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Ilha
Grande, Big Island, is an unspoiled paradise a two-hour
drive south of Rio de Janeiro. Waterfalls cascade from jungle covered
mountains into an emerald ocean that surrounds 107 white-sand beaches.
Discovered in 1503,
it has a 193 sq. km. nature preserve where no cars or roads are
allowed.
Saco do Céu. Take a boat to Saco do Céu,
Sky Bay, a little bay aptly named because on new moon nights
the sky is so clearly reflected in the waters that the stars appear
to be floating.
Dois Rios village. Explore Dois Rios village, a
two-hour walk from the main village of Abrao to the other side of
the island. Besides its lovely beach with two pristine rivers,
you can sense the battle won by tranquility by visiting the remains
of Brazil's most notorious penitentiary, known as The Devil's Cauldron,
now disappearing within the tendrils of the island's weeds.
Lopes Mendes. Another must to visit is Lopes Mendes
beach. It is considered by many notable travel magazines as one
of the ten most beautiful beaches in the world. It is the largest
of the 107 beaches scattered throughout Ilha Grande. The waves along
its three kilometers of thin white sand are a Mecca for surfers.
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Lagoa
Azul, The Blue Lagoon, Gruta do Acaiá, Acaiá
Cave, Pico do Papagaio, Parrot’s Beak, Cachoeira da
Feiticeira, Witch Falls, Cachadaço, Cachadaço
Beach, Aventureiro, Adventurer Beach, are just a few of the
many places to explore.
Abraão. The pleasant village of Abraão
just a couple of minutes boat ride from Asalem, or a twenty-minute
seaside walk, is the islands main village. There are shops, fine restaurants,
a church, pharmacy, internet café and nightlife.
With the destruction of the prison, many are now looking to experience
Ilha Grande’s otherwise untouched landscape. Strict laws and
years of learning by example from other resorts have shaped Ilha Grande
into an organized and responsible tourism location. Its hydrographic
system is the only one in the state of Rio where the water flows from
its source to the ocean untouched by human hands, providing absolutely
pure water. That sort of purity exists all over the island, an environment
to delight in. |
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Overview
