Are exactly 2,701 acres of rocks, beaches and green areas, mangroves, restinga and Atlantic forest.

The island of Honey is a tourist point of much importance in the state of Parana. Many people consider that the island has the best beaches in the state. The island, part of the municipality of Paranaguá, is administered by the Environmental Institute of Paraná (IAP) and has a limited program management. Is not permitted or animal traction motor on the island. There are many areas where it is allowed the presence of visitors. The island has four sights of Focus on the north to Fortaleza, in central Nova Brasilia and the Lighthouse of the Shells and the South the Charmed.

Almost all of its area was transformed into ecological station in 1982 and later, in a biosphere reserve.

Its historical buildings dating from the eighteenth century, as the Chapel of St. Francis, the Lighthouse of the Shells, the Cave of the Magic, and the beaches of Brasilia, Limoeiro of Cassual of Fortaleza, the Lighthouse of Michael's, outside of Belo Depth and West.

Of its 2,700 ha only 200 are allowed to use - the rest is ecological reserve (listed by Heritage in 1975, is administered by the Environmental Institute of Parana since 1982). The tourist has a small inns and restaurants. The island has five villages: Fortaleza, Brasilia or New Brasília, Farol, Praia Grande and Enchanted. There are no streets or roads, only trails. The deployment of electric power generators in 1988, initiated actions that today has transformed into concern for the preservation of the island and its main attraction: nature.

On April 15, 1982, Ilha do Mel, by tenure, was transferred from the Union for the State of Paraná. The fort, the lighthouse beacon and remained under the control of the Union, in 1985, the treated water; On September 21, 1988 was created the Ecological Station of Ilha do Mel, also in 1988, comes to power through diesel generator, which worked until 02:00 am, returning the next day, in 1998, through undersea cables, electric light reaches the continent, twenty-four hours a day, according also to the Isle of parts and the Isle of Superagüi.
The appearance of a map in the "Book of All the Coast of Santa Cruz Province," by John Teixeira Albbernas - Anno D. l666 and which is in the Map Collection of the Foreign Ministry, where the island now appears under the name of Ilha do Mel, just unlocked the mystery of the name.

Another map of Antonio Vieira dos Santos, published in 1850, has also contained the Ilha do Mel with that name. In the last century the island was also known as "Whale Island", perhaps because of its shape. Several hypotheses (folk) are known for the origin of the name:

- The extraction of honey, before 1950, when foods were sweetened with honey or sugar from sugar cane in the island, due to the difficulty of obtaining industrial sugar;

- The existence of a family of German origin who inhabited the region of Fortaleza, and where there was a mill for the production of cassava flour. Flour in German, is written "mehl";

- The color of the sea view from the top of Morro das Conchas - Lighthouse, especially at the beginning of Lighthouse Beach (Parallel);

- The format of the island, which resembles the western honey out of the mouth (isthmus) of a container (the south) - The moon honeymoon that slaves enjoyed stronger with several black, where they were left on the island by several days, for reproduction in the last century;

- Before the Second World War the island was known to eat the island of Admiral Mehl who dedicated himself to beekeeping and whose family attended there;

- Sailors retired and living on the island devoted to the bee, producing such an amount that reached export the product to the 60;

- Fresh water in the island contains mercury. In contact with salt water that causes a yellow color similar to the color of honeycombs; - Carijós Indians living in the region enjoyed a lot of honey bees, then the bee farm is old.

Crossing to Ilha do Mel is done safely by boats leaving from Pontal do Sul (30min - £ 23) or Paranaguá (1h45min). There are regular daily between 8:00 and 17:00, but can also be chartered vessels at another time. During the season, boats leave every 30 minutes, and off-season every hour. The destinations on the island are two (both with pier for landing):

Charmed or Nova Brasilia (which also includes lighthouse and Fortaleza). There is also a regular boat between Charmed and Nova Brasilia, which leaves every hour.

* Lighthouse of the Shells: European building in 1870 by Baron de Cotegipe, during the reign of Emperor D. Pedro II, the lighthouse, made of cast iron, with a height of 18 meters, coming from Glasgow - Scotland, guides sailors through its flashing, since April 1, 1872. Located on the hill of shells, can be spotted on almost every point of Ilha do Mel, just like up there one can see almost all the Ilha do Mel and region. A ladder with almost 140 steps leads up to the top of the hill.

* Fortress of Our Lady of Joy: The only military monument of the eighteenth century existing in Paraná, located in the foothills of the Mount of the Whale, built with walls five feet thick, the fortress was completed on April 23, 1769. On top of Whale Hill, near the Fort, are guns and trenches of stones. It is called "Labyrinth of guns. There is also a gazebo with an incredible panoramic view. You get there by trail on the hill.

* The enchanted cave: it is located in the southern part of the island and is one of the most important natural heritage of the Ilha do Mel. In the middle of the cave, there is a black rock that cuts the migmatite. This is a diabase dike. The Cave was formed by the action of the sea on the diabase, which is less resistant than the migmatite. To facilitate access, was built a walkway leading to the entry.

* Isthmus: located in Nova Brasilia, the Isthmus or Pass-Pass (as he is known by locals), is the narrowest part of Ilha do Mel and undergoes a process of erosion since 1930, but currently, the water does not cross over side to side, as happened in 1995. The width today reaches 30 meters and only in large tidal sea, the water gets to go through.

"Preserve the Ilha do Mel, and great rides."