Things to Do in Angra dos Reis

Angra dos Reis is built around one thing: the water. The bay holds 365 islands and about 2,000 beaches, and most visits revolve around boat trips to Ilha Grande and the smaller islands, plus a few colonial and nature stops on land. The neighborhoods guide will help you orient between the mainland center and the island before you plan your days.

Things to Do in Angra dos Reis: Islands and Boat Tours

Ilha Grande and Vila do Abraão

Ilha Grande is the largest island in the bay, a 193 square kilometer car-free reserve whose main village, Vila do Abraão, is a low-rise town of pousadas, restaurants, and sand streets. Ferries run from Santa Luzia station in Angra (about R$50 to 60, 80 minutes) and fast boats from Conceição de Jacareí in Mangaratiba (about 40 minutes). There are no cars and almost no roads, so everything moves by foot or boat. Allow a full day or an overnight, and check the ferry details in our travel tips before you set out.

Lagoa Azul (Blue Lagoon)

Lagoa Azul is a shallow, turquoise cove on the north side of Ilha Grande, surrounded by rocks and full of sergeant-major fish. It is a snorkeling stop on most day-tour boat routes out of Vila do Abraão, and the water is clear enough to see the sandy bottom from the deck. Day tours that combine Lagoa Azul with a couple of beaches typically cost R$100 to 150 per person and run from about 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Ilhas Botinas

The Botinas Islands are two small, round islands just off the mainland, a short boat ride from the center of Angra, known for calm, clear water and easy snorkeling. Boats anchor in the channel between the two islands so swimmers can drift with the current. Most half-day boat tours stop here, and it is a good first snorkel spot if you are staying on the mainland rather than Ilha Grande.

Ilha de Cataguases

Ilha de Cataguases is a beach island with a wooden deck, shade, and transparent water, popular as a lunch and swim stop on day cruises. It has kiosks serving drinks and simple food, and the calm bay side is shallow enough for children. Like the Botinas Islands, it is usually bundled into a R$100 to 150 full-day schooner tour that also covers several other stops.

Things to Do in Angra dos Reis: Beaches

Lopes Mendes Beach

Lopes Mendes is a 3 kilometer strip of fine white sand on Ilha Grande’s ocean side, repeatedly listed among Brazil’s best beaches, with strong surf and no development. You reach it by hiking about 6.5 km from Vila do Abraão (2.5 to 3 hours each way) or by taking a water taxi to Pouso beach and walking the last 20 minutes over the hill. Bring water and food, because there are no kiosks on the sand. The surf makes it better for experienced swimmers; families often prefer the calmer bay beaches, and the trail is firmest in the dry season covered by our best time to visit guide.

Praia do Frade

Praia do Frade is an upscale beach on a peninsula south of the center, backed by the Fasano resort and a residential area of private homes. The water is calm and clear, and there are a few beach clubs and restaurants nearby. It is one of the more polished mainland beaches, a good option if you do not want to take a boat out.

Praia do Bonfim and Praia Grande

Praia do Bonfim and Praia Grande are the two most convenient mainland beaches, on the edge of the town center and lined with kiosks and pousadas. Bonfim is the closest to downtown and has calm water and easy parking, while Praia Grande is longer and slightly quieter. Both are fine for a quick swim without a boat, though the water is clearer on the islands. The where to stay guide lists hotels within walking distance of both.

Praia da Biscaia

Praia da Biscaia is a quieter cove about 8 km south of the center, backed by a few pousadas and reached by the Rio-Santos highway (BR-101). The water is calm and the beach is less crowded than Bonfim in high season. It suits travelers staying at one of the beachfront pousadas along this stretch of coast.

Things to Do in Angra dos Reis: History and Nature

Mambucaba Historical Village

Mambucaba, about 25 km south of the center toward Paraty, is a colonial-era village that was once a busy port for coffee and slaves in the 18th and 19th centuries. Its cobbled streets, the Nossa Senhora do Rosário church, and rows of old houses are free to walk, and the town sits on the edge of the Festa de São Pedro celebrations each June. It is a 30-minute drive or a bus ride down BR-101.

Convent of São Bernardino de Sena

The Convent of São Bernardino de Sena sits on a hill above the town and dates to 1759, one of the oldest surviving buildings in Angra dos Reis. The view from the terrace looks out over the bay and the islands, and the building still hosts occasional religious services. It is a short taxi ride up from the center, and entry is free.

Serra da Bocaina National Park

Serra da Bocaina National Park is a 134,000 hectare protected area of Atlantic rainforest that straddles the Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo border, reachable from Angra and Paraty. It holds waterfalls, trails, and viewpoints, including the 25-meter Cachoeira do Santo Isidro. Trails are best in the dry season from June to September, when the monthly rainfall is at its lowest, and a guide is recommended for the longer routes.