later, under the responsibility of the fundação estadual de engenharia do meio ambiente - feema, the reserva biológica estadual da praia do sul and the parque estadual marinho de aventureiro were also created to reinforce the importance of the region, and its local fauna and flora - vila do abrão is the main town on the island, and home to the port that welcomes boats coming from mainland.

the town is calm and back in time, with no cars and only cobblestone streets and dirt roads to connect the many pousadas to the restaurants, shops, and to the landmark church  igreja de são sebastião, clearly visible on arrival by sea - being the largest in the local archipelago, in the old indian language tupi, ilha grande was known as ipaum (ilha) guaçu (grande) - 'big island'.