Ilha das Couves in São Sebastião: What It's Like, How to Get There, and Why It's Not the One in Ubatuba
By MaresiasTur · · Updated on · 5 min read
Quick answer
The Ilha das Couves in São Sebastião lies on the municipality's South Coast, about 2.4 km (1.5 mi) from Barra do Sahy, and can only be reached by boat. It is not the Ilha das Couves in Ubatuba: they are different islands, in different sectors of the APA Marinha do Litoral Norte (North Coast Marine Protected Area).
The Ilha das Couves in São Sebastião is one of the best-known stops on speedboat tours along the municipality's South Coast. It lies about 2.4 km (1.5 mi) from the coast at Barra do Sahy, according to the São Sebastião city tourism portal, and can only be reached by sea.
The name confuses a lot of people, because there is another Ilha das Couves in Ubatuba, much farther north. This guide brings together what official sources say about the São Sebastião island, how to get there from Maresias, and how to enjoy the swim stops without leaving a trace.
Where is the Ilha das Couves in São Sebastião?
The island lies on the south coast of São Sebastião, about 2.4 km (1.5 mi) from Barra do Sahy. The city's tourism portal lists boat departures from Barra do Sahy, Barra do Una, Juquehy, Camburi and Boiçucanga. In the management plan of the APA Marinha do Litoral Norte (North Coast Marine Protected Area), approved in 2022, it appears under the name "Couves (de São Sebastião) ou Baleia," in the Ypautiba Sector, the part of the protected area that lies within São Sebastião.
The same document describes an island almost entirely surrounded by a rocky shore. The north face has a beach and a small landing pier, where visitors come ashore and where the buildings stand.
Why isn't it the Ilha das Couves in Ubatuba?
They are two different islands with the same name. The management plan covers each one in its own entry, and the difference is clear side by side:
| Couves in São Sebastião | Couves in Ubatuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Municipality | São Sebastião | Ubatuba |
| Location | South Coast, about 2.4 km (1.5 mi) from Barra do Sahy | Enseada de Picinguaba |
| Marine protected area sector | Ypautiba | Cunhambebe |
| Other name in the management plan | Baleia | Not mentioned |
The mix-up has practical consequences. The shift-based visitation rules that the Ubatuba city government published in 2020, with limits on the number of people and on accredited boats from the Picinguaba communities, were created for the Ubatuba island. Anyone researching photos, rules or prices should always check which of the two islands the text is about.
What is there to see on the Ilha das Couves?
- Toca da Velha: the management plan mentions a cave carved by the sea into a 10-meter-high (33 ft) rock.
- Diving: the island is popular with divers and is on São Sebastião's official list of dive sites, alongside Ilha dos Gatos, As Ilhas and Ilha do Montão de Trigo.
- Water for snorkeling: in MaresiasTur's tour description, Ilha das Couves is described as a natural pool that's good for snorkeling.
- Vegetation: fragmented forest, mostly queen palms and bromeliads, with records of endangered species such as the juçara palm heart. There is also a stand of exotic bamboo that is not native to the island.
How to get to Ilha das Couves from Maresias?
The simplest way is an organized tour. On the shared boat tour The 3 Islands of the South Coast, travelers board at Boiçucanga Beach, near Maresias, and visit the three islands that give the route its name — Ilha das Couves, Ilha dos Gatos and As Ilhas — in about 3 hours:
- Departures: 9 am, 12 pm and 3 pm, every day, subject to availability.
- Boat: Real Power Class speedboat, for up to 14 passengers.
- Stops: two swim and snorkel stops.
- Included: licensed boat captain, safety equipment and pool noodles.
- Not included: transport to the departure point, food, drinks and personal expenses.
The exact meeting point is sent by WhatsApp after payment is confirmed. Each departure needs at least 8 people; if the minimum isn't reached or the tide is unfavorable, the tour is rescheduled or fully refunded. Since Uber and 99 don't operate in São Sebastião, it's worth reading the guide to boat tours in Boiçucanga and the one on getting around in Maresias.
Groups who'd rather have the boat to themselves can book the private boat tour of the 3 Islands of the South Coast. Those who want a longer route, boarding right at Maresias Beach, can add Ilha do Montão de Trigo. The guide on shared vs. private tours helps with the decision.
How to visit the island without leaving an impact?
The management plan's assessment classified Ilha das Couves in São Sebastião as a critical area because of the degree of human disturbance, citing trash, human waste, campfires, introduced species, trails and structures. In other words, every visitor makes a difference:
- Take all trash back with you, including cigarette butts and small wrappers.
- Don't take plants, shells or animals from the island, and don't release anything onto it.
- While snorkeling, don't touch, stand on, or feed fish and turtles — guidance recommended by agencies such as NOAA Fisheries.
- Follow the boat captain: under the protected area's decree, anchoring is only allowed at points designated by the managing agency.
More tips are in the guide to snorkeling in São Sebastião. The agency's work with native seedlings and trash is covered in sustainability at MaresiasTur.
What to bring for the tour to Ilha das Couves?
Sunscreen, a hat, water, a light snack, a towel and swimwear under your clothes. A snorkel mask is not among the items included on the shared boat tour, so bring your own if you have one. Anyone prone to seasickness will find tips in the guide on motion sickness on boat tours, and the full packing list is in what to bring on the boat tour.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Ilha das Couves in São Sebastião the same as the one in Ubatuba?
- No. The one in São Sebastião is on the South Coast, near Barra do Sahy, in the Ypautiba sector of the APA Marinha do Litoral Norte. The one in Ubatuba is in the Enseada de Picinguaba, in the Cunhambebe sector, and has its own visitation rules.
- Where is the Ilha das Couves in São Sebastião?
- On the South Coast of São Sebastião, about 2.4 km (1.5 mi) from the coast at Barra do Sahy. It can only be reached by boat.
- Where does the boat tour to Ilha das Couves depart from?
- The 3 Islands of the South Coast tours, which visit Ilha das Couves, Ilha dos Gatos and As Ilhas, depart from Boiçucanga Beach, near Maresias. The shared tour that includes Montão de Trigo departs from Maresias Beach itself, at 9 am.
- What is the Toca da Velha?
- It's a cave carved by the sea into a 10-meter-high (33 ft) rock on Ilha das Couves, mentioned in the management plan of the APA Marinha do Litoral Norte.
- Can you go snorkeling at Ilha das Couves?
- Yes. The island is popular with divers, the 3 Islands tour has two swim-and-snorkel stops, and the shared boat tour includes pool noodles. A mask isn't among the included items, so it's worth bringing your own.
