Every trip to Ilha Grande ends on a boat. Which one depends on the port you leave from, and the differences in price, frequency and crossing time are bigger than most travelers expect.
Boats to Ilha Grande leave from three mainland ports and all arrive in Vila do Abraão. Conceição de Jacareí has the shortest crossing: 20 to 25 minutes by speedboat, roughly hourly. Angra dos Reis and Mangaratiba have the cheap public ferry (R$20.50 in 2026, up to 110 minutes), with one departure a day each way.
Ilha Grande has no bridge and no airport, and cars are not allowed on the island. So the boat is not optional. The choice is which one, and that choice decides how much of your first day you spend waiting on a pier.
Schedules and fares below are those published for 2026. Ferry times change on holidays and speedboat companies adjust their timetables by season, so check them the day before you travel.
| Port | Boat | Crossing | Fare each way (2026) | Departures to Abraão |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conceição de Jacareí | Speedboats and catamarans | 20 to 25 min | About R$45 to R$150 | Roughly hourly, 08:00 to 17:00; last boat back from Abraão around 17:30 |
| Angra dos Reis | Public ferry (barca) | Up to 110 min | R$20.50 | 15:30 on weekdays, 13:30 at weekends and on holidays; back from Abraão at 10:00 |
| Angra dos Reis | Speedboats | 30 to 50 min | About R$75 to R$100 | Several through the day |
| Mangaratiba | Public ferry (barca) | Up to 110 min | R$20.50 | 08:00; back from Abraão at 17:30 |
Conceição de Jacareí, a small district of Mangaratiba on the Rio to Santos road, about 150 km from Rio, is where most travelers cross. The crossing is short, departures are frequent and it is the port used by door-to-door transfers.
Angra dos Reis is the largest town on this part of the coast and further from Rio. It has both the public ferry and speedboats, and it is the only port with boats to Araçatiba and Provetá on the far side of the island. Our guide on where to stay in Ilha Grande explains when that matters.
Mangaratiba has only the morning public ferry, which means a very early start from Rio by bus or car.
The public ferries are run under a state concession, operated since 2025 by the Barcas Rio consortium. The fare is R$20.50 each way from both Angra dos Reis and Mangaratiba, payable in cash or by debit or credit card at the terminal. Crossings take up to 110 minutes. Bicycles travel free, up to ten per crossing.
The catch is frequency: one boat a day in each direction. From Angra, it leaves at 15:30 on weekdays and 13:30 at weekends and on holidays, and comes back from Abraão at 10:00. From Mangaratiba, it leaves at 08:00 and returns from Abraão at 17:30. Miss it and you either wait until the next day or pay for a speedboat. In summer, arrive early: the boat is large but it is the only one.
Several private companies run speedboats and small catamarans from the pier at Conceição de Jacareí, with ticket kiosks right by the water. Departures run roughly every hour from about 08:00 to 17:00, and the last boats back from Abraão leave around 17:30. Fares range from about R$45 to R$150 each way in 2026, depending on the company, the size of the boat and the season.
Without a car, you reach the pier on a bus from Rio heading for Angra dos Reis: ask the driver to stop at the Conceição de Jacareí junction, then walk about 10 minutes. By car, paid parking near the pier costs about R$30 to R$40 a day, and the lots fill up before 09:00 on holidays. People sometimes approach travelers at the pier offering last-minute tickets; buy from the official kiosks instead.
| Option | Rio to Abraão | Cost per person, one way | What to plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus + public ferry from Angra | 5 to 7 hours with waits | About R$75 to R$140 | Novo Rio bus station, one ferry a day |
| Bus + speedboat from Conceição de Jacareí | 4 to 5 hours with waits | Bus fare + R$45 to R$150 | Bus stop at the junction, walk to the pier |
| Car + speedboat | Drive + 20 to 25 min crossing | Fuel, tolls, parking R$30 to R$40 a day + boat | Parking for the whole stay |
| Our door-to-door transfer | About 3h30 | R$260 (R$490 round trip) | Pickup at your hotel, port fees and boat included |
If you are on a tight budget and travel light, the bus and public ferry is the cheapest way across, as long as your dates fit the single daily departure. If you want to arrive in the morning without changing vehicles, a transfer does the connection for you: our van leaves Rio with pickups from 05:00 to 15:15 depending on the departure and your area, and the speedboat crossing at Conceição de Jacareí is timed to meet the van. For a step-by-step comparison of the road part (van, bus, car, Uber), see how to get to Ilha Grande from Rio.
Usually not. The bay between the mainland and the north side of Ilha Grande is sheltered, and most crossings are smooth. The wind tends to pick up in the afternoon, so morning boats are calmer. Rain on its own does not stop the boats, but a swell brought by a cold front can delay or cancel departures, more often in autumn and winter.
If you get seasick, take a morning crossing, sit toward the back of the boat, look at the horizon and skip the heavy breakfast. On our transfers, boats are registered with the Brazilian Navy and run by licensed captains; if the sea is rough, the crossing is delayed by a few hours, or you are refunded and rebooked the next day.
All boats from the mainland dock at the main pier in Abraão, known as Estação Abraão. Since June 2026, the Sustainable Tourism Tax charged by Angra dos Reis is checked there, with payment points and turnstiles at the station; most visitors pay R$50, valid for 30 days, with a range from R$28 to R$100 depending on where you board and how long you stay. Children up to 12 and people over 60 are exempt. From the pier, there are no taxis and no cars: you walk to your accommodation, usually in a few minutes.
For the trip back, our transfers leave Abraão at 09:00, 13:30 and 17:00 and take you to your hotel, the airport or the bus station in Rio. You can book your Rio to Ilha Grande transfer here, from R$260 one way.
How long is the ferry to Ilha Grande?
It depends on the port. Speedboats from Conceição de Jacareí take 20 to 25 minutes. Speedboats from Angra dos Reis take 30 to 50 minutes. The public ferry from Angra dos Reis or Mangaratiba takes up to 110 minutes.
How much is the ferry to Ilha Grande?
In 2026, the public ferry from Angra dos Reis or Mangaratiba costs R$20.50 each way. Speedboats cost about R$45 to R$150 each way from Conceição de Jacareí and about R$75 to R$100 from Angra dos Reis, depending on the company and the season.
Which port is best if I am coming from Rio?
Conceição de Jacareí, for most people. It has the shortest crossing and the most departures, and it is the port used by door-to-door transfers from Rio. Angra dos Reis is the better choice only if you are going to Araçatiba or Provetá, or want the cheap public ferry.
Do I need to book the boat to Ilha Grande in advance?
For the public ferry, tickets are sold at the terminal; arrive early in summer, as there is only one departure a day. Speedboat companies sell at their kiosks by the pier and many take reservations; on summer weekends and holidays, book ahead.
Can I take my car to Ilha Grande?
No. Ilha Grande is car-free and there is no car ferry. Drivers leave their car in a paid parking lot near the pier, typically R$30 to R$40 a day in 2026, and cross as foot passengers.
Our shared transfer picks you up in Rio and connects the van with the speedboat at Conceição de Jacareí. Port fees and the crossing are included.
Book your transferLooking for something else? Browse all our Ilha Grande travel guides.