Lopes Mendes schooner shuttle: Self-guided beach day

Four beaches in one day, your own itinerary

A shared schooner shuttle from Vila do Abraão takes you 40 minutes across the water to Lopes Mendes, the largest beach on Ilha Grande. Once you land at Mangue Beach, the day is yours: walk the 20-minute trail to Lopes Mendes itself, then explore Praia de Pouso and Santo Antônio at your own pace, or stay put on the sand. The round-trip ride includes a guide aboard the schooner and safety equipment. You choose your departure time at booking and your return time on the day itself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Schooner shuttle and beach exploration

• Board schooner at Vila do Abraão Port
• Enjoy 40-minute boat ride to Mangue Beach
• Take 20-minute trail from Mangue Beach
• Explore Lopes Mendes Beach and surroundings
• Visit nearby quiet beach with floating restaurant
• Walk 20 minutes to small beach between Pouso and Lopes Mendes
• Return by schooner to Vila do Abraão

The experience

The schooner leaves Vila do Abraão Port and carries up to 150 passengers across the water to Mangue Beach, where you step off into a 20-minute trail that opens onto Lopes Mendes. The beach itself is 3 kilometers of white sand with water that shifts through shades of blue and green. From there, a five-minute light trail reaches Praia de Pouso, a quiet beach with a floating restaurant (food and drinks are not included), and another 20-minute walk connects to Santo Antônio, a small beach between the two with freshwater stream and rocks. You can spend the whole day on one beach, island-hop between all three, or walk the ecologic trails that thread through the area.

The boat ride is shared, so you travel with other visitors. A guide stays aboard to answer questions during the crossing. Once you land, the activity becomes self-guided: there is no set itinerary, no group to follow, no timed stops. Bring your own food and drink (there are no street vendors, only the floating restaurant at Praia de Pouso), wear light clothes and comfortable walking shoes or sandals, and move at your own rhythm. If you want to try surfing or stand-up paddleboarding, boards are available for rental back in Vila do Abraão before you depart.

You pick your departure time when you book (morning, midday or afternoon options are available), and you choose your return time on the day itself, once you have seen what you want to see. The whole outing runs between five and seven and a half hours depending on which beaches you visit and how long you stay. Infants travel free but must sit on an adult's lap.

What’s included

• Round-trip schooner ride from Vila do Abraão Port.
• onboard guide during the boat crossing.
• safety equipment.
• your choice of departure time at booking.

Options for this experience

2 options

Portuguese Speaking Guide09:30, 10:30 and 11:30A shared tour led by a guide who speaks Portuguese. It departs from Vila do Abraão.

English speaking guide09:30, 10:30 and 11:30The tour is led by a guide who speaks English. It leaves from Vila do Abrao Port.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:30, 10:30 and 11:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 150

Live guideEnglish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Gray Line Brazil

Is this one for you?Choose the morning departure if you want the full day to move between all three beaches and the trails. The afternoon slot works if you prefer a shorter outing or want to spend most of your time on one beach. A live guide in English or Portuguese is available: select your language preference at checkout.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3).

How long is the boat ride to Lopes Mendes from Vila do Abraão?

The schooner takes 40 minutes to cross from Vila do Abraão Port to Mangue Beach, where you land and begin the 20-minute trail to Lopes Mendes.

What are the three beaches I can visit on this tour?

Lopes Mendes is the main beach: 3 kilometers of white sand and the largest on Ilha Grande. Praia de Pouso sits five minutes away by light trail and has a floating restaurant. Santo Antônio lies between them, a smaller beach with rocks and a freshwater stream, reachable by a 20-minute walk from Mangue.

Can I choose what time I return to Vila do Abraão?

Yes. You pick your departure time when you book, and you decide your return time on the day itself once you are at the beach, so you control how long you stay.

Is there food and water available on the beach?

Only Praia de Pouso has a floating restaurant where you can buy food and drinks. Lopes Mendes and Santo Antônio have no vendors, so bring your own supplies or eat at Pouso if you visit it.

Do I need to stay with a guide once I arrive at Lopes Mendes?

No. After you land at Mangue Beach, the day is self-guided. The guide travels with you on the schooner but does not lead a group itinerary on the island. You explore the beaches and trails on your own.

Can I rent a surfboard or paddleboard for this trip?

Surfboards and stand-up paddleboards are available for rental in Vila do Abraão before you depart, not on the beach itself, so arrange rentals before you board the schooner if you want to bring equipment with you.