The Trilha do Bonete is Ilhabela's most demanding and most rewarding hike. The trail runs 13 kilometres one way from the trailhead at Ponta de Sepituba, at the southern tip of the island where the asphalt road ends, to the isolated beach community of Bonete. The route climbs through Atlantic Forest, passes three waterfalls and two viewpoints, and descends to a beach of over 600 metres fronting open ocean. Plan for three to six hours depending on your pace, and carry plenty of water — the trail is exposed in sections and there are no resupply points along the way.
Most people who make the hike spend at least one night at Bonete rather than turning around immediately. The community has simple guesthouses and family-run restaurants serving fresh fish and traditional caiçara food. There are no cars in Bonete, no reliable mobile signal, and electricity comes from a community generator and solar panels. The beach itself can have powerful surf from the south, which draws the occasional surfer who's willing to carry a board the whole way in. The trail is inside the state park, so register at the trailhead entrance and check conditions before setting out — the path can be slippery after rain.