This five-hour boat tour leaves Estação Santa Luzia at 11 am with a Portuguese-speaking guide, stops at the Botinas Islands and three beaches on Ilha da Gipóia, and returns to the same pier in Angra dos Reis.
The route includes swimming near Ilhas Botinas, stops at Praia de Jurubaíba, better known as Praia do Dentista, and Praia da Piedade, followed by approximately one hour for an independent lunch at Praia das Flechas.
The reservation includes the boat trip and Portuguese-speaking guide. Lunch, drinks, snorkeling equipment, hotel transfers and any personal purchases are not included.
You can book the Botinas Islands and Gipóia beaches boat tour until 24 hours before departure when places remain. The activity requires at least two participants and offers free cancellation until two hours before the scheduled start.
Why This Boat Route Focuses on Ilha da Gipóia
Angra dos Reis occupies a protected coastal area where forested mountains descend toward the Bay of Ilha Grande. Its islands, coves and sheltered channels make boat transport central to reaching beaches that cannot be visited efficiently by road.
This route concentrates on two connected areas. Ilhas Botinas provide the first swimming stop, while Praia do Dentista, Praia da Piedade and Praia das Flechas are all located on Ilha da Gipóia, the second-largest island in the municipality.
Gipóia contains beaches with different levels of infrastructure. Praia do Dentista receives a large number of leisure boats, Piedade is known for its small church and shallow shoreline, and Flechas combines restaurants with a quieter stretch of sand.
The excursion does not visit Ilha Grande, Lagoa Azul, Lagoa Verde, Cataguases or the town of Abraão. Those destinations belong to other routes departing from Angra dos Reis and should not be expected during this five-hour activity.
The product is also different from a private charter. Civitatis confirms the boat trip and guide but does not promise a private vessel, a fixed passenger capacity or an itinerary designed exclusively for one reservation group.
Swimming opportunities depend on sea conditions, instructions from the crew and the time available at each stop. A named beach can still be viewed from the boat or approached differently when maritime safety requires an adjustment.
Swimming at the Botinas Islands
The group meets at Estação Santa Luzia, the central tourism and boat terminal on the Angra dos Reis waterfront. The public itinerary states an 11 am departure, but the electronic voucher should be used to confirm the exact check-in time and meeting instructions.
After boarding, the boat heads toward Ilhas Botinas, two small rocky islets surrounded by shallow water. Their Portuguese name refers to their resemblance to a pair of small boots when viewed together.
A local legend claims that a pirate ship fleeing an English squadron struck a larger island and split it into two parts. This story belongs to regional folklore and should not be treated as a documented geological explanation.
The water around the islets is known for allowing swimmers to see the pale seabed during favorable conditions. Actual visibility changes with rain, wind, currents, boat traffic and sediment in the water.
The stop is usually made from the boat because the islets do not provide a conventional beach with visitor facilities. Participants should wait for the crew to indicate where they may enter the water and when they must return aboard.
No mask, snorkel, fins or underwater guide appears among the included services. Bring your own equipment only when the operator permits it, and do not rely on the tour to provide snorkeling gear.
Swimming is optional. Travelers who prefer to remain aboard can observe the islands from the boat, although shade, seating layout and onboard facilities vary according to the vessel assigned on the day.
Praia do Dentista and Praia da Piedade
Praia de Jurubaíba, Known as Praia do Dentista
The next stop is Praia de Jurubaíba on Ilha da Gipóia, more commonly called Praia do Dentista. The nickname is widely used in tourism and boat operations, while Jurubaíba remains the geographical name.
This is not an isolated beach without activity. It is a well-known meeting point for boats and personal watercraft, especially during weekends, holidays and the summer season.
The bay normally has protected water with green tones that vary according to sunlight and weather. Crowding, music and vessel traffic can change the atmosphere substantially between a weekday morning and a busy holiday.
A municipal buoy line has been used to separate the swimming area from approaching boats. The presence and condition of safety markers can change, so passengers must still follow the crew rather than swimming beyond the designated area.
The activity does not include a beach chair, umbrella, drink service or purchase from a floating vendor. Bring only what can be stored securely on the boat and avoid leaving valuables unattended on the sand.
Praia da Piedade
Praia da Piedade occupies another part of Ilha da Gipóia and is recognized by its short strip of sand, shallow water and small church. The Igrejinha da Piedade was built during the 1960s and forms the principal architectural reference at the beach.
At low tide, the sand and water configuration can make the shoreline appear divided into two small beach areas. That effect is tidal rather than permanent, so it may not be visible during every departure.
The surrounding houses are private properties rather than attractions included in the reservation. The supplier’s reference to celebrities does not create public access to residences or guarantee that any well-known person will be present.
Piedade can be suitable for entering the water when conditions are calm, but the crew determines whether the stop permits swimming, a beach landing or only a shorter observation period.
The church may be seen from the beach, but no guided interior visit or religious service is included. Access depends on whether the building is open and whether private or community activities are taking place.
Lunch at Praia das Flechas and Return to Angra
The final scheduled beach is Praia das Flechas, one of the most frequently visited sections of Ilha da Gipóia. Its longer shoreline contains restaurants and services toward one end and a quieter stretch with fewer buildings toward the other.
The itinerary allows approximately one hour for lunch and an independent walk. The guide does not lead a formal food tour, and no restaurant, table, dish or menu is guaranteed in advance.
Lunch is paid separately. The supplier currently estimates approximately R$100 per person, but the final amount depends on the restaurant, seafood prices, drinks, service charges and what each participant orders.
Ask about preparation times before ordering. One hour can pass quickly at a busy beach restaurant, particularly when several tour boats arrive close together.
Travelers who do not want a restaurant meal should confirm whether bringing food aboard is permitted. The booking does not promise a picnic area, cooler, onboard meal or alternative snack.
Turtles live in the wider coastal environment, but sightings are unpredictable. They should be treated as a possibility rather than a scheduled feature of the excursion.
After the lunch stop, the boat returns to Estação Santa Luzia. The complete activity lasts approximately five hours, although boarding procedures and navigation conditions can affect the exact arrival time.
The tour does not include hotel transportation after returning to the pier. Estação Santa Luzia is in central Angra dos Reis, so participants must continue independently to their accommodation, bus station or parking location.
Practical Details and Frequently Asked Questions
- Duration: approximately five hours.
- Scheduled departure: 11 am.
- Language: Portuguese-speaking guide.
- Meeting and final point: Estação Santa Luzia in central Angra dos Reis.
- Transport: boat throughout the route.
- Confirmed stops: Ilhas Botinas, Praia do Dentista, Praia da Piedade and Praia das Flechas.
- Included: boat trip and Portuguese-speaking guide.
- Lunch: not included.
- Snorkeling equipment: not listed as included.
- Hotel transfers: not included.
- Booking deadline: 24 hours before departure when places remain.
- Minimum participation: two people.
- Cancellation: free until two hours before the activity begins.
- Accessibility: not wheelchair accessible.
- Pets: not permitted.
- Voucher: electronic and accepted on a mobile phone.
Is the boat tour conducted in English?
No. The confirmed guide language is Portuguese. English-speaking travelers should not expect translated commentary unless the operator states otherwise on the selected date.
Where does the tour begin and end?
The activity meets at Estação Santa Luzia and returns to the same pier after approximately five hours. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.
Can participants swim at every stop?
Swimming is planned at appropriate stops, but it depends on weather, currents, boat traffic and instructions from the crew. A stop can be shortened or handled differently when entering the water is unsafe.
Is snorkeling equipment included?
No mask, snorkel or fins appear among the listed inclusions. Participants should confirm whether personal equipment may be brought aboard before departure.
Is lunch included at Praia das Flechas?
No. The itinerary allows approximately one hour to eat independently, and the supplier currently estimates a restaurant lunch at around R$100 per person.
What happens when it rains?
The tour normally operates in rain. It is cancelled only when conditions create a passenger-safety risk or the Port Authority suspends navigation.
Is a minimum number of participants required?
Yes. At least two people are required for the activity to operate. When the minimum is not reached, the provider contacts affected customers and offers alternatives.
Is the boat tour wheelchair accessible?
No. Civitatis classifies the activity as not wheelchair accessible, and no adapted boarding or beach-transfer procedure is published.
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