Spend 2 days lazing on beautiful beaches and hiking in lush forests and visiting viewpoints with this perfect 2-day Ilha do Mel itinerary.
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Table of Contents - The perfect 2-day Ilha do Mel itinerary
What is Ilha do Mel
Ilha do Mel is a small island in the Brazilian state of Paraná. Its beautiful beaches and forests make it the perfect place for a relaxing getaway. It’s like a small and local version of the more popular Ilha Grande, but without vehicles. The island is small though, and you can get around most of the island on foot, by bike or by boat.
While popular with locals, Ilha do Mel is still off the foreign tourist radar. So if you are looking for a chill off-the-beaten-track experience, Ilha do Mel is the perfect place.
When to visit Ilha do Mel
As Ilha do Mel is a popular destination for locals, weekends and Brazilian holidays often get busy. Especially in summer. We visited during the week in June, and it was perfect. It was not busy at all and the weather was perfect for hiking. The water was a little cold for swimming, but we preferred it this way. In summer it’s very hot and humid for hiking and we probably wouldn’t have explored as much of the island.
How to get to Ilha do Mel
First, you need to get to Curitiba, the capital city of the Paraná state. From here you can take a bus to Pontal do Sul or Paranaguá, which is where the ferries leave from. The crossing from Pontal do Sul is shorter, and cheaper and boats leave more frequently, so this is the best option. The buses and boats are both operated by the company Abaline, and you can buy both tickets at the bus terminal in Curitiba. There is a ticket booth at the ferry terminal as well if you prefer to buy your ferry ticket there, it’s the same price.
Where to stay in Ilha do Mel
The main town of Ilha do Mel is Encantadas. This small town has everything you need, from shops to restaurants. Most accommodation is also located here. Another popular place to stay is Nova Brasília. Nova Brasília is about halfway the island, so a more central place to stay if you want to explore the island on foot. But it’s a bit more remote. There are ferries to both places from Portal do Sul and there are taxi boats between these places as well.
There are other places to stay as well, but unless you travel very light and want to hike there, you will need to get a taxi boat to arrive at your accommodation which is something to take into consideration.
The perfect 2-day Ilha do Mel itinerary
The best order in which to visit the best things to do in Ilha do Mel differs depending on where you are staying. This is why I have created two different itineraries. One for stays in Nova Brasília and one for stays in Encantadas.
These itineraries are for 2 days and 2 nights, which I’d say is the perfect amount of time to spend here. Of course, you can also spend more time here and relax. But 2 days, of which at least one full day, is enough to explore the island.
Day 0 - Arriving
If you can, spend the night before the itinerary on the island, so you have all day tomorrow. Sunsets can be very nice on this island, so if you only do one thing today, grab a drink and head to the beach for sunset.
Day 1 when staying in Encantadas
Today you can hike along the beautiful coastline all the way to the fortress (fortaleza). The hike there and back is about 22 km return and took us about 7 hours including breaks, visiting the lighthouse and fortress and having lunch. So I recommend starting early to have enough time to enjoy every place along the way.
Start by heading to the eastern side of the island, to Morro do Sabão. You can hike via the beach or take the trail. I would take the trail since it’s very nice, easier to walk on and there is time to visit the beach tomorrow.
From the viewpoint, head down and continue to Praia do Miguel and Praia Grande. The beaches are very pretty and you can take breaks and go for swims on the way.
After Praia Grande, you’ll reach the small town of Nova Brasília. If you need food or drinks, you can buy some here before continuing to the lighthouse either via town or via the beach (Praia de Fora). Head down the other side and continue to Praia do Farol and Praia de Nova Brasilia.
To get to the fortress, the final stop, you can walk along the beach or take the trail through the forest. They are both nice, so you can hike along the beach one way and take the forest trail on the way back.
If you want to, you can continue to Baía dos Golfinhos (Dolphin Bay) where you can see dolphins. But that is a very long walk and there are no guarantees that you can see them. So we decided to turn back from the fortress and hike back. You can also hike to the bay, back to Nova Brasilia, and take a boat to Encantadas from there.
Day 1 when staying in Nova Brasília
Today you can hike to the Gruta, in the southern part of the island. Start your hike by heading to the lighthouse via Praia do Farol. After a short visit to the lighthouse, head down the other side and hike to Praia Grande either via town or via Praia de Fora. Continue along Praia Grande and Praia do Miguel to Morro do Sabão for nice views over the coastline.
Next, you can either take the trail to Morro das Encantadas or walk via the beach. Both are nice options, so you can take the beach one way and the trail the other way. The town of Encantadas is your best option for lunch and to buy cold drinks. So you can eat here either before or after visiting the Gruto. The Gruto is best visited at low tide, so try to plan your lunch and beach breaks accordingly.
Day 2 when staying in Encantadas
Gruta das Encantadas is only a short hike from Encantas making it the perfect destination for today. Check out of your accommodation before you’re heading to the beach though, so you don’t need to worry about the time.
The gruto is only small, but it is one of the iconic places on the island. You can also hike up to Morro de Encantadas for nice views over the beaches and Encantadas town. The beach here is only small but offers some shade next to the rocks. If you want a bigger beach, you can head to Praia da Boia instead.
Make sure to check the tides before, since the Gruta is best visited with low tide.
Head back to town for lunch, pick up your things from your accommodation, and head back to the mainland.
Day 2 when staying in Nova Brasília
Today you can hike to the fortress. Check out of your accommodation before heading out, so you don’t need to worry about time.
You can get here via the beach or the forest trail. Both options are nice, so you can take the beach one way and the forest trail the other way. If you have the time and energy, you can also continue to Baía dos Golfinhos (Dolphin Bay) where you can see dolphins.
Grab lunch back at Nova Brasília before picking up your things and heading back to the mainland.
Other things to do in Ilha do Mel
One popular activity that I left out is the boat tour to the fortress, Baía dos Golfinhos, Ilha das Peças, and Ponta Oeste. Ilha das Peças is a neighboring island where you’ll stop for lunch and Ponta Oeste is famous for its oysters and a great place to go swimming.
It’s also possible to go surfing at Ilha do Mel. Schools and rental places are very limited though.
This was: The perfect 2-day Ilha do Mel itinerary
If you’re looking for more Brazilian destinations popular with locals, but undiscovered by foreign tourists, check out Ouro Preto. This cute little mountain town has an interesting history worth exploring.
