Ilha Grande

Advantages: Its like a bounty advert!
Disadvantages: Not much to do except chill - so the weather rules here

...Brazilians know this as the Ilha Grande - or Big Island. Its Brazil's largest water bound land mass and was used as a prison colony by the authorities in order to keep Marxists and other political insurgents locked away far from society, and unable to influence the masses during the country’s recent unstable past. Its small on the map, but bear in mind its sitting next to one of the biggest countries in the world. Brazil is roughly the same ...
...received. The island of Ilha Grande resembles in shape a crippled starfish, in that there are arms that stretch out from the main body at strange angles, and often these create sheltered bays of clean white sands. It really is that fantasy image of trekking through the jungle, pushing back the final Palm frond or Banana leaf, and looking out at miles and miles of ocean water and beach. Ahhhhhhh. There is a limit to the amount of people allowed ... Read review

Advantages: The advantages are that you have no contact with the outside world. It's an adventure into nature, where you learn to enjoy life a bit more.
Disadvantages: You must wisely choose the time of the year if you don't want to catch the rainy season... also, since you are part of nature, there are no shops, although the resort sells basic things. The closest town is 30 minutes away by boat.

...to a little resort on Ilha Grande -an island that has no roads, no mcdonalds, no transportation other than canoes and boats... it was more than paradise. We arrived on a foggy afternoon, and as the island came closer, the abundant nature created a green coloured sky - unbelievable. We had a delicious dinner, and then went to sleep at 9:00pm. The next morning, at 8:00am, we woke up to the sun shining through our "curtain" doors... we had a fruity ...
...around the beautiful beaches of Ilha Grande. Back to the resort, you can either relax in the hammocks, or go diving, or canoe to secluded beaches, amongst other activities, until it is time for dinner and one more early sleep. And so the days go by in Ilha Grande, where you forget the world exists... it's a place to enjoy Brazil without the touristic frenzy, and to relax to the point where you reach nirvana! The resort is called Eco and Dive resort, ... Read review

Advantages: Beaches, gorgeous tropical islands, unbelievably great value.
Disadvantages: Having to keep your wits about you, but no real problem.

...the most important ones in easily. I would recommend going on guided tours only, as tourists on their own are an easy target for petty crime. Many hotels in Rio, as did ours, offer tours to all the highlights of the city, with reputable companies. Most of which have hard-to-say-no to prices. In fact there are too many to choose from. **Tropical Island tours Angra dos Reis/Itacaruça/Ilha Grande, R$90-100. Available from the reception of your hotel. If not try contacting BTR on Ave. Nossa Senhora de Copacabana 324, Store B (Copacabana), phone 235-1320. One of the tours that we went on was to a group of tropical islands. Only a two hour drive to paradise! Take a schooner to the islands and go for a swim in the crystal clear waters. Just perfect! There are a number of tours of this sort available, I went on two, Angra dos Reis and Itacaruça... Read review

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