What to do in Ilha do Mel, paradise on the coast of Paraná

Ilha do Mel is a first class tourist destination located on the coast of the state of Paraná, Brazil. The Atlantic forest of this island paradise is protected by a natural park, gasoline vehicles are not allowed and the capacity is limited.

The island has only two small villages in Encantadas and Nova Brasilia. Let’s see how to get there and what you can do on its extensive beaches, whether you are traveling for the day or planning to stay a few nights.

PROFESSIONAL ETHICS. This post contains some affiliate links.

These links allow you to follow my recommendations and book them, and provide a little commission. Thus, you help keep this travel blog ad-free at no extra cost to you.

How to get to the island

Ilha do Mel is located about 120 kilometers from the capital of Paraná, Curitiba. The island can be reached by boat from the ports of Paranaguá or Pontal do Sul. You can reach these two ports from Curitiba or Florianópolis by bus. You can also book an excursion to Ilha do Mel from Curitiba.

To get to the island you only have two embarkation points:

• The boat trip from Paranaguá takes about an hour and a half. It embarks in front of Praça de Eventos 29 de Julho. The boat stops in Nueva Brasilia and ends the trip in Encantadas.
• If you board at the port of Pontal do Sul, the trip takes about half an hour. There are two boats, one to Nueva Brasilia and the other to Encantadas. On weekends, departures are every 330 minutes between 8 am and 8 pm. The price for a round trip is approximately 50 reais.
• In Pontal do Sul there are also speedboats that make the trip in 15 minutes and cost 70 reais round trip. It only takes 4 people to go to the island.

Personally, I think that considering the changeable weather in Paraná during the summer, it is advisable to choose the shortest possible route at sea.

Nova Brasilia or Encantadas?

The trip between Nova Brasilia and Encantadas is about 8 kilometers. It can be done by boat for 25 reais, or by walking through the Atlantic forest, the beach and the mountainous area of the island. Many day visitors focus on one or the other part of the island.

• Encantadas is the most popular destination on the island. Encantadas beach faces the mainland and the water is calm. There are many beach bars and restaurants, inexpensive accommodations and many proposals for water sports, fishing and other activities. If you want to go to areas farther away from the inhabited nucleus, you mostly go through open areas. The famous Encantadas Grotto is in this part of the island.
• Nova Brasilia has a more relaxed atmosphere with long beaches and little occupation. The roads in this part of the island are through the forest or along the seashore, which makes it easy to get around on foot. Here are the main heritage attractions: the fort and the lighthouse. Accommodations in this part of the island are more expensive.

Personally, I liked the Nova Brasilia area better, although it is true that if you stay a few nights in Ilha do Mel, you miss the sunset atmosphere of Encantadas.

Cool things to do in Ilha do Mel

Ilha do Mel offers a wide variety of activities for all tastes, although it is mainly a sun and beach destination.

• If you like nature, you can enjoy the beautiful beaches of the island, go hiking in the mountains or visit the Gruta das Encantadas, a natural cave with mysterious legends.
• If you like the sea, you can practice water sports such as surfing, diving or paddle surfing.
• If you like history, you can visit the Fortaleza Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, an 18th century fortress that offers beautiful views of the island.

1. Swim at paradise beaches

Ilha do Mel has some of the most beautiful beaches on the coast of Paraná. The beaches towards the mainland have calm waters. The most famous is Praia das Encantadas.

However, the most natural and beautiful beaches are the beaches towards the Atlantic. Particularly beautiful and deserted are: Praia Grande and Praia de Sao Miguel. Praia do Faraol and Praia das Paralelas are closer to Nova Brasilia, but also have a rather quiet atmosphere.

2. Hiking around the island

Ilha do Mel has a variety of trails that will take you through the lush vegetation of the Atlantic Forest.

Some of the most popular trails are:

• The trail that leads to the Gruta das Encantadas from the homonymous village. The journey takes about 30 minutes through the village and the forest.
• The trail to Farol das Conchas from Nova Brasilia. This one-kilometer walk takes about half an hour. The ascent to the lighthouse by stairs can be exhausting in full sun.

• The trail from Nova Brasilia to Encantadas is 6 – 7 kilometers long and can be done in two hours. You have to climb a hill and part of the trail is through areas without shade or services. Bring water and a hat to protect you from the sun.

3. Practice water sports

Ilha do Mel is a paradise for water sports lovers. You can surf, dive, paddle surf, kayak or just swim in the crystal clear waters of the island.

The Atlantic beaches are the best for surfing. The waves are high, although surfing is combined with family bathing.

4. Admire the sunset in Encantadas

The changing weather of the Brazilian summer offers spectacular sunsets. One of the most magical moments on Ilha do Mel is the sunset from Encantadas.

It is common for it to rain for a while in the afternoons in this area of the Brazilian coast. When the sun sets behind the Serra de Mar, the clouds offer an incredible palette of colors.

To add atmosphere to this magical moment, the coast of Encantadas is filled with ambiance. So you can choose between a quiet sunset in a small cove of the island or in the town with music and more people.

5. Visit Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres fort

Here I propose another hiking route with a historical and patrimonial component. The trail to the Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres is an 8-kilometer walk through open countryside that takes you to the fortification that protected the coast of Paraná.

The ruins are not very impressive, but the walk takes you into the most deserted area of the island. Be careful because it is also the part with the least shadows. Bring water and a hat and, if possible, start the trail early in the morning. Be careful because the weather is very changeable.

Where to stay at Ilha do Mel

Ilha do Mel offers a wide variety of accommodation options, from camping sites to luxury hotels. As mentioned before there are different options and the style of Nova Brasilia and Encantadas are quite different.

Inns and Hotels in Nova Brasilia

• There are some charming hotels in Ilha do Mel. The best boutique hotel is Astral da Ilha. It is rebranding to be called YBA Casa Hotel, but its website is not ready yet.
• Most accommodations on the island are pousadas, that is, houses where you have a room or small apartment and share the garden and common spaces. The best pousadas in Nova Brasilia for my taste are: Pousadinha, Vila da Pousadinha and Pousada Plancton.
• You also have the option of renting a whole house in Ilha do Mel. The ones available in Nova Brasilia were beautiful, in quiet areas and close to the beach. Write me if you want me to pass you a WhatsApp number.

Camping and lodges in Encantadas

If you are looking for a more economical experience, you can choose to camp on one of the island’s beaches. For example, you have the Pousada Tubarao which has a camping area in front of Encantadas beach.

However, if you are looking for a little more comfort, you can find many pousadas in Encantadas, in general, cheaper than the ones I recommended in Nova Brasilia. Some options are: Pousada Beija Flor, Pousada Marimar by the sea or Ecolodge Ilha Preserve to have a little house all to yourself.

Where to eat at Ilha do Mel

On the island there are many supermarkets that allow you to buy basic food, drinks and so on. They are more expensive than on the mainland, so many visitors bring their own food for the day.

The gastronomy of Ilha do Mel is a mixture of Brazilian and international flavors, as they target all types of clientele. In the island’s restaurants you can find typical Brazilian dishes such as churrasco, feijoada and moqueca, as well as international dishes such as pizza, pasta and hamburgers.

The best restaurant in Encantadas is undoubtedly Cataias. It is a bit pricey, but all their produce was very fresh. Nearby you also have the typical Brazilian buffet by the kilo and several restaurants that offer an executive menu for lunch.