Ilha do Mel consists of two parts joined by the beach at Nova Brasilia. The larger, northern part is mostly an ecological station, little visited except for Praia da Fortaleza, where the remains of an 18th century fort are worth a look, and Praia Ponta do Bicho. The best beaches are on the ocean side (east) Praia da Fora, Praia do Miguel and Praia Ponta do Bicho. The best walks are also along the ocean side, from the southern tip of the island up to Praia da Fortalez . There are bichos de pe (parasites which burrow under the skin; see Health in the Re gional Facts for the Visitor section), so keep your shoes on. When the surf is big, the walk from Praia da Fora to Praia Grande should only be done at low tide.
Places to Stay
Praia do Farol
Pousada das Meninas
Pousada das Palmas
Pousada Colmeia
Pousada dos Prazeres
Pousada da Tia Maria
This oddly shaped island at the mouth of the Baia de Paranagua has excellent beaches, good waves for surfing, and scenic walks. A young party crowd comes here from January to Carnaval, and over Easter. Otherwise, it's a tranquil, relatively isolated place.