Ilha Grande has 16 trails in total, and trail T1, known as the Abraão loop, is one of the shortest and easiest. Especially if you’re staying in Vila do Abraão (the main town).
Ilha Grande has so many things to do. But one of the best ways to see what the island has to offer, without even leaving the village is to walk the Abraão loop.
So here’s how and why you need to explore it.
Summary of the Abraao Loop
- Duration: 1-2 hours
- Length: 2 kilometres (1.8 to be precise)
- Difficulty: Easy
How to get there
If you’re visiting Ilha Grande, there is a high probability that you’ll be staying in or near the village of Abraão.
The loop begins just at the edge of Vila do Abraão. It’s just a 10 minute walk from the main pier. Follow the bay round, and you begin just through an archway. It’s super easy to find.
Screenshot of Ilha Grande’s trail T1 (The Abraao Loop):
Link to the Abraao Loop entrance on Google Maps:
As it’s a loop, you can walk in either direction.
My recommendation would be to take a left as you enter, and head up the hill. This allows you to finish with the gorgeous coastal views, and even stop there for a few hours before heading back to the town if you wish.
The Highlights of the Abraão Loop
The view of the bay
Now, technically this is cheating, because it’s before the trail begins. But walking towards the loop, you can’t help but look back on the village of Abraão, pausing and admiring its beauty. Even if you don’t plan to walk the loop, it’s worth walking five minutes out of the village to get a panoramic view of all that Abraão offers
Aqueduct lookout
This was our first stop on the loop, but probably not the most impressive. It was easy to almost miss it, but at the top of the first hill it’s possible to deviate from the main path and climb up a rock, for a beautiful view over the treetops.
I’m not quite sure why it was called the aqueduct look out, as we didn’t see the aqueduct, but beautiful and peaceful nonetheless.
Natural Pools
The natural pools are a series of mini water falls and clear water pools among the trees. Had we visited on a hotter day, I can imagine this place would be super popular with sunbathers and swimmers. I certainly would’ve loved a dip myself.
The Aquaduct
This impressive structure looks incredibly well maintained considering how old it is. The Abraão loop is also known as Trail T1. And at the aqueduct, you can go through the arches and over a bridge to continue on to Trail T2. This continues a further 4-5km to Feiticeira Beach.
To stick to the Ilha Grande T1 loop and head back to the village, don’t go under the arches! (We made this mistake and took a 20 minute detour up a hill before realising our mistake!)
Ruinas Do Lazareto
Arguably the most interesting stop on the Abraao loop. Originally a farmhouse, the Ruinas Do Lazareto were used as a prison to quarantine European immigrants arriving on Ilha Grande.
The aim was to prevent the spread of the deadly disease cholera that was being brought from Europe to Brazil. The ruins are fully open to wander around. And although now defaced with graffiti, are still an interesting bit of history to immerse yourself in.
Praia Preta
Certainly the most beautiful stop on the Abraão loop, Pretor beach is the grand finale. Had we known how peaceful and beautiful it would be, we would’ve brought a picnic and enjoyed lunch here with the view. The sea is a glorious shade of aqua blue, and the beach is accessible all along the path via small sets of steps. Meaning, it’s really like 10 mini private beaches instead of one large beach.
In warmer climates it would also have been the perfect Abraão snorkelling spot. Close enough to the town to rinse off in your hotel afterwards. But far enough away to be away from the boats coming in and out of the pier.
If sitting on the rocks isn’t your thing, there were also a series of picnic benches along the path, which I can imagine would be popular with families.
And there you have it, a simple yet rewarding 1.8 km Trail. Filled with wildlife, nature and history. I certainly wouldn’t recommend visiting Ilha Grande without checking out this trail.
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