About Ilha Grande
The island, which is part of the municipality of Angra dos Reis - just outside of Rio de Janeiro, remains largely undeveloped.
For almost a century it was closed by the Brazilian government to free movement or settlement because of a top-security prison (de-activated in 1994).
The island, which is 193 km
2 (75 sq mi) in area, is now a popular tourist destination that is noted for its scenic beauty, unspoilt tropical beaches,
luxuriant vegetation and rugged landscape. Although it has no roads and motorised vehicles banned, the island has more than 150 km (93 mi) of hiking trails connecting all
the coastal villages and hamlets.
Ilha Grande is subject to stringent development restrictions. On 5 July 2019, Ilha Grande was inscribed as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Source: Wikipedia
Flora & Fauna
The Ilha Grande is one of the most pristine remnants of Brazil's Atlantic rainforest making it one of the richest ecosystems in the world.
As a hotspot for biodiversity and conservation, it holds some of the largest remaining populations of many endangered species,
including the red-ruffed fruitcrow (Pyroderus scutatus),
the brown howler monkey (Alouatta fusca), the maned sloth (Bradypus torquatus) the red-browed amazon parrot (Amazona rhodocorytha), and the broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris).
The seas around the island, which are also protected, feature a unique convergence of tropical, subtropical, and temperate-zone marine life, and may be the only waters in the
world where it is possible to see corals and tropical fish including sharks along with sea turtles, Magellanic penguins and cetaceans such as southern right, humpback, Bryde's, orca,
and dolphins.
Tropical Climate
Being in the tropics means having beach activities all-year round:
source: WeatherSpark.com
Source: Wikipedia
