Budget
How much does a trip to Ilha Grande cost in 2026?
Ilha Grande can be done on a backpacker budget or in a sea-view pousada, but everything arrives by boat and prices follow the calendar. Here are real 2026 numbers and a worked example.
Ilha Grande can be done on a backpacker budget or in a sea-view pousada, but everything arrives by boat and prices follow the calendar. Here are real 2026 numbers and a worked example.
Budget roughly R$150 to R$300 per person per day on Ilha Grande as a backpacker, or R$300 to R$550 mid-range, sharing a double room. Add the trip from Rio: R$490 per person for a door-to-door round trip transfer, or roughly R$150 to R$300 by bus and ferry. These are 2026 estimates; New Year and Carnival cost much more.
The figures below come from rates published for 2026 in Vila do Abraão and from the island's agencies. They are ranges, not quotes: the same room can cost twice as much on a holiday weekend as on a Tuesday in May.
Three things decide your daily spend: where you sleep, how often you eat out, and whether you take boats or walk. Here is what that looks like per person, for low and mid season.
| Per person, per day | Backpacker | Mid-range (sharing) | Comfort (sharing) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed | R$60 to R$120 (dorm) | R$100 to R$225 (pousada) | R$350 and up |
| Food and drinks | R$80 to R$120 | R$150 to R$200 | R$250 and up |
| Activities (average) | R$0 to R$50 | R$50 to R$120 | R$150 and up |
| Total | R$150 to R$300 | R$300 to R$550 | R$750 and up |
| Item | Price (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door transfer, Rio to Vila do Abraão | R$260 one way, R$490 round trip per person | Van, port fees and speedboat included; private vehicle R$2,600 round trip for up to 5 |
| Bus Rio to Angra dos Reis | About R$53 to R$117 each way | 3h to 3h30, then a boat |
| Public ferry from Angra or Mangaratiba | R$20.50 each way | One departure a day each way |
| Speedboat from Conceição de Jacareí | About R$45 to R$150 each way | 20 to 25 min crossing |
| Sustainable Tourism Tax (TTS) | R$28 to R$100 | R$50 in most cases, valid 30 days |
| Dorm bed | About R$60 to R$150 per night | Cheapest midweek, out of season |
| Double room, simple pousada | R$200 to R$450 per night | Sea views from about R$600 |
| Restaurant meal in Abraão | About R$50 to R$100 per person | Many bills add a 10% service charge |
| Snacks and water from the market | About R$30 to R$60 per day | For hikes and beach days |
| Boat to Praia do Pouso (Lopes Mendes) | About R$40 to R$50 return | Or walk the trail for free |
| Half-island boat tour (meia volta) | R$100 to R$250 | Schooner cheaper than speedboat |
| Guided Pico do Papagaio hike | About R$300 to R$400 | Usually a pre-dawn start |
A typical first visit: two people, three nights in a simple pousada in Vila do Abraão in mid season, one boat tour, one beach day at Lopes Mendes and meals out.
| Item | Calculation | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Round trip transfer from Rio | 2 × R$490 | R$980 |
| Tourist tax | 2 × R$50 | R$100 |
| Pousada with breakfast | 3 nights × R$380 | R$1,140 |
| Lunch and dinner | 3 days × 2 people × R$150 | R$900 |
| Half-island boat tour | 2 × R$180 | R$360 |
| Boat to Pouso for Lopes Mendes | 2 × R$45 | R$90 |
| Total | R$3,570, about R$1,790 per person |
Swap the pousada for dorm beds, the boat tour for the Lopes Mendes trail and dinners out for a mix of market food and set lunches, and the same trip drops to around R$1,000 to R$1,300 per person with the transfer included, or less by bus and ferry. Our guide on where to stay in Ilha Grande explains which areas cost what.
Doing it yourself is cheaper. A bus from Rio's Novo Rio station to Angra dos Reis plus the public ferry costs roughly R$150 to R$300 for the round trip, against R$490 for our transfer. You save around R$200 to R$350 per person.
What you pay instead is time and connections. The public ferry runs once a day in each direction (from Angra at 15:30 on weekdays and 13:30 at weekends, and from Mangaratiba at 08:00), takes up to 110 minutes, and you first have to get to the bus station and then to the pier with your luggage. Speedboats from Conceição de Jacareí are faster and more frequent but cost more. The transfer picks you up at your door, includes port fees and the boat, and takes about 3h30. Our Ilha Grande ferry guide compares every crossing in detail.
For groups, the numbers change. A private transfer costs R$2,600 per vehicle for the round trip, up to 5 people, which is about R$520 each for five: close to the shared fare, with your own van and boat at the time you choose.
The tourist tax. Angra dos Reis charges a Sustainable Tourism Tax that is not included in any transfer or ferry ticket. Under the rules in force since June 2026, most visitors pay R$50, valid for 30 days. People who board in another municipality and cannot show a two-night stay pay R$100, and day visitors leaving from Santa Luzia in Angra pay R$28. Children up to 12 and people over 60 are exempt. Payment goes through the city's Viva Angra system.
Holiday pricing. At New Year and Carnival, rooms often cost double and minimum stays of several nights are common.
The service charge. Restaurant bills in Brazil often include an optional 10% service charge. Check before adding a tip.
Cash. Card machines go down when the connection drops, and the island's ATMs are unreliable. If you are stuck without cash, you may pay more for whatever accepts your card.
For what you get, a car-free island with forest trails and beaches like Lopes Mendes, it is reasonable, especially out of season. It is not a cheap destination by Brazilian standards, and a long weekend in January can cost twice a week in May. If you are still deciding, our honest take on whether Ilha Grande is worth it may help. When you are ready, you can book your transfer from Rio online; the fare is the same every day of the year.
How much money do I need for 3 days in Ilha Grande?
For a mid-range trip, about R$1,800 per person for three nights, including the round trip transfer from Rio, a shared pousada room, meals, the tourist tax, one boat tour and the boat to Lopes Mendes. Backpackers can do it for roughly R$1,000 to R$1,300 with the transfer, or less by bus and ferry.
Is Ilha Grande expensive?
More expensive than the mainland coast, because everything arrives by boat, but not extreme. A dorm bed costs about R$60 to R$150, a double room in a simple pousada R$200 to R$450, and a restaurant meal R$50 to R$100 per person. Prices jump at New Year and Carnival.
Do I need cash on Ilha Grande?
Yes. Many places take cards, but card machines stop working when the connection drops, and ATMs on the island are few and unreliable. Withdraw enough reais in Rio for boat trips, small restaurants and deposits.
Is the tourist tax included in the transfer price?
No. The Sustainable Tourism Tax (TTS) is charged by the Angra dos Reis city council and paid separately. Since June 2026 it is R$50 per person in most cases, between R$28 and R$100 depending on where you board and how long you stay; children up to 12 and people over 60 are exempt.
When is Ilha Grande cheapest?
On weekdays in April, May, September and October, outside the Brazilian school holidays. The transfer price stays the same all year; accommodation is what changes most.
R$490 per person round trip covers your pickup in Rio, the van, port fees and the speedboat to Vila do Abraão. No extra charges on the day.
Book your transferLooking for something else? Browse all our Ilha Grande travel guides.