Ilha de Paquetá: Rio de Janeiro’s Car-Free Island Day Trip

If you’re looking for a calm island getaway, or just hoping to get more off the beaten path during your trip to Brazil, Ilha de Paquetá (also known as Paquetá Island) is one of the best day trips from Rio de Janeiro.

I spent a day here during one of my visits to Rio, and I can confirm that Ilha de Paquetá is really one of Rio’s best-kept secrets. Just an hour away from the city, it’s also super easy to visit!

As a colonial-style town that first became a tourist destination in the 1800s, part of Ilha de Paquetá’s charm is just how calm and quiet it is, partly thanks to its no-cars-rule.

It’s a really tiny island with unpaved streets, so expect to see lots of electric carts, eco-taxis, and bikes here!

How to get to Ilha de Paquetá

Situated in the Guanabara Bay, the only way to get to Ilha de Paquetá from Rio is by boat. You’ll leave from Praça XV, a historic square in Downtown Rio. 

The frequency of the ferries and exact timing varies a bit depending on if it’s a weekday or a weekend, but generally, 12 or 13 ferries leave from Rio throughout the day, with 12 return options. You can find the full ferry schedule here. The last ferry returns back to Rio at 11:10 pm on weekdays, and 11:30 on weekends.

It takes about an hour to get to the island, and costs R$ 5 each way (around $1 USD, or $2 round-trip). You can purchase your ticket directly at the terminal. Don’t miss the view on your way to the island! You’ll see sights like the Rio-Niterói bridge, which is cool.

What to do in Ilha de Paqueta

Visit the beaches

The main attraction at Ilha de Paquetá is its beaches — and the top ones are Praia da Imbuca, Praia de José Bonifacio, and Praia da Moreninha.

At some of them, you’ll see really interesting, large boulders. There’s some dispute about the cleanliness of the water, as the Guanabara Bay deals with its fair share of pollution.

However, some people claim the water is clean and just has algae — and I definitely saw some people swimming there. There have also been some recent efforts in Rio to help clean up the bay. So I’ll let you be the judge! (You can also check current info from the local environment agency, INEA, at this website.)

Whether you’re up for swimming or not, the beaches are really beautiful, and nice to just walk along or relax at.

There are a bunch of small bars along the beaches where you can get a drink and hang out by the water.

Walk, bike, or explore by golf cart

When you’re ready to explore, walk, or rent a bike or even a mechanical cart that you have to pedal (what my husband and I went for). Renting them is super easy — when you exit the ferry terminal, you’ll walk all the way down the street, Rua Furquim Werneck, and you’ll hit José Bonifácio Beach.

There, you’ll see people renting out their carts and bikes. You can probably find them around the island too, but this is the island’s main beach, with a really scenic, tree-lined street for exploring.

You’ll also see swan paddle boats right here too, if you’d rather go by water.

If you’d rather someone else lead the way, tour operators also can take you around in a golf cart for R$30 to R$100, depending on the length of time.

Either way, the island is less than a square mile (with a perimeter of around five miles) so it’s super easy to cover in just a few hours or so this way. 

Relax at Darke de Mattos Park

There’s also a large park, Parque Natural Municipal Darke de Mattos that’s great for relaxing or having a picnic. We hung out here for a while at the end of our day here, and it was super nice!

There’s a beautiful viewpoint here, Mirante Boa Vista, that gives you a view of Rio — Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer and all.

Visit the Pedra da Moreninha viewpoint

Also check out another cool viewpoint, Pedra da Moreninha, which you can reach by taking a short walk from Praia da Moreninha (a beach), and crossing a small bridge. 

The town itself is cute with colorful, colonial-style architecture.

Explore history and culture at São Roque Chapel and Casa de Artes Paquetá

I didn’t get to check either of these places out when I was here, but São Roque Chapel is a pretty blue and white church that’s just open on Sundays. It’s one of the oldest churches in Rio, dating back at 1697.

And, there’s also the Casa de Artes Paquetá, a cultural center that regularly hosts musical performances and other events. The cultural center dates back to the 1999, while the building itself was constructed in the late 1800s.

It’s typically only open to the public on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm. It’s free to visit, but there may be special admission for certain events.

Where to Eat in Ilha de Paquetá

Unlike in Rio where there are a ton of restaurant and bar options, in Ilha de Paquetá, there are just a handful of choices.

Don’t expect to see a ton of variety when it comes to cuisine, either. You can expect most spots to be on the casual side and serving up traditional Brazilian snacks and dishes.

I ate at Zeca’s, a classic Brazilian spot with lots of seafood and meat options, and would recommend it! I enjoyed my meal and the prices were reasonable.

Here are some other options as well:

• Pastelaria do Lido has lots of Brazilian classics like codfish, mixed barbecued meats, and pastels, a delicious savory pastry similar to an empanada.

• Ilha Do Sol is a small cafe with burgers, seafood, snacks, and more.

• Cantina Vira Canto is another spot selling typical Brazilian food like seafood and meat dishes.

• Tia Leleta Bar e Restaurante is a traditional Brazilian restaurant with classic appetizers like pastels and seafood options like moqueca, a stew usually made with shrimp and fish, as well as pizzas and pastas at night.

When to Visit Ilha de Paquetá

I visited on a weekday, and it was super relaxed and peaceful. There were still a number of people hanging out at the beach, park, and various bars, but it was by no means packed.

I have heard that weekends can be more lively and even crowded, considering how small the island is.

Apart from that, the only special times to be aware of are Carnival, which is biggest celebration, held sometime in February or early March. Carnival is an enormous deal in Rio de Janeiro, and Ilha de Paquetá is also known as a fun place to visit, as they throw their own special blocos, or street parties.

If you do want to go to one of these blocos, you’ll have to go to the ferry station first thing in the morning, since the island can hit capacity quickly.

The island’s other biggest event is Festa de São Roque, which happens during a weekend in mid-August. Paqueta Island will have lots of live music and dancing — typically forró and pagode (forró comes from the Northeast of Brazil and is considered Brazilian country music, while pagode is basically a subgenre of samba) — as well as a number of religious ceremonies and blessings.

Is Ilha de Paquetá worth visiting?

As you can tell, there’s not a ton to do on Paquetá Island — so if you’re looking for a super exciting day trip filled with sightseeing, you may be disappointed.

So if it’s your first time in Brazil, and you have only a few days to spend in Rio de Janeiro, you may want to stick to the city, as there’s more than enough things to do there.

But if you have a longer stay in Rio, or it’s a return visit and you’ve already checked off the main sites, or you just want to get away from the big city vibe and relax with some beautiful scenery, then Ilha de Paquetá is an awesome and highly underrated place to check out for the day.

There are a few accommodation options if you want to stay longer — mainly pousadas, which are like Brazilian bed and breakfasts or casual inns.

But most of them don’t operate on booking sites, or even have their own website. I can’t attest to any of them, but you can find them on social media, and they can typically be contacted through WhatsApp.

To save yourself a headache, I recommend staying in Rio de Janeiro instead, and sticking to visiting Paquetá as a day trip.

(Here’s the hotel I recommend in Rio de Janeiro!)

Exploring more of Rio de Janeiro

Since you’re reading this, you clearly love Rio de Janeiro hidden gems, and lucky for you, there are so many amazing places to explore.

Rio de Janeiro doesn’t have too many easy day trips, to be honest, but if you’re looking for a super simple and relaxing getaway, you can’t do better than Paqueta Island.

For another easy Rio day trip, I’d recommend checking out Niterói. It’s a small city about an hour outside of Rio, and has gorgeous beaches, hiking, and a cool contemporary art museum. Here’s a full Niterói guide.

If a weekend trip is more what you’re after, I fell in love with Paraty on my last trip to Rio. This historic city is probably the prettiest town I’ve ever visited, from its whitewashed architecture, waterfalls, and beaches. I’ve got two guides up for you to help you plan:

• Best Things to Do in Paraty, Brazil’s Cachaça Capital
• Paraty, Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide: How to Plan Your Trip

If escaping to a tropical island paradise is calling your name, then you have to look into Ilha Grande. With amazing hiking and the best beaches I’ve ever seen, I don’t know how this island isn’t on everybody’s radar already. (You may see it advertised as a day trip while you’re in Rio, but don’t fall for it! It takes a few hours to get here, and you honestly need like 3 days.)

• Things to Do in Ilha Grande, Brazil’s Island Paradise

Head to one of these Rio guides next

• How to Get Around Rio de Janeiro Like a Local
• Where to Stay in Rio de Janeiro on a Budget
• One Week in Rio de Janeiro Itinerary
• 6 Best Museums to Visit in Rio de Janeiro
• Best Weekend and Day Trips from Rio de Janeiro
• Best Rio de Janeiro Restaurants: Botecos, Samba & More
• 15 Brazilian Foods and Drinks You Have to Try in Rio de Janeiro
• How to Pack for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide: Tips From 6 Trips
• Is Rio de Janeiro Safe? My Honest Thoughts After 6 Visits
• 8 Best Places to Visit in Brazil, Based on 6 Trips