Some places travelers stay primarily for the comfortable bed and quality sleep, some specifically for the vibrant party atmosphere and social scene, but then there’s Green Haven Ilha Anchieta in Brazil—a truly transformational hostel that fundamentally changes how you perceive travel itself, sustainability practices, and the profound connection between accommodation and nature conservation in ways that challenge conventional tourism and redefine what hostels can achieve in the modern era.
This extraordinary spot isn’t merely located near nature—it exists completely immersed within it, operating as an integral part of the protected ecosystem.
Only Hostel Inside Brazilian Protected State Park
This unique eco-hostel sits inside Ilha Anchieta State Park, a fully protected island nature reserve off the coast of Ubatuba in São Paulo state. Imagine dense jungle trails winding through Atlantic forest, curious wild monkeys swinging overhead through canopy, crystal-clear turquoise water surrounding white sand beaches, and the hauntingly atmospheric ruins of an old prison with fascinating history.
It’s remarkably the only hostel inside a fully protected state park in Brazil and the absolute only place to stay overnight on the entire island—creating an unparalleled exclusive experience.
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100% Self-Sustaining Off-Grid Operation
Green Haven Hostel operates 100% self-sustaining and runs completely off-grid through innovative systems. What does this practically mean? The facility runs entirely on solar power from extensive panel arrays, collects its own fresh water through sustainable harvesting, treats all wastewater and organic waste on-site, and remarkably still feels like one inviting big beach house you genuinely don’t want to leave.
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From Party Hostel to Purpose-Driven Conservation
You might already know the original Green Haven Hostel on mainland Ubatuba: a proper HOSCAR award magnet impressively winning Best Hostel in Brazil twice, Best Hostel in Latin America once, and even the prestigious Community Champion award in 2023—cementing its reputation among global backpackers.
But for managing partner Vinícius Fiore, the party scene wasn’t fulfilling enough anymore. “Parties are amazing for connecting people, but I wanted something bigger and more meaningful. I wanted to see people and nature genuinely transformed,” he explains passionately.
When the rare opportunity came up to operate accommodation within the Ilha Anchieta State Park, he pursued it wholeheartedly. In 2023, Green Haven Ilha Anchieta officially opened its doors, and the entire hostel concept fundamentally shifted: celebrating life with authentic purpose and intentionally leaving a positive environmental mark in the world.
This evolution story addresses hostel industry observers asking “Why Green Haven moved to island?” and “History of Green Haven Ilha Anchieta?” with founder motivation.
Unique Accommodation in Historic Buildings
The dorms and private rooms are creatively spread between the old prison’s hospital building—offering atmospheric historic character—and a charming beach house positioned literally three meters from the sand with ocean views. Sounds wild and unusual, right? Travel experiences here consistently exceed expectations beyond what guests could ever imagine.
The accommodation options address budget travelers asking “Does Ilha Anchieta have dorms?” and “Private rooms Ilha Anchieta hostel?” with historic settings.
A Typical Day Living on the Island
Here’s what daily life authentically looks like on the island for fortunate guests:
Morning: Waking up naturally early to the peaceful sound of crashing waves and diverse tropical birds singing through jungle canopy
Daytime: Hiking through pristine rainforest trails discovering wildlife or visiting the eerie, dramatically overgrown prison ruins frozen in time; swimming alongside graceful sea turtles in protected waters or joining a peaceful canoe trip exploring hidden coves
Evening: Enjoying dinner expertly made from local ingredients and regional flavors, eaten under brilliant stars without light pollution
Night: Ending peacefully with live music, meaningful conversations, and that palpable “we’re all in this together” community vibe hostels worldwide are rightfully famous for creating
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Transformational Guest Experiences
The real magic isn’t merely the gorgeous protected island setting—it’s the profound personal transformation that happens to guests while they’re immersed there.
Vinícius shares moving stories: some guests arrive completely burnt out from urban life and leave feeling emotionally lighter and reconnected. Some discover the courage to fundamentally rethink their unsustainable lifestyles and make meaningful changes. One dedicated volunteer initially planned to stay just one month and ended up remaining a full year, ultimately leaving his conventional engineering job to work in environmental education full-time.
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Comprehensive Sustainability Systems Explained
This isn’t one of those places that merely talks about being environmentally green for marketing purposes. They’re genuinely, measurably doing it through concrete actions:
Energy: 150 solar panels keep the entire hostel and surrounding buildings running independently
Water: They collect their own fresh water through rainwater harvesting and treat all wastewater on-site through biological systems
Waste: They’ve constructed a complete waste management centre to meticulously sort and responsibly ship non-organic rubbish back to the mainland
Community: 70% of staff are local residents from nearby communities and the on-site restaurant purchases 70% of ingredients from nearby regional producers
Education: Guests are warmly invited to join organized beach clean-ups, educational sustainability workshops, or simply learn through observation by seeing how integrated systems work
“Nature is constantly teaching valuable lessons,” Vinícius emphasizes. “Here, people learn about sustainability and interconnection without even consciously realizing it.”
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Rich Island History: From Prison to Paradise
Ilha Anchieta has always been a place of dramatic, compelling stories throughout its layered history. From its notorious period as a maximum-security prison operating until 1955 (housing dangerous criminals in harsh conditions) to its environmental rebirth as a protected conservation unit in 1977, the island has witnessed profound transformation.
Now, Green Haven Hostel is actively writing a hopeful new chapter in this rich narrative: demonstrating conclusively that hostels can represent much more than merely cheap accommodation for budget travelers. They’re living proof that hostels can simultaneously protect fragile nature, meaningfully support local communities, and provide travelers with transformational experiences that emotionally stick long after checkout.
Booking and Visiting Information
Access to Ilha Anchieta requires boat transport from Ubatuba mainland (approximately 45-minute journey), with Green Haven coordinating logistics for confirmed guests. Advance booking is essential as capacity remains deliberately limited to minimize environmental impact on the protected island ecosystem.
Package options typically include accommodation, meals prepared from local ingredients, guided activities like hiking and snorkeling, and boat transfers to and from Ubatuba, creating comprehensive immersive stays.
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Who Should Visit Green Haven Ilha Anchieta
This unique destination ideally suits several traveler profiles: Eco-conscious travelers seeking meaningful sustainable tourism, nature enthusiasts wanting wildlife encounters and pristine environments, digital detox seekers escaping screens and reconnecting, conscious backpackers valuing community and purpose, volunteer-minded individuals wanting to contribute meaningfully, and transformation-seeking travelers open to personal growth experiences.
Awards and Recognition
The HOSCAR awards received by Green Haven properties confirm their exceptional quality and innovation in the competitive global hostel industry, validating their approach to combining social connection, environmental stewardship, and memorable guest experiences.
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