What makes it special
- The Parque Municipal das Cachoeiras covers 441,000 m² and links Água Branca to Barra Velha. The main entrance is about 3 km from the ferry.
- The Água Branca waterfall has two drops of up to 60 metres and is known as the power-plant waterfall: in the late 1950s its water turned the turbines of the hydro plant that supplied Ilhabela (Prefeitura de Ilhabela).
- Near the park is the first waterfall in Brazil adapted for wheelchair users, with a ramp down to the water and a handrail (Prefeitura de Ilhabela).
- The Castelhanos road starts at the gate near Água Branca: 22 km of dirt road inside the State Park, for authorised 4x4s, bikes or on foot.
- The Água Branca health clinic (UBS) was renovated and enlarged in 2025, with six consulting rooms and three dental rooms (Prefeitura de Ilhabela). Sabesp's Água Branca treatment plant supplies the centre and north of the island (Prefeitura de Ilhabela) and was reinforced in 2024 (Prefeitura de Ilhabela).
What to weigh
- A 2024 UNICAMP study, based on the CPRM susceptibility charts, found 34.92% of Água Branca's built-up area in high flood susceptibility and 18.13% in medium susceptibility (Piedade and Amorim, SBGFA 2024). The study measures how susceptible the ground is, not mapped risk street by street.
- In January 2026 the city began dredging the Ribeirão Água Branca stream to reduce flooding; the mayor said the delay in getting the licence made flooding worse in the heaviest rains (Prefeitura de Ilhabela).
- The Civil Defence contingency plan has a meeting point for the Aterro Sanitário and Poço da Jaqueira areas of Água Branca, and says the official risk-area mapping is still being done by the IPA (Municipal Contingency Plan, 2026). Ask Civil Defence about the street of any property.
- The Galera, in Água Branca, hosts the town's big shows, such as the anniversary concerts (Prefeitura de Ilhabela, 2019); in 2025 there were six nights in a row of shows at the Galera complex (Prefeitura de Ilhabela). If you live nearby, expect it.
Who it suits
Arvita’s reading, based on the facts above.
- Families who live on the island all year and want a health clinic and the ferry close by.
- People who work in the centre and do not want to rely on the south or north road every day.
- People who like trails and waterfalls and want the Parque das Cachoeiras and the Castelhanos road close to home.
Living here
- Municipal hospital: 2.8 km by car.
- Ferry terminal: 2.8 km by car.
- Clinics, specialty centres and labs within 3 km: APAE de Ilhabela (atendimento de saúde) (non-profit); CROL Radiologia (radiologia odontológica) (private); Centro Médico Ilhabela (private); Centro de Referência Especializada Júlia Tenório (public); Biotec Laboratório de Análises Clínicas (private); Duclin Laboratórios (private); Centro de Infectologia e Fígado de Ilhabela (public); CAPS I de Ilhabela (saúde mental) (public).
- Nearest health unit: UBS Água Branca, 1.0 km.
- Bus lines naming the neighborhood on their route: Balsa / Armação via Reino (60 weekday departures from the ferry); Balsa / Água Branca / Vila (47 weekday departures from the ferry); Balsa / Vila via Carijos (26 weekday departures from the ferry); Balsa / Vila / via Gleba (17 weekday departures from the ferry); Balsa / Vila via Carijos Camarão (12 weekday departures from the ferry) and 3 more lines in the timetable. Lines on the main road may serve it without naming it.
- Public schools nearby: E.E. Prof. José Antonio Sanches Gonzalez (estadual, 0.4 km); E.M. Iracema França Lopes Correa (municipal, 0.5 km); E.M. Prof. José Antônio Verzegnassi (municipal, 0.5 km).
- Private schools nearby: ACEI Escola (1.1 km); APAE de Ilhabela (escola de educação especial) (1.5 km); Colégio Objetivo Ilhabela (1.8 km).
Approximate driving distances from the centre of the neighborhood, as of 2026-11-03. Schools and health units whose address could be placed on the map; there may be others. Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.
The market here
Asking prices in listings, not sale prices. Median of active listings from Ilhabela agencies Arvita follows daily, each property counted once, as of 2026-11-03. Figures appear only with at least 5 listings.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a house cost in Água Branca?
The typical (median) asking price of houses listed in Água Branca is R$ 1.200.000, from 44 listings Arvita followed as of 2026-11-03. It is an asking price, not a sale price.
How many properties are for sale in Água Branca?
As of 2026-11-03, 60 properties listed for sale, each counted once even when several agencies list it.
How far is Água Branca from the ferry?
About 2.8 km by car from the centre of the neighborhood to the ferry terminal.
How far is Água Branca from the hospital?
The municipal hospital is about 2.8 km by car from the centre of the neighborhood. The nearest health unit is UBS Água Branca, 1.0 km away.
Which schools are near Água Branca?
E.E. Prof. José Antonio Sanches Gonzalez, E.M. Iracema França Lopes Correa, E.M. Prof. José Antônio Verzegnassi, ACEI Escola, APAE de Ilhabela (escola de educação especial), Colégio Objetivo Ilhabela. Distances and type for each in the Living here section.
Where in Ilhabela is Água Branca?
Água Branca is in the Centre and Vila part of the island.
Want to know what makes sense for you in Água Branca? Marina knows the area and tells you what a listing does not show.
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