Every year, from May to September, Ilhabela becomes the stage for a breathtaking natural event: the migration of humpback whales. Drawn by the warm, nutrient-rich waters, these ocean giants come to rest, feed, and sometimes even give birth.
The show is spectacular—impressive breaches, synchronized swimming, and the occasional melodic songs of these whales. You can spot them on boat tours or from coastal viewpoints, especially in the south of the island. With a bit of luck, it’s possible to watch them right from the central beaches like Perequê, Itaguaçu, or Praia do Curral.
Ilhabela even honors
The Graxaim-do-campo, or Pampas fox, is a small wild canid found in southern Brazil, especially in the cerrado and pampa biomes. It’s medium-sized, measuring about 60 cm (excluding the tail) and weighing 4 to 8 kg. It has a grey-brown coat and a bushy tail.
An omnivore, it feeds on small mammals, fruit, insects, and sometimes carrion. It is mostly solitary and nocturnal. Although not currently endangered, its habitat is threatened by agriculture and habitat fragmentation.
Photo : Cláudio Dias Timm via Wikimedia Commons
Nestled in the Serra do Mar in the state of Paraná, Brazil, Graciosa State Park is a true sanctuary of biodiversity. Established in 1990, the park protects a precious section of the Atlantic Forest, one of the world’s richest biomes.
Among dense forests, bromeliads, orchids, and ancient trees like the imbuia, the lush vegetation shelters a wide variety of wildlife: the song of the thrush, the flight of the hawk, and the discreet movements of the puma and red howler monkey can all be experienced here. Amphibians and reptiles thrive in the humid zones, contributing
