Heart-shaped bay
A rare outline.
Louise Cristina Araujo Ferri — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Diego F Goncalves — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ariel Fernando Saraiva da Silva — CC BY-SA 4.0 · João Vitor Oliveira Martins — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Diego F Goncalves — CC BY-SA 4.0
Praia de Castelhanos is a heart-shaped bay on Ilhabela's east coast, about 2 km long, reached overland only by a 22 km dirt road through the state park that only four-wheel-drive vehicles can use. Vehicles may enter the road between 7:00 and 14:00 and leave between 15:00 and 19:00, with daily caps of 42 private cars, 65 commercial jeeps and 60 motorbikes. The easiest way is an accredited jeep tour. The road closes after heavy rain, as it did in January 2026, so check its status before you go.
A rare outline.
Through the park.
The east side.
East coast of Ilhabela
No, the 22 km dirt road is for 4x4s only, with daily caps; an accredited jeep tour is easiest.