Ilha Grande

Ilha Grande, or "big island", is a 193 km2 forested island located around 151 km (94 mi) off of the Atlantic coast of Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and about 450 km (280 mi) from São Paulo. A popular outdoor destination, the island remains largely undeveloped as much of the area falls within Ilha Grande State Park (Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande). Thus, the remainder of the island is subject to stringent development restrictions in order to preserve the natural environment; vehicles are not permitted and roads are virtually non-existent. For visitors, an hour-long, pre-paid boat excursion is the sole way to access the island. Several small villas and hamlets cater to researchers, tourists and nature-lovers, and around 2,000 people inhabit the largest town on the island, Vila do Abraão.

For almost a century, the Brazilian government declared the island off-limits, banning unauthorized entry, as it had contained an immigration quarantine station and, later, a maximum-security prison (Colônia Penal de Dois Rios, later known as Instituto Penal Cândido Mendes). The Cândido Mendes Penal Colony, which housed some of the most dangerous offenders in Brazil, was closed in 1994.

The highest point on Ilha Grande is the 1031 m tall Pico da Pedra D'Água.

On 5 July 2019, Ilha Grande and Paraty were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Flora and fauna
Ilha Grande is one of the most pristine examples of Brazil's endangered Atlantic rainforest habitat, containing a multitude of species of plants and animals. A hotspot for biodiversity and conservation, Ilha Grande is home to at least 110 resident and migratory avian species, including Magellanic penguins, the red-ruffed fruitcrow and the red-browed amazon parrot. There are at least 20 species of mammals, from capybara and coatimundi to primates, such as common and black-tufted marmosets and brown howler monkeys. Smaller animals, such as rodents and carnivores, include gray slender and big-eared opossums, Brazilian squirrel, crab-eating fox and raccoon, red-rumped agouti and the hairy dwarf porcupine. Several species of bat also inhabit caves on the island, mainly from the Artibeus, Molossus and Saccopteryx genera, emerging at sunset to feed on swarms of flying insects. At least 40-50 species of reptiles and amphibians can be found on the island, including the Argentine black-and-white tegu, Brazilian torrent frog, Bocaina tree frog, broad-snouted caiman, chicken snakes, Chironius, Dipsas and Echinanthera snakes, garden tree boa, geckos, Imantodes snakes, Jackson's and Brazilian fathead anoles, lava lizards, mabuya, painted coralsnake, smallhead worm lizards and the venomous Yarará lancehead. Invertebrates and arthropods number in the hundreds, with at least 400-500 species identified on Ilha Grande.

The seas around the island, which are also a protected marine reserve, feature a unique convergence of tropical equatorial, subtropical and temperate currents, enabling one to see corals, tropical fish, sharks, hawksbill sea turtles and cetaceans, such as the southern right whale, humpback whale, Bryde's whale, orca and rough-toothed dolphins.

The islands are contained within the 12400 ha of Tamoios Environmental Protection Area (APA), created in 1982. The main island (and APA) contains the Aventureiro Sustainable Development Reserve, created in 2014 from the former Aventureiro Marine State Park, which was integrated with the Praia do Sul Biological Reserve. 62.5% of the island is covered by the Ilha Grande State Park, giving a total of 87% of the island protected status.

Tourism industry
Most of the visitor facilities, lodging and the park headquarters are located at Vila do Abraão. The village may be reached from the mainland by local ferries. The island is an ecotourism destination. Although it has no roads and motorised vehicles are banned, the island has more than 150 km of hiking trails connecting the coastal villages and hamlets. A common activity for visitors is to trek to Lopes Mendes beach, about a two-hour hike from Vila do Abraão. Travel companies offer trips to see the island's various beaches, mountains trails and waterfalls.

On January 1, 2010, devastating mudslides killed at least 19 people on the island.