Ilha Grande, a well-preserved slice of paradise with lush vegetation and turquoise waters, is located off the Costa Verde. The island has been spared the attention of property developers, perhaps due to its largely uninspiring history (as a hideout for pirates and as a quarantine hospital). In high season, you can still easily find some peace and quiet on the many pathways that run inland across the island, along beaches on the magnificent south coast or in the water, where you can admire myriad species of fish. An authentic experience.