The implementation of a TPA (environmental preservation tax) in Ilhabela, on the northern coast of São Paulo, was suspended by decision of the TCE (State Audit Court), which reported problems after two representations filed a complaint with the body citing alleged irregularities.
The tender was carried out to hire a company that would be responsible for the implementation, maintenance and electronic collection of fees from drivers.
In a note, the Ilhabela City Hall indicates that it has revoked the tender and will make changes to the notice to be able to implement the fee during the 2025/2026 summer season. A new call for tenders will be opened next Thursday (18). “Therefore, there is not yet a defined date for the start of the collection,” specifies the town hall.
The rate was approved by the city council in September. It would begin to be billed next Thursday (18), on Christmas Eve and the arrival of tourists for the end-of-year holidays, after five years of suspension.
In addition to the rate of R$19 (weekdays) and R$28.50 (weekends) for the ferry crossing, visitors would have to pay R$48 to leave the archipelago, regardless of the length of stay. Cars registered in Ilhabela and neighboring São Sebastião would be exempt from this tax, as would ambulances and official vehicles.
These fees had already been implemented in 2007, when their value was R$7 for cars, but were suspended in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, charging stations have remained inoperative in the ferry boarding area.
The approved text establishes pricing for vehicle passages, in a system of free circulation, without physical counters and with electronic payment by reading license plates or automatic labels, credit, debit or pix cards.
The defined values are R$10 for motorcycles, R$48 for cars, SUVs and combis, R$70 for vans and trucks, R$100 for minibuses and R$140 for buses.
Days after Ilhabela approved the tax, the neighboring São Sebastião city council created the same tax: the project was approved in October and collection is expected to begin in the first quarter of next year. Prices vary from R$5.25 to R$143.
Ubatuba has been practicing this type of fee since 2023, with the justification being to compensate for the impact on the environment caused by tourists.
Among the four cities on the north coast of São Paulo, only Caraguatatuba has no plans to implement an environmental preservation tax.
Neighboring Ubatuba, but already in Rio de Janeiro, Angra dos Reis will introduce a tax for tourists visiting the city and local islands from January 2026. The most famous of them is Ilha Grande.
This tax, called sustainable tourism tax, provides for the payment of R$95 for each visitor staying up to seven days on the islands of the Angra region. Anyone visiting the continent for up to seven days will be charged R$47.50.
Arrival at Ilha Grande is via ships, such as trawlers and speedboats. The island is approximately 10 km from the mainland.
Another São Paulo tourist town, Campos do Jordão, in the Serra da Mantiqueira, approved the measure last October, but the tax is not expected to come into force until the second half of next year.
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