Angra dos Reis Brazil
Brazil

3 Cruises availables At departure or passage at this port

Costa Cruises (3 Cruises)

Port of Angra dos Reis, Brazil | Cruise Port Guide

Three hundred and sixty-five islands, or so the story goes: one for every day of the year. True or embellished, the line captures the essence of Angra dos Reis, on Brazil's Costa Verde, halfway between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo: a stretch of water dotted with wooded islets, framed by Atlantic Forest tumbling down from the mountains to the beaches. Ships anchor in the bay and bring passengers ashore by tender at the Santa Luzia dock, right in the centre; some itineraries head straight for Ilha Grande, the long island that closes off the horizon.

Ilha Grande, the Car-Free Island

Once home to pirates, a leper colony and a prison, the island has been given back to nature and to walkers: no cars are allowed. Boats dock at Vila do Abraão, a row of low buildings tucked between the beach and the mountainside. From there, forest trails and small ferry boats lead, at whatever pace visitors choose, to beaches that remain wild, including Lopes Mendes, regularly ranked among Brazil's most beautiful for its pale sand and clear water. The village itself is made for wandering, past pousadas, modest churches and tables serving grilled fish.

The Bay by Schooner

The classic excursion here is a schooner outing on one of the two-deck wooden boats Brazilians call escunas. The route winds from islet to islet, with swimming stops in coves where the water takes on lagoon-like colours: the Botinas Islands, two tufts of greenery rising from clear water, or Lagoa Azul, the Blue Lagoon, whose name says it all. Masks and snorkels are passed around on board, and colourful fish let visitors get remarkably close. Some outings continue as far as the beaches on the south coast, while others stick to the nearby coves to allow more time in the water; the ship's crew can recommend the option that best fits the time available. The pace is thoroughly Brazilian: soft music, fresh fruit cut right on deck, and no one checking the time before it's time to head back.

Downtown and the Hills

On shore, Angra dos Reis is worth an hour's stroll. The town owes its name, meaning "Bay of the Kings," to the passage of Portuguese navigators on January 6, 1502, the feast of Epiphany. The centre still holds a colonial church facing the main square, lively shopping streets, and a market where fish stalls sit alongside forest fruits. Residential hills climb in tiers behind the waterfront, and greenery takes over as soon as the eye lifts: the Atlantic Forest, one of the most species-rich in the world, practically wraps around the town. Hummingbirds and toucans frequent its edges, and coastal trails sometimes carry the distant call of howler monkeys. This close neighbour explains the region's other name, the Costa Verde, or Green Coast: here, green isn't just one colour among others, it's the permanent backdrop.

Angra dos Reis Port Call at a Glance

ItemDetail
Going ashoreBy tender at the Santa Luzia dock downtown; sometimes directly to Ilha Grande
Ilha GrandeBoat crossing from Angra; car-free island with beaches and trails
Boat excursionsSchooners and speedboats to the islets, with swimming and snorkelling
SeasonHot, humid southern-hemisphere summer; brief showers are common
CurrencyBrazilian real; cards are accepted almost everywhere in town

By evening, as the tender brings back the last passengers, the bay takes on the light of a party winding down: the islands darken one by one, the schooners head back to anchor. Many leave Angra with the same unspoken plan: to come back one day with time, plenty of time, and a whole island left to explore.

Frequently Asked Questions

At anchor in the bay, with tender landings at Santa Luzia pier right downtown. Some itineraries prefer to tender directly to Ilha Grande, the long island closing the horizon.
On Brazil's Costa Verde, halfway between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. The bay is scattered with wooded islets, 365 of them by local reckoning, one for each day of the year, and framed by Atlantic rainforest.
The schooner trip around the bay is the classic excursion: island-hopping with swim stops. An hour walking the centre rounds off the day, before or after.
A car-free island, once a haunt of pirates, then a leper colony and a penitentiary, now given back to nature and walkers. Boats land at Vila do Abraão, from where forest trails and water taxis lead to wild beaches.
Lopes Mendes on Ilha Grande, regularly named among Brazil's most beautiful for its pale sand and clear water. You have to earn it: no road, no cars, only the trail or a boat.
A schooner cruise on those two-deck wooden boats. You sail from islet to islet with swim stops in coves such as the Botinas islands or the Lagoa Azul. Masks and snorkels circulate on board, with soft music and cut fruit on deck.
A colonial church facing the main square, busy shopping lanes and a market where fish stalls sit beside forest fruit. Allow an hour: that is enough.
From the Bay of Kings: Portuguese navigators passed here on 6 January 1502, the feast of the Epiphany. The name has outlived them by five centuries.
The Brazilian real, and cards work almost everywhere in town. Portuguese is spoken; English is limited outside tour operators.
The southern summer is hot and humid, with brief frequent showers. They pass quickly and rarely spoil a schooner trip, but a light windbreaker helps.