Ilha Grande, or Grand Island, is a large island of approximately 193 km2 in area situated just 12 kilometers off the southwestern coast of the State of Rio de Janeiro. Considered by many to be a tropical paradise, the natural beauty of Ilha Grande leaves a lasting impression on all who travel there. Hills and peaks of granite which rise hundreds of meters from the clear blue and turquoise coastal waters are covered by lush verdant rainforest. Cool, clear waters cascade down the hillsides in numerous creeks, forming picturesque waterfalls in places and elsewhere filling small natural pools ideal for refreshing swims beneath the trees. Then there is the island’s extraordinary shoreline, with its countless coves, sheltered inlets and more than 100 beaches. Thankfully, the natural wonders of Ilha Grande are being protected with the entire island having been designated as an Environmental Protection Area. In addition, 4,500 hectares in the eastern part of the island form the State Park of Ilha Grande, while another 3,500 hectares covering a number of ecosystems in the southwestern part of the island receives strict protection in the South Beach Biological Reservation.

      Just off the Green Coast, tranquil, tropical, blissfully vehicle-free Ilha Grande ("Big Island") is a crag-spined nature preserve of pristine protected rain forest, secluded lagoons, waterfalls, salt marshes, mangroves . . . and 106 beaches. The 90-minute ferry trip from the mainland's Angra dos Reis or Mangaratiba to Abraão—Ilha Grande's commercial hub, with fewer than 500 inhabitants—is a glide halfway into lovers' castaway fantasies. To slip fully into oblivion, hike from Abraão or boat directly to the more remote communities of Araçatiba, Sítio Forte, Bananal, Saco do Céu, Vermelha, or Itaguaçú. All have an assortment of relaxed pousadas (guest houses). Days are easy: In a two-seater kayak or by foot along any of the 16 signed trails, head off with snorkels and masks in hand, weighing anchor at your pick of any number of private sandy inlets. For the less sedentary, scuba dive the shoals of the nearby smaller islands, or scale the 3,221-foot heights of Pico do Papagaio ("Parrot's Peak"). Then, as the rhythm of day recedes, unwind with nothing but a chill caipirinha and one another to twist your screws.