calm seas.
Schooners (escunas) are large wooden boats carrying dozens of passengers, usually with a toilet on board and music. They are the cheapest option and comfortable on calm water, but slower, so you spend more of the day sailing and less time at each stop. They also roll more in open water.
Speedboats (lanchas) take small groups, often around 10 to 14 people. They are faster, so you get more time in the water at each stop, and they can reach places schooners skip. There is usually no toilet, and you feel the waves more at speed.
Taxi boats carry about eight people and go point to point, priced by the trip. They are useful to reach one beach, not for a tour.
If you get seasick, choose a morning departure, a north-coast route and a calm day, and sit toward the back of the boat where the motion is gentler.
Agencies line the waterfront and the streets around the pier in Abraão. Most travelers book the evening before, after comparing two or three, and pay a small cash deposit with the balance on the day. Online platforms sell the same tours in dollars, usually for more. Prices rise in December to February, in July and on holidays.
Budget for extras: lunch at the restaurant where the tour stops (typically R$50 to R$100 per person), drinks, and snorkel gear if it is not provided. Card machines on the island fail when the connection drops, so carry cash. For the bigger picture of what a few days on the island cost, see our Ilha Grande trip cost guide.
The north-coast tours to the lagoons run in sheltered water and go out on most days. South-coast and full-loop trips face the open ocean and are cancelled or cut short when there is swell, which happens more often with cold fronts in winter. In summer, the sea is usually calm in the morning, with storms building in the afternoon. The water is at its clearest after a few dry, calm days.
To avoid the crowds at Lagoa Azul, travel outside December to February and July, and ask for an early departure. The best time to visit guide covers the seasons month by month.
Usually not the full meia volta, since most tours leave between 9:30 and 11:00. With our earliest transfer from Rio (pickups from 05:00 to 07:15 depending on your area, about 3h30 door to door), you reach Vila do Abraão in the middle of the morning, which is often too late for the day's main departures. Plan your boat day for your first full day and keep the arrival afternoon for the village or an easy walk.
On your last day, the same logic applies in reverse: transfers back to Rio leave Abraão at 09:00, 13:30 and 17:00, so a full-day tour and the 17:00 transfer do not mix well. The transfer costs R$260 one way or R$490 round trip per person, port fees included, and you can book your Rio to Ilha Grande transfer online.
How much does a boat tour cost in Ilha Grande?
In 2026, the half-island loop (meia volta) costs roughly R$100 to R$200 per person on a schooner and R$180 to R$250 on a shared speedboat. A shorter Lagoa Azul trip starts around R$80 on a schooner. Lunch, drinks and sometimes snorkel gear are extra.
Which is better, Lagoa Azul or Lagoa Verde?
Most people do both on the same tour. Lagoa Azul is the more famous, with clear blue water sheltered by small islands. Lagoa Verde is greener and often less crowded, with good snorkeling around the rocks. If you can only pick one tour, choose one that stops at both.
Do I need to book a boat tour in advance?
Not weeks ahead. Most travelers book at an agency in Vila do Abraão the evening before, often with a small cash deposit. In high season and on holidays, book as soon as you arrive.
Is snorkel gear included on Ilha Grande boat tours?
Sometimes. Some boats lend masks and snorkels, others rent them on board or not at all. Ask when you book, or rent gear in the village before you leave.
What happens to a boat tour if the sea is rough?
Captains either switch to the sheltered north coast or cancel. South-coast tours are the first to be cancelled when there is swell. Agree with the agency, before you pay the deposit, what happens to your money if the tour does not go.
Our shared transfer takes you from your hotel in Rio to Vila do Abraão, where every boat tour on the island begins.
Book your transferLooking for something else? Browse all our Ilha Grande travel guides.