Ilha do Mel travel guide for a paradisiac weekend getaway
The Brazilian state of Paraná is known for having terrible beaches (in contrast to its amazing waterfalls), so I was surprised to learn about the paradisiac destination of Ilha do Mel State Park! Just a short drive away from Curitiba, you can experience a well-protected State Park featuring tons of wildlife, nice beaches, and beautiful sunsets.
Let’s dive into all the information you need to plan a relaxing weekend getaway in Ilha do Mel!
Disclaimer: This page may contain affiliate links. If you use these links to buy or book something I may earn pennies at no additional cost to you!
TLTR? Here are the most helpful links for Ilha do Mel!
🚗 How to get there: Drive (2hrs) or hop on a bus from Curitiba (3.5 hrs), then take a boat to the island
🏠 Where to stay: Amongst the many Pousada options, Pousada Caraguata had the best cost-benefit
🛶 Best tour: Ilha do Mel 360° Tour with Jojuba Turismo Náutico
What is special about Ilha do Mel?
Ilha do Mel State Park in Paraná, Brazil, is a hidden gem known for its unspoiled beaches, rich biodiversity, and peaceful atmosphere. As a car-free (and pavement-free) island, visitors mostly explore it on foot or bike, setting a chill island vibe.
The island features protected ecological reserves, home to diverse wildlife and a sample of Atlantic Forest. There, one can spot lots of birds and is guaranteed to meet with dolphins during a boat tour!
With limited infrastructure and no mass tourism, Ilha do Mel is one of the few great beach destinations that remains serene for those seeking a simple nature escape!
What to do in Ilha do Mel?
Despite being quite small, Ilha do Mel has a lot to offer! Let’s explore the best activities at Ilha do Mel.
1. Boat tours
Ilha do Mel has a famous 360° tour, where guests go around the island in a fast motorboat. This tour goes for R$110 per person and lasts well over 4 hours! The highlight? You get to see dozens of dolphins while doing it!
I booked my tour with Jojuba Turismo Náutico just outside the port in Encantadas and genuinely enjoyed my experience with them!
Important to note: Be prepared to get wet! Although this tour was fun, I found it quite aggressive. It felt more like surfing instead of sailing. I would not bring young kids (under 12) into this experience. Also, the part of the tour can be a tiny bit boring for non-Portuguese speakers, as the tour guide turns off the boat engine multiple times during the ride to point out hiking trails and explain local history.
Hiking
Ilha do Mel has a number of hikes – not really challenging or long hikes! The hikes are largely beginner-friendly pathways through the jungle. No guided tour is needed to explore these nice and short hikes, and you can do many of them in a day if that’s your thing.
Enjoying the beach
At Ilha do Mel, you have access to paradisiac beaches, meaning that they do not have any infrastructure at all, it is just you, the sand, and the ocean! The sand is soft and white, and the water is at bathing-friendly temperatures for most of the year!
If you enjoy having business around the beach, no worries! Near the port in Encantadas, the beach has a more energetic vibe, with some people playing volleyball and listening to music. Also, there are many restaurant options just by the ocean, where you can enjoy amazing food and a sea view. Out of the restaurants I visited, Deck do Marujo deserves the spotlight!
Also, there are many restaurant options just by the ocean, where you can enjoy amazing food and a sea view. Out of the restaurants I visited, Deck do Marujo deserves the spotlight!
Observing bioluminescent planctons
If visiting both during the right season (typically August and September) and a new moon, visitors may come across bioluminescent plankton in the ocean!
How to get to Ilha do Mel?
Getting to Ilha do Mel from Curitiba is a two-step process. First, you need to head to Pontal do Sul by either car (~1.5 hours) or bus (~2.5 hours). Then, you need to take a boat transfer (15-25 minutes) to get to Ilha do Mel.
Important to note: Another way to get there is by taking a way longer route: starting on a famous scenic train from Curitiba to Morretes and then a bus to Pontal do Sul, and then the boat transfer. I found this route to be too long (I estimated ~9 hours) and expensive (R$300+), so I opted for taking the ~R$50 bus.
Step 1: The land route
Driving to Pontal do Sul: The route from Curitiba to Ilha do Mel is completely paved and in amazing condition. There is no need to worry about parking, as many (paid) parking lots available in front of the boat transfer. A fellow traveler we met at Ilha do Mel parked at Estacionamento do Deco and had a good experience!
Taking the bus to Pontal do Sul: Graciosa offers a few buses a day on the Curitiba <> Pontal do Sul route. Tickets can be easily purchased in person at Curitiba Bus Terminal or online via their official website. The buses are comfortable, air-conditioned, and extremely punctual (in my experience). The Bus Terminal in Curitiba has a range of food and snack options, and the dropoff point in Pontal do Sul has a few small shops.
The bus has a lot of dropoff points at the Pontal do Sul region. Even being Brazilian, I almost got off in the wrong spot! Your best bet is to keep asking the driver if the stop you’re at is “Embarque Ilha do Mel.”
Step 2: The sea route
The bus drops you off just by the boarding terminal for the boat, and the parking lots are also very close!
The official boat transfer is Abaline, and their ticket office is just across the street from the boarding terminal! If you prefer to buy tickets online, you can easily do so at Abaline’s website. The Pontal do Sul <> Ilha do Mel transfer lasts between 15 and 25 minutes and a round-trip ticket costs R$49. The transfer runs at 30-minute intervals on weekends and 1-hour intervals on weekdays.
Other transfer operators are available, but they are more expensive and not as reliable. Unless you are traveling at really odd times, the Abaline transfer is your best option!
Before boarding, you need to say which port in Ilha do Mel you are heading to, a topic that we will be covering in the coming section!
Good to know: Although I’m all for spontaneous travel, it is recommended to have your Ilha do Mel accommodation booked in advance if you plan to stay overnight on the island. Some internet blogs claim that if you do not have accommodation booked, you might be forced to get a same-day roundtrip boat ticket. In contrast to that information, when I got my boat ticket, no one asked anything about accommodation! Also, I was told that the ticket I purchased could be used at any time/any day. Anyways, better to be safe than sorry!
Where to stay in Ilha do Mel?
There are two villages at Ilha do Mel with great accommodation options: Encantadas and Nova Brasilia. It does not really matter in what village you choose to spend the nights, as there is a boat transfer between them every hour!
In Encantadas, there are hotel options both by the beach and inside the jungle. In Nova Brasilia, hotels are mostly on one of two beaches: Praia do Itsmo or Praia Nova Brasilia.
During my Ilha do Mel stay, I chose to sleep at Pousada Caraguata in Encantada. This was the accommodation with the best cost-benefit and location I could find. The pousada is just by the port where the boat transfer arrives, which is also “downtown Encantadas”! Within a 1-minute walking radius from Pousada Caraguata, I could access the beach, restaurants, a food market, the port, and tour operators!
Although I enjoyed my stay at Pousada Caraguata and would book it again, it is important to note that the room was very tiny, and the room door wouldn’t lock properly. None of these were serious issues, as I was out for most of the day and as Ilha do Mel is very safe!
Is it worth it to visit Ilha do Mel?
I wouldn’t fly to the US to visit the Ilha do Mel State Park. Although I had an amazing time there, it is not worth traveling extremely long distances just to see it, mainly given the number of paradisiac places in Brazil! However, if you already are visiting Curitiba or a nearby city, going on a day trip or weekend trip to Ilha do Mel is absolutely worth it!
Ilha do Mel is nice, but Curitiba also has a lot to offer! Check out our guide on what to do in Curitiba to learn about the best activities in town!
Another option for a memorable weekend getaway is Iguazu Falls, located a quick flight away from Curitiba.
