Angra Busca

Ilha Grande

Ecologycal Sanctuary

Enseada das Estrelas has four beach and the biggest one is also called Enseada das Estrelas. Its sand is thick and the beach has high slopes. It can be reached by boat (a fifteen minute ride) or on foot, what could take a few hours. There you will find inumerous starfish, whose diameter can reach 40 cm.

The name Saco do Céu is quite suggetive. "Saco" means "coastal inlat" and "Céu" means "Sky". The local has once been a pirate's shelter. Nowadays is used by navigators as a safe anchoring point. At starry nights, the stars reflect on its still waters sea, creating a unique and spectacular scenery. There's a fisherman village and several excellent quality restaurants.

In this location, there's a large japanese community. Every year they organize the Japanese Culture Festival, as a sign of their tradition roots. Once, there were canned sardine factories there, which nowadays are closed. Some of them became "pousadas" (inns). The turtles are common visitors at the beach.

In Lagoa Azul there are several small islands, the bottom of the ocean is covered by coral reefs and there are several colorful fish. It's a perfect place for amateur diving, not too deep, and incredibly tranparent clear water. There are tour rides leaving from Angra dos Reis or from Vila do Abraão.

Its name come from as native brazilian indian language. "Araçá" is a wild fruit, very common in the island, and "tiba" means big. There's a main beach with a pier, but it is in the corners of this beach that you will find the most beautiful tiny locations. The sunset in this part of the island, facing Angra dos Reis, is an unique spectacle of Araçatiba's beauty.

The beach faces the open sea. On South wind days, there are strong waves there. There are many boto dolphins int the area it's the starting point to beautiful preserved areas, but you will need a licence given by IBAMA (Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resource) to get in. There's a fisherman village, many trails, smalls waterfalls and rivers.

This extremely isolated beach is difficult to be reached - only by boat, on a calm sea on sunny days. The waves there are so strong that form sand dunes. There are traces of ancient civilizations that can be seen on the surface of the rocks that underlie the beach.

Praia do Aventureiro, which means "Adventurous beach", the name of this very popular beach, talks for itself. There, visitors should be wiling to incorporate the adventurous spirit. As it is an environmentally protected area, to get into it you need to obtain an authorized entry pass, which is provided by an Angra dos Reis Municipal Department, called Turisangra. The beach is breathtaking, literally.

Even though this beach is part of a biological reserve, its truly wild nature can be visited without permission. It faces the open sea. On foot, leaving from Praia do Aventureiro, after a long and tiring journey, enjoying its breathtaking beauty and unspoiled nature is certainly rewarding. Anchoring there requires a lot of skills and caution.

The high waves in its sea are very strong. The beach is open to the south quadrant. On foot, you might take up to six hours to get there, leaving from Abraão. Going there by boat is recommended only in Summer, when the incidence of cold fronts is lower. It's possible to camp there, but you may find some restríctions in doing so.

This little "pearl" is only fifteen meters long and is situated right after Lopes Mendes beach. To reach it on foot, take T14 and T15 trails. A Tourist guidefor the trail is recommended. Cachadaço has blue tranparent waters. An excellent place for snorkeling diving.

Starting the walk from Praia dos Mangues in Palmas, you can get on foot to the famous beach of Lopes Mendes. It's among the ten best beaches in Brazil. There you will see alligators, of Açu type, in a stream at your left as you arrive. Diving there requires caution due to strong sea currents.

Surrounded by palm trees and covered with thick sand, is a great place for overnight anchoring. In Summer you can enjoy its crystal clear and warm waters. It's very popular for sport fishing. It has a camping site, and it can be reached on foot, from vila do Abraão.

A magical waterfall, with beautiful crystal clear cold water. On foot, take trail T2, from Abraao - that's an hour and a half walk. You can also choose to go by boat to Saco do Céu, and from there head to the waterfall - more confortable and twice as pleasant.

It's located between Longa beach, and Grande de Araçatiba beach. The seawater in this lagoonshaped area reflects the surrounding vegetation, therefore it has green shades. Perfect for diving. The botoom of the sea there is covered by coral reefs, full of colorful fish.

The acqueduct, an important piece of colonial engineering, was built in 1893. It is situated on the left side of Abraao beach, when facing the ocean. There's a trail with signs and markings for directions, leaving from the beach. it is an imponent well planned construction that supplied water for the old Lazareto community.

Farol dos Castelhanos ( Castelhanos Lighthouse) you may arrive there on foot (6 hour long walk), leaving from Pouso Beach. The sunset seen from the top of the 14 meter high tower is fantastic. Built in 1900, with one meter thick walls, it is one of the oldest active lighthouse in Brazil.

This 150 yearold church is located in Vila do Abraao cetral square. When arriving by the sea, its unique architecture is easily recognizable and can be immediately spoted from distance. In its interior there are many saints images adomed with floral arrangements. Its total renovation took place in 2002.

Built in the 18th century, this nice featured church was the main religious center in a very important community. Its large coffee beans and sugar cane plantations moved a port that once came to overshadow the continental trade. Nowadays it is a calm place, with beautiful beaches. It can be reched by boat, leaving from Abraao and Angra.

In Bananal Beach, the main main tourist attraction is Divino Espírito Santo Church. Its sidewalk is made of coloful, tiny pieces of glass, with ecological themes in the main entrance.