Ilha Grande

Ilya Grandi Island is a national park territory, and the island's name translates as "Big Island". Its area is covered with tropical forests, and there are many incredibly clean beaches around. In 2019, the island was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

History

The island was discovered by the Portuguese on January 6, 1502. It was inhabited by the Tamoyo Indians, they called the island "Ippaun Wasu", which in their language meant "Big Island". There were no more than 200 people living here, they were engaged in fishing, spearfishing, gathering, and their language was completely different from the language of the Indians from the mainland. In the following years, a war ensued between the Portuguese in alliance with the Tupinaki tribes against the French in alliance with the Tamoyo tribe. The war ended only in 1567, and the Portuguese was appointed governor of the island of Ilha Grande. After a long war between pirates for possession of Ostrog in the 18th century, coffee, bananas and reeds began to be actively grown on the island, and slaves from Africa worked on the plantations. In 1903, the Candido Mendes prison was built on the island of Ilha Grande, but the local economy suffered because of it, and the constantly fleeing criminals caused many problems to the inhabitants of the island. Therefore, the prison was demolished in 1994.

Tourism

After the closure of the prison, the economy of Ilha Grande Island received a great boost and soon there were many tourists who are fond of diving, surfing and mountaineering. There are also many bike and walking enthusiasts here. It is worth noting that cars and motor vehicles are prohibited on the territory of the island, so you will have to enjoy the beauty of the island on foot, by bike and by boat. There are approximately 150 km of trails across the island for traveling between attractions. And there's a lot to see here! Lopez Mendes beach is considered the best on the Brazilian coast, not far behind it are the beaches of Aventureiro, Feticeira and Arachatiba, in total on the island of Ilha Grande there are more than 20 beaches with crystal clear waters surrounded by forests.

The capital of the island is the village of Vila do Abrau, which has a population of about 3,000 people. By visiting this village, you can participate in a variety of colorful music festivals, which are held regardless of the time of the year. An architectural landmark here is the white lighthouse called Castelhanos, which is completely surrounded by dense thickets.

It will also be interesting for tourists to visit the village of Dios Rios, where there are many historical sites and the most magnificent beach, and the clean air and nature make staying there even more enjoyable. It is here that the once-operating infamous prison is located, in the building of which tours are now conducted. When leaving Dios Rios, you can see a natural pool consisting of several small waterfalls.

An equally popular form of entertainment on the island of Ilha Grande is climbing Pico do Papagayo Mountain, 1,031 meters high, which is the highest point of the island. It takes at least two hours to climb this mountain. The road to the top runs through a tropical forest, allowing you to completely merge with nature. In shape, this mountain resembles the shape of a parrot's beak, and once at its top, people have a fantastic view of the surroundings.

Ilya Grande Island has many modern entertainment venues, including restaurants, bars, cafes, shops, hotels, beaches, and more, which will allow travelers to maximize their enjoyment of staying on the island and getting to know the traditions of the local population.