In downtown of Ilhabela, known as The Village, old buildings stand out such as the jail, the church, and the town hall.

 The former Hotel São Paulo has turned into a cozy little shopping mall with antiques stores, fashion and ice cream and cakes and sweets outlets. It is right in front of the pier where anglers dwell in heaven.

At night the lighted buoys turn the water into a starseeded sky. On friendly nights the hooks fetch the local version of small barracudas called "espadas" (swords), fierce but great tasting fighters. Within the streets of the colonial village stores with fashion and watersports gear, as sophisticated as the five star restaurants and hotels.