Landing in Rio and heading straight to the island: pickup windows at Galeão and Santos Dumont, the meeting point, travel time, fares and what happens if your flight is late.
Short answer: you can go from Rio's Galeão international airport (GIG) to Ilha Grande on the day you land, without going into the city first. Our shared van picks up at GIG three times a day, between 07:00 and 07:15, 11:00 and 11:15, or 15:00 and 15:15, and drives to the pier at Conceição de Jacareí, where a speedboat takes you to Vila do Abraão. Count about 3h30 from the end of the pickup window to the island. The fare is R$260 per person one way, R$490 round trip, boat and port fees included.
Rio de Janeiro has two airports. International flights land at Galeão–Antônio Carlos Jobim (GIG), on Ilha do Governador in the north of the city. Santos Dumont (SDU), next to the city centre on Guanabara Bay, handles domestic flights. Both are pickup points for the transfer, so you do not need to drop your bags at a hotel first.
The fare is the same as from a hotel in Copacabana or Ipanema. Galeão has the latest pickup window of each departure.
There are three departures a day. Your exact window is confirmed by email 12 hours before departure, together with the driver's name and the vehicle's plate number.
| Departure | Galeão (GIG) | Santos Dumont (SDU) | In Vila do Abraão from GIG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early morning | 07:00–07:15 | 06:30–06:50 | Around 10:45 |
| Mid-morning | 11:00–11:15 | 10:15–10:50 | Around 14:45 |
| Early afternoon | 15:00–15:15 | 14:30–14:50 | Around 18:45 |
Arrival times are estimates: the end of the pickup window plus about 3h30 on the road and on the water. Traffic on the way out of Rio is what makes the difference from one day to the next.
Choose the departure that leaves you comfortable time after landing. On an international arrival you still have immigration, baggage claim and customs between the aircraft and the meeting point, and queues vary a lot with the time of day. If in doubt, book the later pickup.
The last pickup at Galeão ends at 15:15. If your flight lands in the late afternoon or the evening, there is no shared transfer to the island that day: spend the night in Rio and leave the next morning with a pickup at your hotel. Our day trip guide explains why the island is too far for a quick there-and-back.
At Galeão, the meeting point is in Terminal 2, International Departures level (Embarque Internacional), 2nd floor, Door D. It is written in your confirmation email. Keep your phone switched on: the driver contacts you on the number given at booking.
At Santos Dumont, the pickup details come with your confirmation and with the voucher sent 12 hours before departure.
Give your flight number when you book: the booking form asks for it as soon as you choose an airport as your pickup area. The flight is then monitored, and if it is delayed you are moved to the next available departure at no extra charge.
If you miss the pickup window for another reason, write to us at contact@transferilha.com. In most cases a rebooking on a later departure the same day is possible.
A private transfer for up to 5 people costs R$2,600 per vehicle, round trip, and leaves at the time you choose. It suits flights that land between the shared departures.
A taxi or Uber can take you to the pier at Conceição de Jacareí, about 150 km from Rio. From Rio, the car alone costs roughly R$320 to R$380, and you then buy a speedboat ticket at the kiosks on the pier (about R$45 to R$150 per person in 2026). Drivers sometimes cancel such a long ride at the last minute.
By public transport, you first have to get from the airport to the Novo Rio bus station (Rodoviária), where the buses for Angra dos Reis leave. Ask the driver to stop at the Conceição de Jacareí junction, then walk about 10 minutes to the pier. From Rio, count 4 to 5 hours with waits, plus the trip from the airport to the bus station. The ferry guide lists the boats, fares and timetables from each port.
Transfers leave Vila do Abraão at 09:00, 13:30 and 17:00 and can drop you at GIG or SDU. Count about 3h30 to Rio: the 09:00 departure reaches the city around 12:30, the 13:30 around 17:00 and the 17:00 around 20:30. The meeting point is the Abraão pier, line 5, 30 minutes before departure.
With an international flight in the evening, the 09:00 departure is the one that leaves room for the unexpected: a swell can push a crossing back by a few hours, and Rio traffic can add a lot of time to the drive.
Each passenger can bring one small or medium suitcase and one backpack. Extra or oversized bags are possible on request. There are no cars on Ilha Grande: you lift your own bag onto the boat and walk it from the pier to your accommodation, usually a few minutes away in Vila do Abraão.
Can I go from Rio airport to Ilha Grande on the same day?
Yes, if your flight lands early enough for one of the three pickups at Galeão (07:00–07:15, 11:00–11:15 or 15:00–15:15). The transfer takes about 3h30, van and speedboat included. After the 15:00 pickup, there is no shared transfer until the next morning.
How much is the transfer from Galeão airport to Ilha Grande?
R$260 per person one way or R$490 round trip, the same fare as from a hotel in Rio, with the speedboat and port fees included. The Angra dos Reis tourist tax (R$28 to R$100 per person, R$50 in most cases) is paid separately.
What happens if my flight is delayed?
Give your flight number when you book. The flight is monitored and, if it is late, you are moved to the next available departure at no extra charge.
Where is the meeting point at Galeão airport?
Terminal 2, International Departures level, 2nd floor, Door D. It is also written in your confirmation email.
One booking covers the airport pickup, the van to the coast and the boat. Add your flight number when you book.
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