When we talk about Ilha Grande, its natural beauties, beautiful beaches, waterfalls, and incredible biodiversity immediately come to mind. Still, only some people know that the island has a great historical and cultural legacy.

With the extinction of the high-security prison in 1994, tourism became the primary economic source of local communities, and as a result, we had the arrival of new residents from different parts of the country and the world.

This process of mischaracterization is increasingly accelerated as disorderly and predatory tourism is growing, so many stories, legends and traditions are falling into oblivion and little by little, the island is losing its identity to globalization.

But all is not lost; the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Inea and community association movements and many others have been fighting to preserve the local culture through studies, driver training and projects that rescue this rich story.

We at Ilha Grande Hiking had the idea of ​​bringing a little of that legacy through our blog, telling a few stories, legends and local curiosities for visitors to our beloved island.

We believe in the motto "know to preserve" and sustainable tourism because this paradise deserves to be preserved.

Did you know…..

On many beaches of Ilha Grande it is possible to see the ancestral marks of communities of fishermen, gatherers and hunters who lived here 3000 years ago; incredible.

Researchers made this discovery from UERJ, called lithic workshops; these traces found in some parts of the island are the marks left by the tools that were sharpened and polished on the rocks.

A cemetery and several shell mounds were also found. Residents of Vila do Aventureiro say that when the researcher responsible for the discovery removed the bones for study, she was haunted by spirits and wandered around the village.

Truth or legend, we don't know for sure, but what counts is having "stories" to tell.

To learn more about the stories and curiosities of Ilha Grande, book a historical tour with a local guide and make your visit an unforgettable experience.

Planning to get to know Ilha Grande? Check out our post on how to get to the island in the easiest way