baia de castelhanos beach

We drove there in our 4-wheel drive and it wasn't easy going even in our giant car. This is probably a great beach if you get there at 10am. We arrived around 12:00 pm and sat in a restaurant that was mobbed. There was a lot of seaweed in the water that day and it was hard for the kids to get comfortable. But the food was good and the drive was pretty.My daughter loved the waterfalls on the way back. Cool water in small pools. Very calming.

Bit spoiled with tacky restaurants, and tough to get to via the very rough road (take a Jeep, never take your car!) but still lovely and worth the visit

Hi, Trippers!Ilhabela (in English means "beautiful island") is the biggest island of the coast of Brazil. The island has many beaches with perfect nature around.That my comment is about "Baía de Castelhanos" (in English "Castelhanos's Bay"). This bay is situated in other side of the island and the only way to come over there is with jeeps. It access is very restrict, because the beach is natural reserve too. The trip is very amaze!!!*GOOD*- Nice beach;- Wonderful water;- Natural beautiful;- Great sand place;- Restaurants;- Trail way.*BAD*- Gnats insects (take insect repellent cream with "aloivera").

access by jeep or flex boat only! Highly recommend the 40-minute trail to a nearby waterfall------------------

We went by bike and I did struggle to finish the trek. Looong hike, about 10 km all way up, then long way down.. about 7 km, totalling around 17 km.. very rocky, very hard. The forest is beautiful on the other hand. The beach itself is nice and pleasant, but similar to those in Ubatuba, so no big surprise to me. On the way back we did take a jeep. It was a very adventurous but also tiresome experience.

This beach is pretty hard to get to unless you have a rugged car and you enjoy a driving challenge, but it's well worth the wait. It's clear on the other side of the island from all the development. Beautiful white sand, stretching in both directions makes for a decent walk and the water is perfect.

Castelhanos is reachable by boat or by land. By boat is can be part of a launch tour that could include Bonete as well as here. Land: is a 45 min 4/4 guided arrival. It is best to hire the service as this road is one way in during certain hours and one way out during others. It makes many West Virginia roads look huge. Once there you have several options, You can climb to Cachoeira Gato, sit on the beach, swim, paddle, or climb higher for a panoramic view! Swimming and the falls are a must. There is a small cafe there that only takes CASH. All plates run about $R40 which is quite hefty but you are a captive audience. If you just want a snack bring it and there are plenty of chairs and tables to sit at.Bugs: bring repellant. The bugs in the sand there are staunch and you will go home with bites regardless. It is reminiscent of the beaches in Nicaragua so be warned! You can get wonderful shots here with azure waters and mountains that add to the album you will carry home. Everyone should go once to see and climb!

It´s the biggest beach on the island and it's really clean and natural, also it has a great waterfall really close, it's a must on your visit to Ilhabela!

By jeep or by boat this is a beach with crystal clear waters not to be missed when you are visiting Ilhabela. Jeep costs 70 reais per person (30 US dollars), takes about one hour each way. The drive is very pleasant in the middle of a luscious tropical forest. Do not forget bug repellent!

Maybe not as nice as the more distant beaches on the island, but worth a visit. Go to the end of the beach to avoid most other visitors.

This is an outstanding place where you can have a real experience of trekking all the island through a not asphalted road that leads from the main prt to the destination passing through a rial "mata virgen" forest.The travel takes a while and is preferrale to have an adequate car to do it.The quality of the road is not outstanding and is lng such as 20 km (takes 1 hour and half to make it safe).You have also to cross a river at the end(better to park the car before and not take any risk.You can access one way only the beach till 3pm.Than only come back traffic sense is allowed.Please fill the tank before and be sure that the car is perfectly functioning before tling this trail because no assistance or way of filling the tank is pssible on this track.Take also with you an insect repellent because the place is literally infested by a local gender of mosquito called "borrachudos".They are aggressive and they can make your life literally miserable if not adequately protected.For the rest all outstanding

Visited during low season, and maximum 25 people on the beach......wow...allmost like paradise.Took a few hours to drive through beautiful preserved forest, great adventure.

Very nice trip to the beach, especially by boat. Take important care with the insets, especially the "borrachudos", very itching mosquitos!!

This is just one of those places you should visit if you are in Ilha Bela, located on the oposite side is packed w/ nice waves and rough sea for surfers.

Let's face it: It's far, hard to get and the mosquitoes seem to never leave you - until you get there.This beautiful and peaceful piece of coast makes you forget you are in the most crowded state in Brazil. BTW, go in a 4x4 vehicle, or there's a pretty good chance you get stuck in the way.