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Last updated on October 13, 2024
Located just off the Brazilian mainland coast, Ilha Grande is a true paradise for nature lovers in and out of the water. Although its sparsely developed coral reefs, the island’s coves are home to fascinating marine life, making snorkeling just as captivating. Lagoa Verde, on the northwest coast of Ilha Grande, is one of the island’s best spots for underwater exploration.
Lagoa Verde (the “Green Lagoon”) is one of the most famous snorkeling spots on Ilha Grande, off the coast of Rio de Janeiro State.
To reach the island, take a boat from Angra dos Reis, Mangaratiba or Conceição de Jacareí. Most boats disembark in Abraão, Ilha Grande’s main town.
You’ll find there numerous tour operators offering snorkeling excursions around the island, starting from $15 per person. Some tours combine Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul on a half-day trip, but other options and itineraries are available.
The water entrance is directly from the boat, which usually anchors close to the shore in Lagoa Verde (northern bay). To get from one bay to the other, you’ll have to swim to the beach, and then walk over a few rocks to get to the other side.
The Lagoa Verde location comprises two small bays (the Lagoa Verde corresponds to the northern bay) positioned back to back, both of which are ideal for snorkeling.
The sandy Lagoa Verde has a gently sloping profile, while the underwater relief is more pronounced in the south bay, where the reefs are also more developed.
The seabed at this spot is mostly sandy and rocky, but in some places, you’ll see beautiful colonies of star coral, tubas and sponges, some of them very colorful.
If you see a lot of fish on this spot, notably angelfish, butterflyfish and pufferfish, you may also come across green turtles, which are quite common around the island. You’ll generally come across juvenile, tame individuals, who appreciate the sheltered waters of the bays.
In the sand, you can sometimes encounter a Flying gurnard, which deploys its wide, wing-like fins when it feels in danger.
Another of Ilha Grande’s emblematic fish, the seahorse, can occasionally be encountered while snorkeling, even in the very shallow areas near the beach.
There is no particular current on this spot, but waves can sometimes occur.
Lagoa Verde is a natural site. Some excursions last all day and include lunch.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
