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Which is better: Bombinhas or Ilhabela?

Short answer

Bombinhas is on the Santa Catarina Coast (SC), while Ilhabela is on the North Coast of São Paulo (SP): different regions of Brazil. Bombinhas: a small peninsula of transparent green sea on the Santa Catarina coast, with dozens of beaches between rock outcrops and Atlantic Forest and the best diving in southern Brazil; Ilhabela: Brazil's largest marine island, reachable only by ferry. For this month's weather, Bombinhas has the edge.

Sources: INMET (updated 2026) · ANP · OpenStreetMap
Most reviewed activity in BombinhasBombinhas Beaches Day Trip★ 10 · 6 reviews · from US$ 18 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Most reviewed activity in IlhabelaSnorkeling Class in Ilhabela★ 10 · 12 reviews · from US$ 26 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Bombinhas Ilhabela
Best time to visit Apr → Nov May → Aug
Weather this month 24° · 13 days of rain 26° · 15 days of rain
By car R$ 51 · from Florianópolis R$ 132 · from São Paulo
Ideal stay 3–4 days 4–5 days
Best for Adventure, Relax, Family Adventure, Relax, Romantic, Family
Choose Bombinhas if

you want a trip for adventure seekers and relaxation: a small peninsula of transparent green sea on the Santa Catarina coast, with dozens of beaches between rock outcrops and Atlantic Forest and the best diving in southern Brazil.

See guide
Choose Ilhabela if

you want a trip for adventure seekers and relaxation: sailing, shipwreck dives, waterfalls in the forest and the dreaded borrachudo.

See guide
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Where to stay

Where to stay: Bombinhas or Ilhabela

The average nightly rate is around R$ 331 in Bombinhas and R$ 320 in Ilhabela; what changes in practice is each place's season. Check current prices for your dates before deciding.

Compare hotels and places to stay in Bombinhas on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

Residencial Casa Flora in Bombinhas 9.8 ★★★★★ · 42 reviews Residencial Casa Flora See on Booking → Pousada Vila do Bosque in Bombinhas 9.4 ★★★★ · 36 reviews Pousada Vila do Bosque See on Booking →
See all hotels in Bombinhas

Compare hotels and places to stay in Ilhabela on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

See all hotels in Ilhabela

Rates change with the dates: confirm the price on Booking.com.

Frequently asked questions

Bombinhas or Ilhabela: which is better?
Bombinhas is on the Santa Catarina Coast (SC), while Ilhabela is on the North Coast of São Paulo (SP): different regions of Brazil. Bombinhas: a small peninsula of transparent green sea on the Santa Catarina coast, with dozens of beaches between rock outcrops and Atlantic Forest and the best diving in southern Brazil; Ilhabela: Brazil's largest marine island, reachable only by ferry. For this month's weather, Bombinhas has the edge.
What is the best time to visit Bombinhas and Ilhabela?
The best time to visit Bombinhas is from April to November; for Ilhabela, it is from May to August, based on INMET's climate normals (temperature and rainfall for each month). If your trip already has a date, check each destination's page for your month.
Which of the two is cheaper to get to?
By car, leaving from Florianópolis, Bombinhas is 79 km (49 mi) and costs about R$ 51 each way (fuel plus tolls); leaving from São Paulo, Ilhabela is 197 km (122 mi) and costs about R$ 132 each way (fuel plus tolls). The calculation assumes a car that gets 11 km/L. Lodging and activities vary with each place's season.
Where does it rain less, Bombinhas or Ilhabela?
Averaged over the year, Bombinhas has 12 rainy days a month and Ilhabela has 13. Bombinhas is the drier of the two over the year as a whole, but what decides the trip is the month: the rainiest month in Bombinhas is January and in Ilhabela, January. For temperature, Ilhabela is the warmer one (average high of 27° versus 25°).
How many days should you spend in Bombinhas and in Ilhabela?
To see the main sights without rushing, Bombinhas calls for 3–4 days and Ilhabela, 4–5 days. These are distant regions: with a week or less, it is usually better to pick one of the two and make the most of it.
Bombinhas or Ilhabela with kids?
Both work with kids: Bombinhas (diving capital, peninsula of beaches, and crystal-clear water) and Ilhabela (national capital of sailing, shipwreck diving, and waterfalls in the forest). The choice usually comes down to getting there, not to infrastructure. With small children, weather matters: Bombinhas has fewer rainy days over the year.
What should you not miss in each?
In Bombinhas: Bombas Beach and Praia Central, Mariscal Beach, Sepultura Beach. In Ilhabela: Castelhanos Beach, Cachoeira da Toca, Vila and historic center. These are the sights that show up most in first-trip itineraries for each destination; the full guide to each has the whole list.