Angra dos Reis has 365 islands, and almost none of them can be rented. Some are private and closed; others are public and crowded. Ilha do Arroz sits in a third category: it is private, holds three structures across eleven thousand square metres, one main house and two bungalows, and is rented whole, to a single group. Seen from above it reads as a green rise in the middle of Baía da Ribeira, with a wooden dock at one end and a boat tied to it.
Ten minutes by boat
There is no bridge and no road. Boarding happens at the public deck of Praia da Enseada, in Enseada da Japuíba, and the crossing takes about ten minutes. Arrival and departure transfers are private and come with the stay. For guests who prefer to arrive by air, the island has its own helipad. The dock takes vessels up to 120 feet, which settles the logistics for anyone coming in under their own sail. The mainland sits directly opposite, level with Praia do Retiro, and the nearest neighbours are Ilha dos Porcos, Ilha do Capítulo and Ilha dos Coqueiros.
The lift, or a few steps
From the landing to the main house there are two options, a panoramic lift or a short flight of steps. The lift is the detail that tends to surprise first-time arrivals, because it climbs the island with a view of the mountains and the sea at the same time. At the top, the living room opens in glass onto the bay, with sofas, televisions and a sound system. It is where the group gathers before heading down to the water.
Fourteen suites, and where they are
Fourteen in total. Ten sit in the main house and four in two bungalows at the water’s edge, with exposed timber ceilings and windows facing the forest. All have king beds, Trussardi linens, split air conditioning, a television and high-speed satellite wifi, and all look out to the sea or the green. The bed count comes to eighteen, fifteen kings and three singles, and the island is rented whole for up to 28 guests.
The pool and the sea, on one line
The pool has an infinity edge facing the sea and is filled with saltwater. A jacuzzi sits beside it, and around them runs a sequence of decks and solariums with loungers that follow the island's outline. In one stretch the structure reaches out over the water. There is also a small private beach on the lower level, the only piece of sand on the island.
The gourmet area sits under thatch
The largest space on the island is roofed in thatch and open on four sides. It gathers dining tables, sofas, televisions and a support kitchen, and it is usually where the day ends. The cooking infrastructure is complete: barbecue, cooktop, beer fridge, refrigerators, ice machine, an indoor kitchen and a wood-fired kitchen with a pizza oven. The sauna and the service bathrooms sit in the same block.
Tennis court, gym and five hundred metres of track
The tennis court sits on the upper level, near the main house. The gym was built partly over the water, in a pavilion with timber floors and glass walls, fitted with treadmills, ellipticals, spinning bikes and free weights. And there is the running track, roughly five hundred metres of path that loops the island completely, the sea always in view on one side.
The staff, and the food
The stay includes a full team, with a cook, housekeepers and a caretaker, run on hotel terms. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are prepared on the island. Grocery shopping assistance is also available for a fee, so the pantry is stocked before the group lands. The Villas in Brazil concierge arranges the rest, from menus to excursions and boat logistics.
What happens on the water
The island keeps kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and snorkelling gear on hand. To leave the bay, two vessels are available to charter, a 60-foot Azimut at R$ 12,000 a day and a 26-foot motorboat at R$ 5,625, both with fuel billed separately. Baía da Ribeira holds calm, green water, which matters for groups travelling with children or for anyone who does not get along with open sea.
Weddings and events, on request
The island also hosts weddings, engagement parties, family gatherings and corporate events, always arranged in advance. The social area adds up to roughly 500 m² of usable space, with separate men’s and women’s bathrooms inside the living areas and an industrial kitchen on site. The owner works with a maximum of 400 people including staff, and hiring a generator is mandatory on those occasions.
The video tour
Fact file
- Reference
- Ang014
- Location
- Ilha do Arroz, Baía da Ribeira, Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro
- Island area
- Around 11,000 m², five hundred metres off the mainland
- Bedrooms
- 14 suites, 10 in the main house and 4 in two bungalows at the water’s edge
- Bathrooms
- 14
- Beds
- 18, of which 15 king and 3 single
- Capacity
- 28 guests on a whole-island rental
- Pool
- Infinity edge, saltwater, with a jacuzzi alongside
- Sport
- Tennis court, gym over the water and a running track of about 500 m
- Leisure
- Covered gourmet area, wood-fired kitchen with pizza oven, sauna, decks and a private beach
- Access
- Private speedboat from the public deck at Praia da Enseada, about 10 minutes. Helipad on the island and a dock for vessels up to 120 feet
- Staff
- Cook, housekeepers and caretaker, run on hotel terms
- Charters
- 60-foot Azimut at R$ 12,000 a day and a 26-foot motorboat at R$ 5,625, fuel billed separately
- Internet
- High-speed satellite wifi
- Events
- On request. Social area of roughly 500 m², up to 400 people including staff, industrial kitchen on site and mandatory generator hire
- Check-in and check-out
- 2 pm to 7 pm, and 6 am to 11 am
- Rate
- From R$ 50,000 per night
- Note
- The island does not accept pets and does not allow smoking in the bedrooms
How to book
Ilha do Arroz is rented whole, to one group at a time, with a full team and boat transfers. Ask us about dates and rates, and read as well about the 2,000 m² house we hold in Trancoso.