Ilha Grande (Big Island) is a lush tropical island 2 hours south of Rio. The drive, once you get out of Rio, is pretty spectacular. I mounted my GoPro (camera) to the window of the car, sped up the footage, so you can experience the drive, ooh… in about 40 seconds.
We were dropped off at the small fishing village of Conceição de Jacareí, where we would catch the boat to Ilha Grande.
While we waited for the boat, Eli and I went a-wondering onto the beach.
Soon we were heading down the long jetty to meet the boat
The scenery all around was spectacular
After about 20 mins, our first view of Ilha Grande
This is Abraão – the main village on the island
We got off the boat to head into Abraão proper
We walked up to a small hill to our Pousada (Brazilian BnB), to check in
A quick change of clothes and we were back on the beach and looking for a boat to take us to Lopes Mendes – supposedly one of the top 10 beaches in the world (at least according to Vogue).
You can actually walk to Lopes Mendes from Abraão, although it’s a 2.5 hour, 8km hike (there’s no cars on Ilha Grande). We figured it was too much for Eli, and time was getting on.
We found a guy who seemed to know a guy.
While Semma and I worked out the logistics, Eli went for a swim.
It took some time and haggling to find a ride. The deal is that if someone takes you to Lopes Mendes beach, they pretty much have to bring you back (unless you’re going to walk). Basically it would not be fun to get stranded in the jungle after dark – the beach is very remote.
The problem for us was that Brazil were playing their second World Cup game against Mexico in the afternoon, and nobody wanted to commit to bringing us back!
We managed to persuade someone, apparently the only non-footballing fan in Brazil.
Crazy ‘beard cloud’
Lopes Mendes beach is so remote, they drop you off at a beach called Pouso, and you hike a 20 min walk up and over the island. We cleaned up Eli’s shoes and got ready for the hike.
It was a fair climb up and back down across the island, and we were all pretty relieved to get to the now infamous beach
And it didn’t disappoint
We had it virtually to ourselves
Eli did his best Van Persie impression
And in super slo motion video for fun
It was getting late, and we were the last to leave the beach. We retraced our steps to Pouso… our man was waiting there to take us back to Abraão, and we arrived just in time to watch the second half of the Brazil v Mexico game. The whole island it seemed was gathered on the beach to watch the game.
We walked back along the beach to our Pousada…
… and spent the evening hanging out with a nice couple from Colorado, who had two boys – a bit older than Eli, and (pictured) Baz and Jose from Holland, who were good fun and had been to the incredible Holland v Spain game!
A long day… but totally worth the journey.