Ilhabela · April 2027
A term used in Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries to describe a foreigner, particularly someone from the United States or another English-speaking country.
Bem-vindos! We are so excited that many of you will be joining us in Brazil for this once-in-a-lifetime celebration.
To help you navigate, I (Sandy, the gringa) am sharing everything you need to know about traveling to Brazil, understanding the culture, and making the most of your time in this amazing country.
Read it while you plan, then keep it on your phone. Every section is built to be easy to pull up at the airport, in the car, or at the beach with a caipirinha.
— Sandy (with a little help from Marcelo)
Start with the essentials ↓Everything you need to know before you board.
Make sure your passport is valid for at least a month after your visit (so through May/June 2027) and has at least two blank pages. If you need a passport or a renewal, start now. It can take 8–10 weeks, and you'll need it to book your ticket and apply for your visa.
It's a very easy process. The application is entirely online, takes about 10 minutes, and costs $80.90. Mine only took a week to process, but I recommend applying 2 months before your trip, directly on the official government website, to avoid any undue stress.
Carry 2 printed copies while traveling. I've never had an issue, but other travelers have been turned away at boarding without one, especially when flying in from another South American country.
Apply for the e-Visa ↗Credit cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere. We have never brought cash on a trip.
Brazil runs on PIX, the equivalent of Venmo, but tied to a Brazilian bank account. If someone says they take PIX, this is what they mean. If you'd like to make mobile PIX payments, sign up for a Wise account linked to your bank. Or, in a pinch while you're in Brazil, I (the gringa!) can send a PIX payment on your behalf.
Sign up for Wise ↗It makes life so much easier, so please download it before the wedding. Most businesses use it, so you can reach taxis, hotels, and restaurants through it, and it has built-in translation for reading messages.
Our wedding planner is also on WhatsApp and can help you book transportation, hotels, and beauty appointments.
Download WhatsApp ↗ Message Gess on WhatsApp ↗Most restaurants automatically add a 10% service charge (serviço) to the bill. That's the tip. Beyond that, there's generally no tipping anywhere in Brazil.
April is autumn in Brazil, and it's a lovely time on the island: warm, sunny days in the high 70s to low 80s °F, comfortable evenings in the mid-60s, and less rain than the summer months. Pack for the beach plus a layer for evenings, and expect the occasional passing shower.
Ilhabela is a relaxed, friendly island, and standard travel common sense covers most of it: don't flash money, expensive jewelry, or electronics in public; use Uber (in São Paulo) or arranged transfers; and be aware of your surroundings.
The public health care system covers basic needs, but if you're worried, get travel insurance that covers health. Many travel credit cards include it or offer it at low cost, so check yours first.
This is one of the biggest adjustments. There will be a small trash bin beside the toilet; use it instead. If a houseful of Americans flushes toilet paper, the plumbing will break, so please follow this one!
Brazil uses Type N plugs, but Type C adapters also work (if you've traveled to Europe, Asia, or elsewhere in South America, you may already have one).
In case you haven't noticed, Brazilians speak Portuguese, not Spanish. English is limited on Ilhabela, so download Google Translate with Portuguese for offline use.
Planes, Ferries, and Automobiles. Everything you need to know to get here and get around.
Brazil's main international airport and the closest one with flights from the US. Don't confuse it with São Paulo's other airport, Congonhas (CGH), which is mostly domestic.
International flights tend to be cheapest in this window. Set price alerts to track fares.
Plan to land in São Paulo by the weekend before the wedding so there's plenty of time to reach Ilhabela if there are delays. The same goes if you're traveling within Brazil first. Time moves at a slower pace here, and delays happen.
American, United, and Delta all fly regularly, along with several Latin American airlines. Marcelo recently flew Copa, and it was inexpensive but pretty bare bones.
LATAM flies direct: BOS ⇄ GRU
Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun · leaves around 10 am, arrives São Paulo around 9 pm.
Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat · leaves São Paulo at 10:45 pm, arrives Boston the next morning at 7:30 am.
GRU is one of the busiest airports in Latin America, which also means it's used to lots of international visitors. All signage is in Portuguese and English.
Follow signs for the foreigners' counter. Have your passport, visa, and plane ticket ready. In my experience it's quick on arrival and longer on departure.
Well organized, but expect a longer wait than you're used to in the US, especially on international flights.
Get in the “Nothing to Declare” line and follow the signs to the exit.
Ilhabela is 118 miles from the airport, about a 3-hour drive. The drive gives you views of the city, the countryside, and the coast.
Once we collect RSVPs and flight details, we'll arrange a larger passenger van (with wi-fi!) at the time that suits most arrivals, for anyone who'd rather not drive.
If your timing doesn't match the shuttle, or you'd prefer a private car, we can arrange one through Gess, our wedding planner.
Message Gess on WhatsApp ↗Renting is easy. Driving in Brazil is for the adventurous: signs and tolls in Portuguese, narrow city lanes with motorcycles weaving through, and mountain switchbacks. Check out the driving tips below for more details on everything you need to know before renting.
We'll have transportation to all planned events. The town center, where most restaurants are, is a car ride away. Your pousada can call you a taxi, but plan well ahead and have WhatsApp ready to communicate with the driver.
I have no doubt Brazil will win you over with its charm.
Do as the Brazilians do! A few everyday norms to help you navigate.
For the most part, the traditions are similar to what you know: ceremony, cocktails, then a reception with dinner and dancing. Here are the key differences you may notice.
Instead of a matched line of bridesmaids and groomsmen, couples choose madrinhas and padrinhos: close friends and family, in pairs, who stand with them as honorary witnesses. They don't wear identical outfits, and there are many more of them than in an American wedding party.
After all, it's his day too!
No speeches, no cake-cutting, no parent dances. Outside of the couple's first dance, the reception is purely a celebration, with lounge areas to relax and socialize when you aren't dancing.
Mixed drinks are an art form and a point of pride, with a menu crafted for the wedding. Remember you're on Brazil time: expect it to take a moment while they expertly build your drink. Beer is self-service, and wine is passed by the catering staff.
Rather than one seated dinner, food flows all night: passed bites, food stations, and generous spreads. Cocktail hour lasts several hours, dinner comes later, and in the wee hours a late-night snack appears to fuel the dancers. Come hungry, and don't fill up early!
Look for a beautiful table of doces, bite-sized sweets like brigadeiros (chocolate fudge balls and Brazil's favorite treat).
It's completely normal to see kids on the dance floor at midnight, and later still, asleep across two chairs or on a parent's shoulder while the party carries on. Brazilian kids are used to late family gatherings.
It's common, almost tradition, for Brazilian women to have their hair and makeup done before a wedding. If you'd like any of those “treat yo self” services, we can arrange them through our wedding planner.
Message Gess on WhatsApp ↗Ilhabela is where Brazilians vacation, but it's a very big country with lots to see. If you're extending your trip, consider these.
Known for its world-famous cuisine.
Since you'll fly into GRU anyway, it's easy to add a day or two in one of the world's great food cities.
One of the natural wonders of the world.
About a two-hour flight from São Paulo or Rio. Hundreds of waterfalls thunder through the rainforest along the Brazil–Argentina border, and they're at full power in April.
The Brazil of your imagination.
Marcelo, being from São Paulo, is not allowed to recommend Rio. It's a short flight from São Paulo or a 7-hour drive up the coast from Ilhabela (stop in Paraty and Ilha Grande along the way). Famous beaches and a city that never stops moving.
Late April on Ilhabela means warm, sunny days in the high 70s to low 80s °F, comfortable evenings in the mid-60s, and the occasional passing shower.