From Maresias to Ilhabela: Boat or Ferry, Which to Choose?
By MaresiasTur · · 6 min read
Quick answer
It depends on your goal. To go from Maresias to Ilhabela and drive around the island, the São Sebastião ferry is cheaper and crosses in 20 to 30 minutes. To see the beaches from the sea in one day, without lining up, the private boat leaves from Boiçucanga at 9 am, on a route of about 6 hours.
Going from Maresias to Ilhabela has two quite different paths. One is the traditional route: drive to downtown São Sebastião and take the state government ferry to the island. The other is by sea: a private boat route that leaves from Praia de Boiçucanga, passes by the beaches of São Sebastião, and reaches the beaches of Ilhabela, returning the same day.
There's no single best option for everyone, because the ferry is transportation and the boat is a tour. The comparison below uses the official fares in effect in September 2026 and MaresiasTur's route data.
Boat or ferry: what's the practical difference?
| Criteria | Boat (private route) | Ferry with a car |
|---|---|---|
| Departure | Praia de Boiçucanga, at 9 am | Ferry terminal in downtown São Sebastião, about 30 km from Maresias (route estimate) |
| Time | About 6 hours of touring, round trip | 35 to 45 minutes on the road with no traffic (estimate), plus the line and 20 to 30 minutes crossing |
| Cost | Per boat: from R$ 2,800 (up to 2 people) to R$ 3,500 (up to 10) | Car: R$ 19 on weekdays or R$ 28.50 on weekends and holidays, plus Ilhabela's R$ 48 fee for out-of-town plates |
| What you'll see | The beaches of São Sebastião seen from the sea, plus Curral, Viana, Sino, and Vila beaches, in Ilhabela | The channel between São Sebastião and Ilhabela during the crossing; on the island, whatever the traveler chooses to visit |
| Who it's for | Groups of up to 10 people who want a day at sea | Anyone staying on the island, wanting to bring their car, or on a tight budget |
| Flexibility | Set route, no ferry line | Free schedule: the crossing runs 24 hours |
Pedestrians and cyclists don't pay for the ferry, but anyone leaving from Maresias still needs to reach the terminal. Uber and 99 don't work in São Sebastião, so the trip downtown requires a car, local taxi, or a ride from someone.
How does the São Sebastião to Ilhabela ferry work?
The crossing is operated by the Departamento Hidroviário of the state's Secretariat of Environment, Infrastructure, and Logistics (SEMIL). It runs 24 hours, with regular departures from São Sebastião from 5:30 am to 11:30 pm, based on demand, and fixed overnight schedules (SEMIL). The Ilhabela city government states the crossing takes 20 to 30 minutes, depending on conditions, with an average wait of 30 minutes outside peak hours (Ilhabela city government).
The fare is paid only when boarding in São Sebastião and already covers the return trip. The rates haven't changed since July 1, 2018: a car pays R$ 19 on weekdays and R$ 28.50 on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays; a motorcycle, R$ 9.50 and R$ 14.20. Payment is in cash or with an automatic toll tag, and SEMIL states that cards are not accepted in the regular line.
For a guaranteed time slot, there's the paid Hora Marcada (Scheduled Time) booking, only with a credit card: R$ 65.30 for a car from São Sebastião to Ilhabela on weekdays and R$ 98 on weekends and holidays. Heads up: the crossing is transitioning to the concessionaire Acqua Vias SP, which signed a contract with the state in May 2026, and the bidding terms call for a rate adjustment for vehicles after the concession takes over. Check the current fares before you leave. The guide to the São Sebastião–Ilhabela ferry has tips for the line.
Do you need to pay a fee to enter Ilhabela?
If you enter by car, yes. Since March 31, 2026, Ilhabela has charged the Environmental Preservation Fee (TPA) on vehicles: R$ 48 for passenger cars, vans, and Kombis, and R$ 10 for motorcycles, once per entry, no matter how many days the vehicle stays (Ilhabela city government – TPA). Payment is by toll tag, Pix, or invoice on the official site ecoilhabela.com.br, within 30 days of entry; after that there's a R$ 100 fine.
Vehicles registered in São Sebastião and Ilhabela are exempt, with automatic recognition. The official table lists only vehicles. On the boat tour, the car stays on the mainland, so the vehicle fee doesn't come into the equation.
What is the boat route from Maresias to Ilhabela like?
The private boat Ilhabela route leaves Praia de Boiçucanga at 9 am and lasts about 6 hours. Along the way, the boat passes Maresias, Paúba, Santiago, Toque Toque Pequeno and Grande, Calhetas, Guaecá, and Barequeçaba. In Ilhabela, the route includes Curral, Viana beaches, where there's a lunch stop, Sino and Garapocaia beaches, and the Vila, the historic center. On the way back, there's a diving stop at Calhetas.
The boat is a Runner 7500, 25 feet long, with a cabin and a 200 hp engine, for up to 10 people. Included are a licensed sailor, safety items, and the route's stops; food, drinks, and transportation to the departure point are extra, and the onboard barbecue grill is optional, for an extra fee. The boat has no bathroom, an important detail for a full day at sea. Booking is done via WhatsApp, with a 50% deposit. The full day is described in the post about the boat tour from Maresias to Ilhabela.
How much does each option cost for a group?
| Group | Boat (per vessel) | Ferry (per car) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 2 people | R$ 2,800 | R$ 19 or R$ 28.50, plus R$ 48 TPA for out-of-town plates |
| Up to 6 people | R$ 3,000 | Same amount per car: the fare is per vehicle |
| Up to 10 people | R$ 3,500, or R$ 350 per person | Depends on how many cars the group brings |
Reference prices from September 2026; the updated boat price is on the tour's page, and the ferry fare may change with the new concession. Doing the math, the ferry is much cheaper. What the boat offers is a different experience: seeing the coastline from the sea, stopping at Ilhabela beaches without depending on the road, and getting back to Boiçucanga in the mid-afternoon.
So, which one should you choose?
- Staying in Ilhabela or want to drive around the island for days: the ferry. The boat route is a same-day round trip.
- Want a day at sea, with beaches and diving, and sleep back in Maresias: the boat.
- Tight budget: the ferry.
- Holidays and high season: the ferry line grows, and during Carnival 2026 the crossing had about 14,000 users a day, according to SEMIL. The city government suggests using Hora Marcada or crossing at night, after 8 pm. The boat doesn't deal with the line.
- Anyone who gets seasick: the ferry crossing is short; the boat spends hours underway. It's worth reading the tips on seasickness on a boat tour before deciding.
To experience Ilhabela underwater, there's also the try-scuba-diving tour at Ilha das Cabras, which leaves from Varadouro, in São Sebastião.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does it take from Maresias to Ilhabela?
- By car, it's about 35 to 45 minutes with no traffic to the ferry, as a route estimate, plus the line and 20 to 30 minutes crossing. The boat route that leaves from Boiçucanga is a tour of about 6 hours, round trip.
- How much does the ferry to Ilhabela cost?
- In September 2026, a car pays R$ 19 on weekdays and R$ 28.50 on weekends and holidays, and a motorcycle pays R$ 9.50 and R$ 14.20. Pedestrians and cyclists don't pay, and the fare charged on the way over covers the return trip.
- Does a car registered in São Sebastião pay Ilhabela's fee?
- No. Vehicles registered in São Sebastião and Ilhabela are exempt from the Environmental Preservation Fee, with automatic recognition. Other passenger cars pay R$ 48 per entry.
- Does the boat to Ilhabela take your car?
- No. The boat is a same-day round-trip tour, leaving from Praia de Boiçucanga. Anyone who wants to bring their car or stay on the island needs to use the São Sebastião ferry.
- How do you book the boat from Maresias to Ilhabela?
- Booking the private boat Ilhabela route is done via WhatsApp, with a 50% deposit and the rest paid at departure. The price is per boat, for up to 10 people.
