Ilhabela: Bonete & Indaiaúba Superboat Beach Day Tour

4.98

(127 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the boat to bounce that much—felt like we were skipping over the water south from Ilhabela, salt spray in my face and hair already wild. Our guide, Tiago, started pointing out little coves as we passed, telling stories about pirates hiding here (he swears it’s true), and honestly I believed him for a second. The island just has that kind of mood—dense green pressing right down to the sea, waterfalls just appearing out of nowhere on the cliffs. I caught a whiff of wet earth mixed with sunscreen and engine oil. Not exactly poetic but real.

We stopped at this cave everyone calls “dog hole”—I still don’t know why. It’s just there in the middle of the sea, half-hidden by rocks. Tiago laughed when I tried to say its name in Portuguese—definitely butchered it. Then suddenly we were at Indaiaúba beach. The water was so clear you could see every pebble under your feet, and there was this hush except for a couple locals hauling nets further down. I remember standing there thinking how far away city noise felt; even my phone had no signal (kind of a relief).

Bonete came next—bigger waves, more people around but still not crowded. There’s a caiçara village right behind the sand where kids waved at us as we walked by. Lunch was simple fish and rice from one of the homes (not fancy but tasted like someone actually cared). We cooled off at a waterfall nearby—the kind where you stand under it and forget what time it is. I still think about that view sometimes, sunlight flickering through leaves while you drip dry on warm rocks.