Travel and Sailing
Bahia da Ilha Grande — a Brazilian Paradise
A Brazilian jewel with an anchorage for every day of the year and unforgettable memories of my time sailing there while achieving a boyhood dream
I arrived in the bay on my boat in 2006 after a 50 mile sail down from Rio de Janeiro. After crossing the Atlantic from Europe, of course.
It’s breathtaking!
On the south coast of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, along the lush Costa Verde lies the Bahia de Ilha Grande, a large bay about 80 miles southwest of the city of Rio de Janeiro. The bay is home to more than 365 islands, as well as the cities of Parati and Angra dos Reis (‘bay of kings’). The bay is known for its beautiful scenery and its many beaches.
Ilha Grande (Portuguese for “Big Island”), protects the Bay from the South Atlantic Ocean. The island, which is part of Angra dos Reis municipality, has yet to be developed, thankfully.
For nearly a century, the Brazilian government prevented entry or settlement at the island since it was first used as a leper colony and then as a high-security penitentiary. It was permanently closed in 1994 then opened again. The island’s largest village is Vila do Abraão, with about 1900…
