ILHA GRANDE
Ilha Grande is a beautiful island about 100 miles west-southwest of Rio de Janeiro. It is only a few miles from the mainland and has very few vehicles (most trails are pedestrian-only) because there is no bridge to the mainland.

First...a view of part of the island from the boat connecting to the mainland...



Ilha Grande's highest peak (Pico do Papagaio or Parrot Peak), viewed from the coastal village of Abraćo. Note this is that "parrot" to the right, not the mountain to the left.



Closer look at the "parrot"...



The coast at the village of Abraćo, the main population center on Ilha Grande.



Abraćo from above...



A beach linked by a trail several miles to the east, Praia de Palmas...



Looking the other way (west)...



Around the corner, looking up the hill...



A bridge over a stream that empties into the sea at Praia de Palmas (with dense forest on the other side)...



Looking along that stream towards the mountains (with a non-native royal palm)...



Inside the forest...



A native palm, Astrocayum aculeatissiumum, in the forest...



Close-up of the thorny trunk...



An extremely common native palm, the aēai do sul (Euterpe edulis), between Abraćo and Praia de Palmas...



That bay in the background...as viewed nearby...



Another rainforest pic (south of Abraćo) with fog...



More rainforest...



More disturbed rainforest (as noted by the bamboo), including more aēai do sul palms...



A tree fern (these were common in the forest)...



One last look at the island from the boat back to the mainland...



All of the above pictures on this page were taken in October 2010 by Brandt Maxwell.

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