Ilha Grande

Ilha Grande Tour is one of the tours you don't want to miss if you are going to Rio de Janeiro for vacation. You can get the excursion at any travel agencies along Ave. N.S. Copacapana, Hotels on Avenida Atlântica or perhaps vendors on sidewalks. The price varies around R$100 depending on who you are buying from.

The bus will pick you up in front of your hotel, shuttle around to other hotels pick up other people then leave the town to the Big Island (Ilha Grande) bay. Along the road you will admire scenic beauty, which includes tropical beaches, luxuriant vegetation and a rugged landscape that sometime is dotted with waterfalls.

The bus makes a 10 minutes stop for you to get your coffee or do what ever you want to do.

The bus drops you at the bay and you walk to the main dock then board a wood motorized boat. You can admire the beauty of the nature, mountains, sea, the images are so amusing because it gives you the opportunity to de-stress from the rigors of everyday life such as the traffic and pollution.

You feel like you are an explorer discovering fine white beaches and green vegetation. The boat drops you at Catagu Azes so you can descent and swim. Don't forget to take your diving mask or if you don't have one you can rent from the boat operators to watch fishes swimming in formation. Get back on board ready for the next stop- the brunch which is included in your tour package. Aside from the preset tour menu you can order your own preferred tastes or menu prepared by the boat operators. The food is delicious and mostly delicacies from sea foods. Everything is a gourmet’s delight.

The second drop is Lagua Azul. Here you can dive from your boat then the boat will bring you to Ilha Grande one of the most beautiful beaches of the Brazilian coast, and of the island. Here the boat will dock and you can walk down the beach. In spite of the fact that the sea waves are strong, it is very shallow. The transparency of the water is crystal clear, as well as its variation of hues. It can be from emerald green, dapple gray or ocean blue. Try to explore the land. Climb the rocks, touch the thick leaves and feel the crisp air surrounding the vegetation. The tropical forest can also present some observant and noisy monkeys too. Swim, explore the land but don't forget to get back to your boat for a happy return on time.

On the return trip, the bus will also make one stop before heading back to Copacabana.

My personal observation: Very good package that I would recommend to everybody. For the price you pay, you get what is expected pleasurably. My tour guide is very simpatico, in fact I just make another friend. The bus driver and all the cruise members are nice and professional. If I would have another chance to come back I will visit this place again without hesitation. Hope you enjoy the video clip. Because of the online limitations, please contact me in case you desire the the full length video.

Map of Ilha Grande

Rio 2008 Index

Street Parade  •  Sambadrome Parade  •  Get in & out Sambadrome

Ilha Grande  •  Sugar Loaf  •  Corcovado by taxi  •  Botanical Garden

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