Snorkeling in Angra dos Reis: five stops on a speedboat

Each stop lasts twenty to thirty minutes in the water, which is how five islands fit into one afternoon.

A shared speedboat tour of Angra dos Reis with five swimming and snorkeling stops across Lagoa Azul, Ilha Grande, Cataguás Island and Gipóia Island, conducted by a live Portuguese-speaking guide. The boat holds fourteen to thirty-four passengers and stops at each site for twenty to thirty minutes; lunch takes about an hour. You bring a cooler bag up to twenty liters (no glass) with your own food and drinks. Cancellations made twenty-four hours ahead get a full refund; same-day cancellations do not.

Step-by-step itinerary

Speedboat tour visiting five islands

• Depart from Angra dos Reis
• Swim and snorkel at Lagoa Azul
• Relax at Grumixama Beach
• Enjoy Araca Beach
• Explore Cataguás Island
• Visit Flechas Beach on Gipóia Island
• Return to Angra dos Reis

The Experience

You're in Angra dos Reis for an afternoon or a day and want to see the region's clearest water and quietest islands without renting a boat yourself. A speedboat departs with a shared group, a sailor on board, and floating noodles for anyone who wants them. The five stops are fixed: Lagoa Azul first, where the water is so clear you see the fish below you; then two beaches on Ilha Grande for swimming and a longer break; Cataguás Island next, small and calm, ringed by lush vegetation; and finally Flechas Beach on Gipóia Island, the second-largest island in the region, with soft sand and coconut trees. Each stop runs twenty to thirty minutes in the water, so you're not rushed but you're not sitting idle either.

The boat itself is fast and built for the route — it cuts through the open water and gets you between stops without eating up your afternoon. A live guide speaks Portuguese and knows the islands, the marine life you'll see, and which beaches suit families or couples looking for quiet. You can snorkel at any stop if you bring your own gear or if the floating noodles work for you; swimming is the default. Lunch happens mid-tour and takes roughly an hour; you eat what you brought in your cooler bag, so pack accordingly. The boat is shared, which means you're with other passengers — usually a mix of locals and travelers — and that's how the price stays reasonable.

Bring a towel, sunscreen, a hat, and cash or a card for anything you might need on the islands. The cooler bag can hold up to twenty liters, but nothing in glass containers. Infants sit on an adult's lap. Public transport gets you to the departure point, and the whole tour runs about five hours from start to finish.

What’s included

• A live Portuguese-speaking guide.
• a sailor on board.
• floating noodles for snorkeling.
• five swimming stops at Lagoa Azul, two Ilha Grande beaches, Cataguás Island and Flechas Beach on Gipóia Island.
• roughly five hours on the water with each stop lasting twenty to thirty minutes and lunch taking about an hour.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by AGENCY TRAVEL RBP

Is this one for you?The tour moves at a steady pace with frequent water stops, so it suits swimmers and snorkelers who want to see multiple islands without the effort of arranging private transport or navigating between sites on your own.

Top questions

What's the water like at Lagoa Azul where the tour starts?

Lagoa Azul is a natural aquarium with crystal-clear turquoise water surrounded by lush islands, calm enough for swimming and snorkeling with colorful fish and coral visible below the surface.

How long do you actually spend in the water at each stop?

Each stop lasts between twenty and thirty minutes, so you have time to swim, snorkel or explore the beach without feeling rushed, except lunch which takes about an hour.

Can I bring my own food and drinks on the speedboat?

Yes, you can bring a cooler bag up to twenty liters with your own food and drinks, but nothing packaged in glass containers — the tour does not include meals or beverages.

Is the boat crowded with other passengers?

The speedboat holds fourteen to thirty-four people and is shared with other passengers, so you're not alone but it's not a packed tour either.

What happens if I need to cancel?

Cancellations made at least twenty-four hours in advance receive a full refund; cancellations on the day of the tour are not refunded.