Parque Estadual de Ilhabela

To arrive at Ilhabela, the road is Via Dutra or Ayrton Senna (SP 170) and Rodovia Carvalho Pinto up to the city of São José dos Campos; Rodovia dos Tamoios (SP99) up to the city of Caraguatatuba; or Rio-Santos (BR 101) up to São Sebastião. At São Sebastião, there is the ferry boat to cross the channel and reach Ilhabela. It is possible to go back directly to São Sebastião through Rio-Santos.

By observing nature carefully in an oceanic island, it is possible to understand a bit more about the evolution of life on Earth. Amazing beaches. Mountains crests and summits that reach more than 1,300 meters and are covered by a forest with several springs of streams that go down forming more than 250 waterfalls. Rivers going through the seashore lowlands forming mangroves seeking the sea. There are small and big islands, islets and flat rocks that are home to a rich and diverse flora and fauna. All this can be seen at Parque Estadual de Ilhabela (Ilhabela State Park). The park's 27,025 hectares comprise 85% of Ilhabela's area, Ilha de São Sebastião (São Sebastião Island), Búzios, and Vitória, among other formations that form the archipelago. The park is part of Rede de Unidades de Conservação (Network of Preservation Units) managed by Secretaria do Meio Ambiente de São Paulo (State Department of the Environment), by means of Instituto Florestal (Forest Institute). Besides nature, Ilhabela preserves the richness of the local culture. A result of a blend of different races - Europeans, Indians and black people - the local culture can be seen in the architecture, in the craftwork, fish boats, and in popular parties such as Congada de São Sebastião and other folkloric manifestations animated by local dances such as "cirandinha" and "quebra chiquinha".

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