Ilhabela is our final port-of-call in Brazil and today we visited Ilhabela, one of Brazil’s largest coastal islands near Sao Sebastiao (San Sebastian.) The island is volcanic in origin, clearly evident from steeply risking peaks, beautifully covered by dense tropical jungle. The hilly interior and east coast are virtually unpopulated and there are over 360 waterfalls on the island and flatlands are filled with sugarcane plantations. In the early 19th century coffee barons chopped plantations out of the forest, then prices declined and the island was largely abandoned. Paulistas now use the island as a vacation destination. In 1980 far-sighted planners protected 85% of the island is protected as a state park. Ilhabela’s forest and the gorgeous beaches that form it’s shores are now permanently protected.
This is an incredibly beautiful island – the only negative is the sand flies in the jungle. They are just awful and inflict a terrible bite. Far worse than a mosquito bite. The whelps last for days with pain, itching and swelling. Use Deet before you tour here!
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