No roads, about 150 km of trails and a state park covering most of the island. Here is what each hike from Vila do Abraão really involves, from a one-hour loop to the climb up Pico do Papagaio.
Ilha Grande's trails start in Vila do Abraão and carry state park numbers from T1 to T16. The classics are Abraão to Lopes Mendes (about 3 hours each way), Abraão to Dois Rios (about 7 km, 3 hours) and Pico do Papagaio (about 980 m, steep, guide strongly advised). For an easy walk, try the Abraão circuit.
Much of the island's Atlantic Forest is protected by the Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande, managed by the Rio de Janeiro state environment agency, INEA. With no cars and no roads between villages, trails are how people have always moved around here, which is why the network is so extensive. Distances look short on paper. The heat, humidity and climbs make them feel longer.
Distances and times below are one way, for an average walker without long breaks. Figures for the same trail vary between sources, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
| Trail | Park code | Distance | Time | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circuito do Abraão (Praia Preta, Lazareto, aqueduct) | T1 | 1.8 km | About 1 h | Easy |
| Abraão to Abraãozinho | Coastal path | Short | 30 to 40 min | Easy |
| Abraão to Lopes Mendes, via Palmas and Pouso | T10 + T11 | 6 to 7 km | About 3 h | Moderate |
| Abraão to Dois Rios | T14 | About 7 km | About 3 h | Moderate |
| Abraão to Pico do Papagaio | T13 | About 6 km | 3 to 4 h up | Hard |
| Aqueduct to Saco do Céu | T2 | 5.8 km | About 3 h | Moderate |
| Provetá to Aventureiro | T9 | 3.5 km | About 2.5 h | Hard |
| Island loop (Volta à Ilha) | Several | About 70 km | About 5 days | Hard |
The Abraão circuit (T1) is the best first walk. In about an hour it takes you west along the shore to Praia Preta, named for its dark sand, past the ruins of the Lazareto, a 19th-century quarantine station, and up to the stone aqueduct that supplied it with water. It works well on arrival day, after a long morning on the road.
The coastal path to Abraãozinho heads east from the village and takes 30 to 40 minutes, passing small beaches. Abraãozinho is calmer than the main beach and good for a swim before walking back for dinner.
Another easy outing is the Feiticeira waterfall, usually done by taking a boat to Praia da Feiticeira and walking about 30 minutes on a gentle trail.
Moderate. The route combines trail T10 (Abraão to Pouso, through Palmas) and T11 (Pouso to Lopes Mendes): roughly 6 to 7 km and about 3 hours each way. It climbs over the ridges between bays, then drops to each beach, so you go up and down several times. Most of it is shaded. After rain, the clay turns slippery. Many hikers walk there and take the boat back to Abraão from Pouso in the afternoon. Our Lopes Mendes beach guide has the boat prices and timings.
Different from the others: it follows an old dirt road across the island, built to serve the prison that once stood on the south coast. You climb steadily out of Abraão, cross the ridge and descend to Dois Rios, a long beach framed by two rivers. Count about 7 km each way (figures from 6 to 8 km circulate) and roughly 3 hours at a relaxed pace.
Dois Rios was the site of the Instituto Penal Cândido Mendes, a prison closed and demolished in 1994. Some ruins remain, and a few surviving rooms house the Museu do Cárcere, part of an eco-museum run with the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ). Check opening days in Abraão before you go. There are no regular boats back, so plan to walk both ways: start early and carry enough water and food for 6 hours.
Pico do Papagaio, named for its parrot-beak profile, rises to about 980 m and is the island's best-known summit. It is the second highest point on Ilha Grande; Pico da Pedra d'Água, at 1,031 m, is higher. The trail (T13) leaves from Abraão and takes 3 to 4 hours up through dense forest, with steep sections, roots and loose ground near the top.
A guide is strongly recommended, and most people book one. The junctions are easy to miss, the forest is dark before dawn, and the classic plan is to start in the middle of the night to reach the summit for sunrise. Guided hikes are sold in Abraão and online, typically for around R$300 to R$400 per person in 2026, and last about 8 hours in total. Clouds often cover the peak by late morning, which is another reason to go early. Rules on group size and booking at weekends have changed over the years, so ask your guide or the park office in Abraão for the current ones.
The full island loop (Volta à Ilha) covers about 70 km in roughly five days, linking around 20 beaches and sleeping in small guesthouses or campsites along the way. It is done with a guide accredited by the state park unless you are an experienced trekker. On the west side, the trail from Provetá to Aventureiro (T9) is short but steep, and the trail from Dois Rios to Caxadaço (T15) is rated hard. These are better done as part of a longer stay, staying in Araçatiba, Provetá or Aventureiro rather than in Abraão. Our guide on where to stay in Ilha Grande compares those areas.
May and June, then September and October, are the best months: drier trails, clearer views from the summits and more comfortable temperatures. July is dry too, but the Brazilian school holidays fill the trails and the village. From December to March, it is hot and humid, with short but heavy storms in the afternoon that turn paths to mud. If your dates are fixed in summer, hike at dawn and plan the afternoon at the beach. Our best time to visit guide goes through the seasons.
All the main day hikes start in Vila do Abraão, which is where our shared transfer from Rio ends. We pick you up at your hotel or apartment in Rio, or at GIG or SDU airport, drive to Conceição de Jacareí in an air-conditioned van and cross to Abraão by speedboat, about 3h30 door to door. The fare is R$260 one way or R$490 round trip per person, port fees included. One small or medium suitcase plus a backpack per person is included, which is enough for a hiking trip. You can book your transfer to Ilha Grande here.
What is the best hike on Ilha Grande?
It depends on what you want. Abraão to Lopes Mendes (about 3 hours) ends on the island's most famous beach. Pico do Papagaio (about 980 m) gives the widest view but is steep and best done with a guide. Abraão to Dois Rios (about 7 km) adds history, with the ruins of the old prison.
Do I need a guide for Pico do Papagaio?
It is not always compulsory, but it is strongly recommended. The trail is steep, the junctions in the forest are confusing and most people hike part of it in the dark to reach the top for sunrise. Guided hikes are sold in Vila do Abraão, typically for around R$300 to R$400 per person in 2026.
Are the trails on Ilha Grande marked?
The main routes from Vila do Abraão are well used and identified by the state park's trail numbers, from T1 to T16. Junctions deep in the forest can still be confusing, so download an offline map before you go, as phone signal is patchy.
Can I hike to Lopes Mendes and take a boat back?
Yes. Many people walk from Abraão to Lopes Mendes in the morning (about 3 hours), then walk 20 to 30 minutes to Praia do Pouso and take a boat back to Abraão in the afternoon. Check the last boat time and whether one-way seats are sold that day.
When is the best season for hiking on Ilha Grande?
May and June, then September and October, when the trails are drier and the heat is bearable. July is dry too but busier. From December to March, expect heat, humidity, afternoon storms and mud.
Our transfer drops you in Vila do Abraão, where the island's main trails begin. One booking covers the van and the boat.
Book your transferLooking for something else? Browse all our Ilha Grande travel guides.