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On my last day on Ilhabela, I took a ride up to the town of Vila Ilhabela with Paul, a Dutch guy who arrived at my hostel the night before.
Vila Ilhabela
Vila Ilhabela is one of the main settlements on the island. When we arrived, we parked the car and took a walk along the gorgeous seaside. Next, we walked around the very small historic settlement located there. A few colonial buildings remain.
The beautiful blue church on the hill is called the Church of Our Lady of Help (Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora d’Ajuda) and was built in the 16th century. In front is an interesting crucifix made of recycled metal parts.
Curral Beach
After lunch, we met our other friends from the hostel, Julie, Esmee, and Ben, at Curral Beach (Praia do Curral), which is located on the mainland side of the island. The receptionist at the hostel told us it was the nicest beach accessible on the main road.
Our group really enjoyed the relaxing time we spent on this beach. The sand was soft, the water was refreshing, and of course the company was great. We got a few chairs at a beach bar and had caipirinhas until the sun set over the mainland across the way.
