Lying anchored in the Atlantic, Ilha do Mel is a fascinating eco-friendly island with not a car or power line in sight. With its gorgeous beaches and laidback feel, you can easily spend time relaxing on the beach in front of your Ilha do Mel hotel. Paranaguá on the other hand is famous for its port, which is the sixth largest in the world, and the second largest in Brazil, and is a fascinating area to discover. Blessed with nature's bounty, both are sought after destinations, and as such there is a wide range of Ilha do Mel & Paranaguá hotels allowing you to explore the region.
Located in the state of Paraná in Brazil, the island of Ilha do Mel and the seaside port of Paranaguá are full of unforgettable experiences and raw charm.
To explore the sights and history of this beautiful area, there are a number of tours in Paranaguá and Ilha do Mel, and a number of great places to stay. Our interactive map shows all of our hotels in Ilha do Mel & Paranaguá, allowing you to choose your Ilha do Mel & Paranaguá hotel based on its location.
The beautiful Ilha do Mel is a paradise for both the active traveller and those looking to relax, and there is a lot to see and do here. Nature lovers can explore the lush, shady jungle or stroll along the gorgeous long stretches of white, sandy beaches. Various exciting trips or Ilha do Mel tours can be taken around the island and for the keen surfer there is plenty of action. You could also visit the lighthouse, called the 'Farol das Conchas' with its spectacular views, or the whitewashed beachside fortress known as the Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, built in 1767 by the Dutch to ward off marauding English buccaneers.
The island has an interesting history. Before the colonisation of Paraná by the Portuguese in the sixteenth century, the region extending from Cananéia (São Paulo) to Lagoa dos Patos in Rio Grande do Sul was home to the Carajó Indians. As proof of their existence they left behind sambaquis on islands, river mouths and bays. The sambaquis are ‘kitchen leftovers' like fish, oyster shells, etc that are several meters in height.
Known as Honey Island, there are three versions which tell us how it got its name. The first is that it was named after Admiral Mehl and his family, who frequented this place before World War II and were into bee keeping. According to the second version, bee keeping was adopted by retired sailors on this island, and until the 1960s, honey exportation was quite popular here. The third theory has to do with the brownish yellow colour of the sea, which makes it look like honey.
Its relative lack of tourism and infrastructure has helped Ilha do Mel become an 'ecotourism' destination and an un-spoilt paradise. Back in the 1920s it boasted only one Ilha do Mel hotel and one tour bus, but steadily gained popularity as a tourists' haven, with ships from Paranagua sailing along the fort to the pier, bringing in people. However, after the construction of the coastal highway in 1926, tourism to the island took a turn for the worse, especially during World War II, and the locals fell back to their original occupation - fishing. The year 1998 bought the island back in touch with the modern world, introducing electricity, water pipes, regular transport, eco-friendly Ilha do Mel hotels and other amenities, inviting tourists to once again visit the island or to take a tour in Ilha do Mel.
Paranaguá is Paraná's oldest city and prides itself on being the largest grain port in Latin America. The port was vital to the politics of São Paulo, and in order to fortify the port against invading ships and pirates that reached the harbour entrance, a strong fort was constructed in 1776. The ‘Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres da Barra de Paranaguá', also called ‘Fortaleza da Barra' was the first Brazilian fort to enter into combat with pirates at the Bay of Paranaguá.
The last century witnessed the 'Cormoran' invasion. Cormoran, an English ship, invaded the bay but was met with tough resistance from the native population. World War II saw the establishment of a defence system shaped like a labyrinth, which was built on top of the ‘Morro da Baleia' (Hill of the Whale), located above the fort. In 1990 the restoration of the fort began and it was declared a historical monument in 1936.
Records show that a few families came to Paranaguá from São Vicente de Cananéia (State of São Paulo) between 1550 and1560. They settled first on Cotinga Island and later on the banks of the Itiberê River. The population of Paraná today is multicultural, consisting of Italians, Germans, Polish, Dutch and Japanese. Southern Brazil is known for cooler temperatures, but Parana sees many summer days when the temperatures really spikes, making the summer hot and humid. The days remain humid even during its mild winters.
There are many nearby attractions to see, which can be combined with a tour in Ilha do Mel & Paranaguá. The waterfalls of Foz do Iguassu are a sight that no one should miss. From Curitiba you have a one hour flight or 12 hour bus trip to arrive there. Another major tourist attraction and a world famous engineering wonder is the Curitiba-Paranaguá Railroad, opening doors to an awesome mountain journey in 1885. Today the rail climbs up to altitudes of 1,000m as it rushes through countless tunnels and viaducts, each view more spectacular than the last. Mountain climbing enthusiasts wait with bated breath for the famous slopes of Marumbi Peak.
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