Hotel Velas do Engenho

Hidden behind Atlantic forest on Ilhabela's Engenho d'Água shoreline, Velas do Engenho places its beachfront rooms along a stretch of São Paulo state coastline that sees far fewer visitors than the island's northern ferry dock. Balconies face the sea directly, with the Serra do Mar ridge closing the horizon inland.

The spa runs couples' massage, open-air baths, and a foot bath circuit alongside daily yoga and fitness classes — a fuller wellness programme than most Ilhabela properties offer. Families land a dedicated kids' club, indoor play area, and a separate children's pool, while the main restaurant hosts themed dinners drawing on local catch.

Engenho d'Água sits roughly 8km south of Ilhabela town, quiet enough to need a car or taxi for errands but close enough to the island's dive and snorkel sites to make early-morning water entries straightforward.