The Brazilian coast is blessed with many wonderful islands, some of them world famous like Fernando de Noronha and Ilha Grande.
Here is a list of the 10 best Brazilian islands and the reasons that made them so special. If you are a lover of the islands, you cannot miss it!
TOP 10 Brazilian islands:
10 – Boipeba Island (Ilha de Boipeba) – BA
This is one of the most charming islands on this list. It is a delight to walk along those white sand beaches and visit the villages. There are no cars, no banks, just what you need to relax and watch the days go by in this beautiful place.
Diving is a great option here. The historical tour is a must and you will see the most important cultural and historical places on the island.
9 – Itaparica Island (Ilha de Itaparica) – BA:
Ilha de Itaparica (Itaparica Island) is located in the “Baia de Todos os Santos” (Bay of All Saints) in the state of Bahia. It is the largest island in the bay, but it is the perfect place if you are looking for peace and quiet.
With more than 40 km of beaches, you can spend days visiting them and deciding which one is your favorite. And of course if you want something more than beaches, the island is full of historical places to see such as churches and fortresses, some from more than 400 years ago. Some other entertainment options are also available like skydiving and scuba diving, and since the entire island is surrounded by a magnificent reef, scuba diving is something you cannot miss while you are there.
8 – Marajo Island (Ilha de Marajo) – PA
This paradise is surrounded by fresh and salt water, on one side you have the Amazon River and on the other the sea.
This is a huge island with tons of things to do. You should visit the Marajo Museum, feed and ride the buffalo, go to the dozen villages on the island and much more. The island is also famous for the “pororoca” which is a tidal wave with huge waves that travel for miles across the river, it is a wonderful thing to see.
7 – Honey Island (Ilha do Mel) – PR
Located in Paranagua, this rustic island has the best beaches in the state of Paraná. This is a perfect place to relax, observe the scenery, and play sports. Vehicles are not allowed on the island, not even with animal traction, no pharmacies or ATMs. But do not worry, you are not going to sleep in the middle of the jungle and go to the bathroom in the forest, everything you need you will find on the island, such as shops, health center, police, internet … You will only do sixteen the better day without the noise of cars. One of the best things to do on the island is to rent a bike and just ride around, seeing the many sites it has to offer, especially the view from the top of the 19th century lighthouse.
6 – Santa Catarina Island (Florianópolis) – SC
This is actually the capital of the state of Santa Catarina. Half of the city of Florianópolis is located on the island. This is easily one of the best cities in Brazil, it is the destination dreamed of not only by tourists, but also by Brazilians. There you will find everything that a great city has, since it is the most important in the state, but also the great island atmosphere, the incredible beaches, and this is important, some of the most attractive people in the world. Some of the best-known Brazilian faces in the world come from these parts. Because it is such a big place, there are things to do no matter what kind of things you like, you can go to deserted beaches or visit places full of young people looking for dates and meeting new people. The nightlife is amazing too. This is perhaps the best place for travelers looking for great beaches, but also great nightlife.
5 – Ilhabela – SP
Ilha Bela is one of the largest islands in Brazil and one of the most visited, perhaps because it is close to the two main cities in Brazil. It is located 210 miles south of Rio de Janeiro and 138 miles north of São Paulo. Ilhabela is the Portuguese word for Beautiful Island, and that’s what it is. A paradise for people who like to be outdoors. The island is ideal for lovers of water sports. There are 35 km of beaches, a coastal Atlantic rainforest, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, mountain peaks to climb, and more than 400 cool waterfalls cascading into the ocean. Add to that the legends of pirate treasures, underwater shipwrecks to explore, excellent sailing – enough to make Ilhabela’s annual Sailing Week a must-see.
4 – Abrolhos – BA
Abrolhos is located south of Bahia and is home to the richest coral fauna in Brazil. Five volcanic islands and a group of coral reefs included the archipelago which has one of the largest fish collections in the world, both in quantity and variety. In Abrolhos you can find all kinds of fish from the South Atlantic.
The entire archipelago is protected by IBAMA (The institution that takes care of natural resources in Brazil), all this to keep this paradise alive.
This is also an excellent place for diving, one of the best in Brazil, with good visibility, shipwrecks and corals.
3 – Morro de São Paulo – BA
Morro de São Paulo is a town on the island of Tinharé, but due to the famous town, the island is better known as Morro de São Paulo. With beautiful beaches, coral reefs and surfing activity, this island is undoubtedly a very good option for people who spend some time in Salvador, it is about 20 minutes by plane and 2 hours by boat. This place is for people who want to relax and practice all kinds of water sports. If you like diving, there are dive operators on the islands. They offer boat trips to the best sites, you can choose free dives or use tanks, you can also rent all the necessary equipment.
2 – Isla Grande (Ilha Grande) – RJ
A few hours from Rio de Janeiro, this paradise island is a Brazilian wonder. With more than 80 beaches, it would take days to travel the entire island. And indeed some agencies offer these options to tourists, but it is a difficult hike with no infrastructure at all for most of the trip.
But that is exactly the fun of this island, even though it has excellent hotels, restaurants and everything you need in the island towns, most of the island is unspoiled nature. That means you get some of the best beaches in the world, with wild nature all around you.
It is a hiker’s paradise, as after hours of walking you always reach beautiful places that make all that effort worthwhile.
With rivers, beaches, waterfalls and welcoming towns, this island is undoubtedly one of the best destinations in Brazil, perhaps the world.
1 – Fernando de Noronha – PE
Without a doubt the most famous island in Brazil, Fernando de Noronha is the most desired destination for Brazilians. With crystal clear waters, beautiful landscapes and great infrastructure, this island is the perfect place for people looking for the best beach experience. Every inch of this island will surprise you.
Diving and snorkeling in this place is an impressive experience and you cannot miss it. There are also beaches to surf, Fernando de Noronha hosts surfing championships from time to time.
For every day you spend on this island you will have to pay a tax called the Conservation Tax, it is not a huge tax if you stay only a few days. If you stay 4 days, it costs around 90 USD for 4 days. But if you stay a month it costs around 1500 USD.