São Sebastião

Ilha dos Gatos, in São Sebastião: crystal-clear, calm sea, ruins of a Rockefeller Cold War mansion, forest trail and snorkeling with high visibility.

Ilha dos Gatos is one of the most fascinating and mysterious islands of São Sebastião — small, with transparent water and practically no waves, yet full of a history that mixes the Rockefeller family, the Cold War and a once-millionaire mansion now in ruins.

The Rockefeller History
The island's greatest mystery sits atop the hill, hidden by dense vegetation: the ruins of an imposing mansion built by the Rockefeller family — one of the most powerful in the United States — in the 1950s. The intention was to create a secret refuge to escape a possible Soviet nuclear attack during the Cold War. They built the mansion but never settled there permanently. The house was abandoned and reclaimed by vegetation — today it can only be reached via a trail through the dense forest.

Landscape and Environment
The island has a small beach of very white sand with exceptionally calm, clear and shallow water — the kind of sea that looks like a lagoon and allows you to walk far from the shore still waist-deep. Currently, Ilha dos Gatos belongs to the Federal Union and is under the care of the Sociedade Ecológica Brasileira, guarded by a single resident — the former caretaker — who remains on the island as the solitary guardian of that piece of nature and history.

Why "Gatos" (Cats)?
The name comes from an improvised and curious solution: in the past, the island was infested with rodents, and dozens of cats were taken there to control the rat population. The felines solved the problem — and then disappeared. The name remained, the cats left.

Diving and Snorkel
The waters around Ilha dos Gatos are recognized as one of the best diving spots on the South Coast, with exceptional visibility, rich marine life and natural pools among the rocky outcrops.

Practical Information

Location: ~1.5 km from Camburi Beach — South Coast, São Sebastião

Boarding points: Camburi, Boiçucanga and Barra do Una

Classic route: Ilha dos Gatos + Ilha das Couves + As Ilhas (Rota das Ilhas)

Access to the ruins: Only by trail through the dense forest starting from the island

Ownership: Federal Union / Sociedade Ecológica Brasileira

Tip: Prefer weekdays to find the island quieter

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