Pousada Convés Ilha Grande

We saw turtles swimming by every day, and the food was amazing. The staff were just as lovely. Most of our stay had disappointing weather, but we still had an incredible time here.

Nothing to complain about. It’s a lovely pension right on the water, with nice staff and one of the few places serving espresso. If you can, ask for room 102 or 106 for a sea view.

The family running the pousada were incredibly kind and friendly. Prices are fair, though the portions are huge: a dish for two is really enough for three. Every morning a fisherman brings fresh shrimp. The food is as good as it gets on Ilha Grande, and they arrange boat tours and fishing trips too. Best experience in Brazil, guaranteed.

We came back a couple of days later because there weren’t many other dining options. The waiter smelled noticeably of cigarette smoke that time, which wasn’t appetizing. On our first visit, we were the only ones there, and asking to use the dominoes on a side table got us told they were for guests only. That felt awkward, since we weren’t staying there. The waiter also came over barefoot, and on both visits the food was decent, but half the desserts on the menu were unavailable. At those prices, the experience was well below what we expected.