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Which is better: Ilha Grande or Ilhabela?

Short answer

Ilha Grande is in Rio de Janeiro and its surroundings (RJ), while Ilhabela is on the North Coast of São Paulo (SP): different regions of Brazil. Ilha Grande: Atlantic Forest, trails and green water without a single car; Ilhabela: Brazil's largest marine island, reachable only by ferry. The weather is similar in both this month. Driving from São Paulo, Ilhabela costs less.

Sources: INMET (updated 2026) · ANP · OpenStreetMap

Most reviewed activity in Ilha GrandeAcaiá Cave & Ilha Grande Lagoons Boat Tour★ 8 · 1 review · from US$ 46 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →

Most reviewed activity in IlhabelaSnorkeling Class in Ilhabela★ 10 · 12 reviews · from US$ 26 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →

	Ilha Grande	Ilhabela
Best time to visit	May → Aug	May → Aug
Weather this month	28° · 13 days of rain	26° · 15 days of rain
By car	R$ 312 · from São Paulo	R$ 132 · from São Paulo
Ideal stay	3–4 days	4–5 days
Best for	Adventure, Relax, Romantic, Family	Adventure, Relax, Romantic, Family

Choose Ilha Grande if

you want a trip for adventure seekers and relaxation: the wildest island on the Costa Verde, with Lopes Mendes at the end of the path.

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: Ilha Grande or Ilhabela

What usually tips the balance for your wallet is the rate on your travel dates. Check current prices for each city before deciding.

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

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

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

Frequently asked questions

Ilha Grande or Ilhabela: which is better?

What is the best time to visit Ilha Grande and Ilhabela?

The best time to visit Ilha Grande is from May to August; 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 São Paulo, Ilha Grande is 404 km (251 mi) and costs about R$ 312 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, Ilha Grande or Ilhabela?

Averaged over the year, Ilha Grande has 12 rainy days a month and Ilhabela has 13. Ilha Grande is the drier of the two over the year as a whole, but what decides the trip is the month: the rainiest month in Ilha Grande is January and in Ilhabela, January. For temperature, Ilha Grande is the warmer one (average high of 29° versus 27°).

How many days should you spend in Ilha Grande and in Ilhabela?

To see the main sights without rushing, Ilha Grande 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.

Ilha Grande or Ilhabela with kids?

Both work with kids: Ilha Grande (car-free village, forest trails, and paradise beaches) 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: Ilha Grande has fewer rainy days over the year.

What should you not miss in each?

In Ilha Grande: Lopes Mendes Beach, Vila do Abraão, Pico do Papagaio. 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.