Ilha Grande

Ilha Grande sits off the coast near Rio de Janeiro, and you tender to Vila do Abraão, a car-free village with colourful buildings around a small harbour. There are over 100 beaches on the island and no cars at all, which gives the whole place a different feel from the mainland. The Atlantic Rainforest covers most of the interior, and you hear it constantly: birds, insects, rustling leaves. Lopes Mendes Beach is the main attraction, a long stretch of white sand reached by a 2-3 hour rainforest hike or a boat ride to Praia do Pouso followed by a 20-minute walk. Lagoa Azul is a clear lagoon good for snorkelling. The ruins of the old Candido Mendes Prison, once Brazil's most notorious, are an eerie side trip. Back in the village, moqueca baiana (coconut shrimp stew) and caipirinhas are the standard order. Carry Brazilian Real in cash for smaller vendors.