Ilhabela, Brazil


Aptly named Ilhabela, or "beautiful island," is situated just off the coast of São Paulo. Numerous lovely beaches surround the island, and water sports such as snorkeling, fishing and especially sailing are popular pastimes. The more adventurous may wish to go scuba diving and explore the many shipwrecks in the coastal waters of the archipelago. The majority of the island is within Ilhabela State Park, where one can see over 400 cascading waterfalls and an abundance of local wildlife and vegetation.