Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
6 min of reading 
0 comments 
The archipelago on the northern coast of São Paulo state brings together isolated beaches, trails in preserved Atlantic Forest, peaks over 1,300 meters, and one of Brazil’s most famous maritime landscapes due to its historical shipwrecks. Ilhabela also hosts sailing events, waterfalls, and traditional Caiçara communities.
Ilhabela, on the northern coast of São Paulo, combines wild beaches, preserved Atlantic Forest, mountains over 1,300 meters, and a collection of shipwrecks that earned the archipelago the nickname “ship graveyard”.
The crossing from São Sebastião brings visitors to an island known for nature tourism, sailing, and important episodes in Brazilian navigation.
The archipelago is just a few minutes by ferry from the mainland and maintains a rare contrast between urbanized areas, traditional Caiçara communities, and regions practically untouched by human occupation.
-
London created an artificial mountain to attract tourists to the West End, but the approximately £6 million project opened unfinished, became a public embarrassment, and was eventually dismantled.
-
Man goes to the market to buy bread and ‘comes back home with R$ 1.2 million’ in Santos
-
Shelf stocker at 17, Greg Foran turned down college, rose through the retail ranks, and now takes over Kroger, the largest supermarket chain in the U.S., with BRL 730 billion in revenue and over 2,700 stores.
-
Henrique and Juliano’s helicopter crashes on a farm in Tocantins, hangs from a tree, and leads the duo’s family to reassure fans after an emergency landing.
Over the past decades, Ilhabela has solidified its image as a destination focused on ecotourism, water sports, and trips in search of more preserved beaches.
The combination of mountains, waterfalls, and open sea has transformed the city into one of the main tourist hubs on the São Paulo coast.
Even during peak season, part of the island remains accessible only by trails, boats, or vehicles prepared to tackle dirt roads within environmental conservation areas.
Ilhabela maintains its tradition as the National Sailing Capital
The municipality-archipelago has Ilha de São Sebastião as its main urban area and hosts some of the country’s most famous nautical events.
In 2011, Law No. 12,457 officially granted Ilhabela the title of National Sailing Capital, a recognition linked to its sporting tradition in the São Sebastião Channel.
The Ilhabela International Sailing Week reinforces this identity.
The 2026 edition is scheduled to take place from July 24 to August 1, bringing together professional sailors, Olympic athletes, and amateurs in one of the country’s main ocean sailing competitions.
During the event, the São Sebastião Channel welcomes vessels of different categories and attracts intense movement of tourists, sports teams, and professionals linked to the nautical sector.
In addition to the regattas, the program usually includes cultural activities, musical attractions, and actions aimed at local tourism, reinforcing the historical link between Ilhabela and the sea.
The sailing tradition also influences the municipality’s economy, which is home to marinas, specialized schools, and services focused on nautical tourism throughout the year.
Wild beaches and trail access attract tourists
The urban beaches are mainly on the west side, facing the mainland, where areas like Perequê, Curral, and Pedras Miúdas are located.
The oceanic side, however, preserves more isolated landscapes, with limited access by dirt road, boats, or long trails.
Castelhanos is one of the most famous on this side of the island.
Land access passes through a road within the State Park and usually requires a 4×4 vehicle, while Bonete maintains a more remote profile, reachable by trail or boat.
Praia do Bonete is also cited by the Ilhabela City Hall as one of the ten most beautiful beaches in Brazil in a selection by the British newspaper The Guardian.
Another highly sought-after area is Jabaquara, at the northern tip of the island, known for its greenish sea and small waterfalls that flow near the sandy strip.
Pedras Miúdas, on the other hand, serves as an access point to Ilha das Cabras, considered one of the most famous spots for diving and marine life observation in the region.
The diversity of landscapes means that Ilhabela offers everything from beaches with complete tourist infrastructure to areas without kiosks, cell phone signal, or paved access.
State Park preserves a large area of Atlantic Forest
Created by State Decree No. 9,414, of January 20, 1977, the Ilhabela State Park protects a large part of the municipal territory and was established to preserve the flora, fauna, and natural landscapes of the archipelago.
The Guide to Protected Areas of the State of São Paulo informs that the unit encompasses 85% of the municipality, with 27,025 hectares.
Within this area are peaks, trails, waterfalls, and viewpoints that support Ilhabela’s vocation for ecotourism.
The São Sebastião Peak, with an altitude of 1,379 meters, is among the region’s main natural attractions.
Meanwhile, Baepi Peak, at 1,048 meters, is among the most sought-after trails by visitors looking for a wide view of the channel and the Serra do Mar mountain range.
The preserved vegetation also favors the presence of species typical of the Atlantic Forest, including birds, bromeliads, and native trees scattered across the island’s slopes.
During periods of higher humidity, waterfalls like Gato gain volume and become popular spots for visitors interested in medium-difficulty trails.
The combination of mountainous terrain and dense forest helps explain why Ilhabela maintains one of the largest continuous preserved areas on the São Paulo coast.
Historic shipwrecks transformed the region into a “ship graveyard”
The waters around Ilhabela hold 21 cataloged shipwrecks, according to information released in tourist and institutional materials associated with the municipality.
The combination of storms, low visibility, currents, and rocky formations helped transform the region into a point of concern for navigators throughout the centuries.
The most well-known case is that of the Spanish transatlantic liner Príncipe de Astúrias, which sank on March 5, 1916, near Ponta da Pirabura.
The Ilhabela City Hall reports that the vessel was heading to Santos, after crossing the Atlantic, when it hit the submerged slab during the early hours of the morning.
The incident left 445 dead, according to the record released by the municipality.
Over the years, the ship’s wreckage began to attract divers interested in the region’s maritime history and the underwater exploration conditions existing in the archipelago.
In addition to the Príncipe de Astúrias, other shipwrecks recorded around the island help sustain its reputation as a dangerous area for old navigation routes.
Researchers associate part of these accidents with sudden climate changes, ocean currents, and rocky formations scattered along the channel and the oceanic coast.
Stories involving disappeared vessels, storms, and tales of pirates are also part of the popular imagination linked to the northern coast of São Paulo.
Caiçara gastronomy enlivens the historic center
In addition to beaches and trails, Ilhabela preserves references of Caiçara culture in its gastronomy, with a focus on fish, seafood, and recipes linked to traditional communities.
Restaurants in the historic center and the Perequê region concentrate part of the tourist offerings, especially for those looking to explore the island without relying on trails or long excursions.
The visit also requires planning.
The more isolated beaches depend on weather conditions, boat availability, and access rules in protected areas.
Therefore, the experience changes according to the time of year, sea conditions, and the structure hired to reach the regions of Castelhanos, Bonete, and other less urbanized spots.
During the summer months and long holidays, the flow of visitors increases significantly, especially on urban beaches and in areas near the historic center.
During periods of lower movement, trails, waterfalls, and secluded beaches usually attract travelers interested in quieter experiences and direct contact with nature.
Its proximity to the mainland, combined with the large number of preserved areas, keeps Ilhabela among the most sought-after destinations on the Brazilian coast for tourists looking to combine ecotourism, beaches, and nautical activities in a single itinerary.
Be the first to react!