Save yourself the stress of figuring out how to get to Ilha Grande from Rio de Janeiro on your own by local transport. The Rio bus terminal is located in the Southern Zone of Rio; a little far from where most people stay in the Southern Zone (Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Botafogo, etc). A taxi to the terminal alone can be costly, and then you have to hope there is availability on your bus. When you arrive at the other end you then have to take another taxi from the bus terminal in Angra dos Reis to the docks hoping you are in time for a boat making the crossing. Instead, let us pick you up from Rio on daily transfer services which will collect you from your hotel, hostel or apartment, and take you to an included boat transfer to Ilha Grande.

From Rio, pick-ups can be made from the Southern Zone (Ipanema, Copacabana, Leblon, Leme, Lagoa) and also if your accommodation is located in Botafogo, Flamengo, Catete, Gloria and the areas of Central Downtown, Lapa and the explorer bar of Santa Teresa. These city transfers can also pick-up from the Santos Dumont airport, but not from the GIG international airport. For transfers from GIG continue reading!

Pick-ups from Barra da Tijuca, and accommodation located out of the tourist areas of Rio are not included in these shuttles and you will be asked to meet the van at central meeting points.

Once you transfer to the boat, you will be taken to the main tourist pier of the village ‘Abraao’. The pier is located in the centre of town and this is the principal port of the island. There are no vehicles on Ilha Grande, and walking on Ilha Grande is not the easiest with baggage on wheels due to the sandy trails. But there are porters with push-carts you can hire to help you carry your bags, and following them also helps you find your accommodation.