Regular Transfer Rio X Ilha Grande (Villa Do Abraão)

On the way from Rio to Ilha Grande, the minibus was in pretty awful condition and unsurprisingly broke down. Then in fairness they got another one out quite quickly. OK, but it was also in pretty terrible condition and just about made it to the boat transfer which went relatively smoothly. The big issue was with the return journey. Boat transfer again was fine (the only part that top transfer dont really run by the way), the minibus was late because of more reliability issues. Got on it, all seemed fine, but the route and dropoffs the driver took were utterly insane and added at least 2 hours on to our journey. Up to Rio airport, down and then back west (?!l) to some random hotel, before finally heading towards ipanema/copacabana where most of the bus needed to go, into bad traffic. Zero communication as to where he was going and why - if he'd have said at the first stop this is where he was going, most wouldve got off and grabbed an uber. But he didn't. Avoid and just book an uber, honestly. Not even that much more expensive and well worth it for the peace of mind.

Worst Company ever, they promise great service and don't deliver, advertised 0845am collection from Rio Airport, collected at 1010am in dirty filthy Van full of people with no room for luggage, then they tried to say our luggage was to large and we would have to pay extra, we were never informed of any luggage conditions prior to.booking and paying. Not one person in the van had anything positive to say about the trip to Ilha Granda. We were due to be on the Island by 1pm, we did not arrive at ferry port till 1245pm and had to wait till 2pm to get ferry boat to Ilha Granda. In my view the van was in a dangerous condition and should not be used for transferring people, the suspension was worn out, everytime the van hit a pothole in the road you would think with the loud bang noise it was going to break in half, when going up steep hill the engine sounded like it was going to give up, the front drivers side tyre was bald (see attached picture). The body of the van in very poor condition. When we arrived at hotel and told them about our experience, they said Top Transfer is not a good company. if you need transfer from Rio to Ilha Grande use Uber, get public bus, don't use this company

Great experience - did multiple transfers and tours and all were well organised with great communication. Special thanks to Neri and Raffahel!

Unfortunately, the name of this provider promises far more than what is actually delivered. Our experience was extremely stressful and unprofessional from start to finish. Never again! The details of our complaints… Tour: Rio to Ilha Grande Pushy upselling after booking: It all started right after booking. We were constantly contacted and aggressively asked if we wanted to book additional services or other offers. It was extremely annoying. Pressure regarding departure time & empty promises: We were practically pushed into taking the morning transfer, even though we had booked for the afternoon to make sure we had enough time. The reason? Our morning flight was scheduled to land only 10 minutes before the bus was set to depart. Nevertheless, we were told beforehand: “No problem, that works, we will wait.” When our flight actually ended up being delayed, they wanted nothing to do with that promise, and we were suddenly told coldly: That’s your problem. That is not what customer service looks like. Overcrowded bus despite paying extra for luggage: We were ultimately rebooked onto a later transfer. However, this was an absolute nightmare: the minibus was packed to the very last seat, and we had to make countless stops along the way. The biggest issue: we had paid an extra fee in advance for larger suitcases since they weren't included in the standard price. Despite this, there were massive struggles trying to fit our luggage in the fully packed bus at all. Zero internal communication: It felt like the left hand didn't know what the right hand was doing. Agreements or promises were not passed on internally at all. Conclusion: The name "Toptransfer" is pure irony here. Pushy upselling beforehand, false promises regarding tight flight times (and „almost“ zero flexibility when delayed), terrible internal communication, and a completely overcrowded bus despite paying extra for luggage. We will definitely never use this service again!

Booked a shuttle from Rio-Ilha Grande and it was a logistical nightmare. I was told the bus would turn up at 6:00am, it didn’t arrive until 6:40am with no communication from the company. We then spent almost an hour driving around Copacabana waiting and picking people up. The driver was also extremely unhelpful and argued with a few people on the shuttle. You pay a premium for the transfer but it’s not worth it, either get an Uber or a bus to Angra dos Reis and avoid the delays associated with this company.

We had booked a van trip+ boat with top transfer trough 12Go. We were supposed to be picked up at Copacabana palace at 12:45 and it was noted that it would be good to come 30 min before. So we showed up at 12:15 and waited. We waited and waited. I then try to call the number I was given in my confirmation mail which stated that I could call it if I needed help. They didn’t pick up. We waited for 4 hours and no one showed up. I called 20 times and no one picked up, I wrote 20 messages and no one wrote back. The worse experience I have ever had with transport. It was a very expensive trip and I am fuming over how badly TOP TRANSFER is for their costumers and “travels”. Big scam!

Hi there, just wanted to let you know that we had a TERRIBLE transfer to Vila Abraoo: -The driver did not use google maps and took a wrong road for several times. -Also, the bus was packed with 12 people and a lot of luggage which was way too much for a comfortable transfer. -Then the bus had a flat tire and we had to wait a long time. -Finally the bus driver again took wrong turns that delayed our trip even more. No communication to us whatsoever by Toptransfer. -Since we had a boattrip from Vila Abraoo to Atlantic Jungle lodge too, our next taxi had to wait much longer and we had to pay him a lot more money to get to our hotel. -we stood ready to be picked up at 12:45 and arrived at Vila Abraoo 19:45.. so it took us 7 hours long with should have been a relaxed afternoon and evening at our hotel. To be honest, this was the worst transfer experience in my life and I had quite a few. I ofcourse also sent this complaint to toptransfer. They say ‘sorry for your inconvinience’ but don’t offer anything in return.

Worst service ever! They were 2h late and I am since 2h in a huge bus doing rounds in Ipanema picking up people 1 by 1. No communication whatsoever! Don’t book here!!

Do not book this company. This is honestly the worst customer service I’ve ever experienced. Booked and Didn’t provide service, will ignore you… such a scam

Terrible communication, no one was responding to our messages which meant we weren’t given a collection time until ten minutes before the driver was due. This was was two hours before what was on our booking confirmation. Despite selecting our hostel from a drop down menu on their website (also on our booking confirmation), ten minutes before pick up we were given an address a ten minute walk away. Super stressful for no real reason and we lost a night’s sleep because of it. The transfer was smooth once we got on the bus.

We tried to reach them some days before our trip to book the shuttle. They wrote us back but with loong time in between. They were not responsive at all. And when we wanted to book it, they didn’t write us back only hours afterwards and wanted to give us a private tour which was very expensive.

Excellent transfer company for RDJ area. We used them to go to Rio/Ilha Grande and Buzios. Good communication, very responsive and detailed information, all pick ups are on time and good clean vehicles. Would definitely recommend using them.

Used their transport service in Rio. I can in no way recommend it. Despite good communication and reasonably smooth coordination, we have on two occasions felt genuinely unsafe due to their drivers’ behaviour. One driver was close to falling asleep for over two hours, and on the return trip the driver drove like a reckless racer – tailgating other cars and far exceeding the speed limit. Even though we raised the first incident with Top Transfer, and received a reply from their quality team, this is not a company we can recommend if you value your safety. You should also expect significant delays, as they wait for everyone to arrive regardless of how late people show up.

The main benefit of this transfer is that it's cheap. But to be honest I think I would rather do the public bus next time. It's nice that they pick you up from the hotel, but that's the only nice thing about it. The leg room is literally non-existent. I had to ask the people in front of me to pull up their seat because when they had it down I physically could not fit my legs in front of my seat, and I'm not exaggerating. I sat the entire 2.5h sideways in my chair because even with their seats being straight, I couldn't properly fit, and I'm not even that tall. Next is the space for your luggage. They literally try to cram as many people as possible in those vans and minimise luggage space to such extent that the driver has to stuff the luggage in the back with his shoulder while holding the door with one hand and shut it quickly before the bags tumble down the street. You can guess what happens when he opens that door to take the bags out. Yep, the bags literally drop on the floor. I saw one suitcase tumble down about 5 meters when he opened the back. If you don't care about your baggage, you're fine, but if you have expensive suitcases, you're better off getting a bus. Lastly, when we arrived for the boat transfer, despite the fact that we waited for 45min for our boat, a different transfer that arrived 30min later than we did got the boat first because "they had priority". So in conclusion, it's cheap but you get what you pay for. If you're trying to save a few quid just get the normal public bus. There's lots of boats that go from the main pier so you won't be short on transfers, and if you get an uber (which is only a few quid from the city centre) to the main bus station, you'll be totally safe and the station is super easy to navigate. Truly, genuinely never using these guys again.

The communication to get prices was very difficult, the agent kept asking I necessary question only to inform the transfer price. After trip agreement the agent upload all wrong pick up and destination on the receipt and system for them to keep track of our schedules and start to finish points. I requested for that to be changed before payment and after a wile (over a week) without any answer I receive a, rude, message from the agent to please answer whether we were using or not the services. The agent then fixed our data and I made the reservation. The transfer to Ilha Grande was delayed and the last pickup was over an hour from the latest stabilised pickup time. The driver was also very aggressive on traffic with harsh acceleration and stops. The transfer back to the airport was on time and we had a very smooth journey. The way back was a 5 out of 5, everything else was a hard 2.

I usually try to give the benefit of the doubt, but my experience with TopTransfer was alarming and unsafe. During the sales period they were very friendly and helpful. But the actual service rendered was disorganized, confusing, and, ultimately, dangerous. Delays and poor communication: Our van to Conceição arrived very late, and communication was almost non-existent. Another van made a stop only once in a 5-hour journey, leaving passengers (including non-Portuguese speakers) without any explanation. Mismanaged schedules: The return trip from Paraty was badly planned so it was impossible to be at the right place at the right time. Boarding times and boat connections were mishandled, forcing my family to wait unnecessarily at the port. Dangerous driving: The worst part was the driver on our return to Rio. A traffic accident caused a traffic jam and a couple in the van needed to get to the airport fast. That's what we thought led the driver to accelerate and brake aggressively, aggressively tailgate, and perform unsafe overtakes on a busy road. My family, including elderly passengers, was terrified. On top, the vehicle itself made constant beeping noises. And to finish even worse: Even after the couple left the van at the airport, the driver continued reckless behavior. After my complaint, TopTransfer said that they consulted with the driver, who confirmed that we was always within the speed limits. While I believe this is a lie, my complaint never was about exceeding speed limits — it was about total disregard for safe driving. Passengers’ and other users of that road's lives were put at risk. It’s incomprehensible that TopTransfer would allow this. Any professional company would always prioritize safety. Also, the company's response was completely unprofessional and the excuse could not be taken seriously. In three and a half years living in Brazil, this was one of the most unsafe travel experiences I’ve ever had (and I'm used to Mototaxis). Warning to potential customers: TopTransfer may appear reliable online (and they are in the sales stage), but in reality, their drivers can be dangerously reckless, their scheduling chaotic, and their communication poor. Do not risk your or your family’s safety.

Do not use this company EVER! I wouldn’t usually write a bad review but this company was atrocious Chaotic from the beginning Picked up late from the airport I understood that it was a shared transfer but I was told that the transfer would be approximately 3 hours Our plane landed at 12.30 pm and we arrived in Ilha Grande at 20.45 ( 8.45 pm) ! Over 8 hours later! The driver was appalling He obviously hates his job There was absolutely no information given to us regarding the length of the journey or if we were able to stop for a comfort break He did eventually stop IN THE MiDDLE OF A FLAVELA!!!! Very dangerous His driving was appalling! Starting and stopping very abruptly and several near misses The driver was ignoring everyone on the bus It wasn’t a language barrier as he was ignoring the Portuguese passengers as well All together a most unpleasant introduction to Brazil Also very dangerous boat crossing in the dark on a boat with no lights Hanging around in a dark dangerous neighbourhood not knowing what is going on.No information provided I would NEVER recommend this company APALLING customer service and NOT cheap!

Bus was way to full, a lot of bagage from people didn’t fit. It took the bus 2 hours to even leave rio, making the whole bus ride 5 hours long. A really bad experience I would never book this again.

We had a smooth transfer to Ilha Grande. It was easy to communicate with Top Transfer through WhatsApp. They kept us in the loop and showed up on time. Highly recommend.

We missed our original ferry off the island and were stuck in the rain, thankfully, Juliana was able to help us and rebooked us the same day on a later ferry! Thank you Juliana we appreciate very much. Loved our time on Ilah Grande.

Used Top Transfer to get from Rio x Ilha Grande x Paraty. We realised when we got to Ilha Grande that we’d left one of the passports in the hotel back in Rio. Special shout out and thanks to Waleska who helped us to get it to the island the very next day - AMAZING SERVICE! WhatsApp communication was very good too. I would recommend and use them again ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This review for for going FROM Ilha Grande TO the Rio airport (GIG). In my experience, going from the island to the Rio is a much smoother experience than going from Rio to the island. The boat from Ilha Grande left on time and we were met at the docks on the mainland by a fleet of vans ready to take passengers to their various destinations (different places in Rio). My vehicle was actually ended up being a car. There were 5 of us, with the driver, so it was a bit of a squeeze, and my friend was traveling with 2 large bags, so he had to carry one on his lap in the front seat. That said, the transfer was efficient and timely. We arrived at the airport exactly 3 hours after the bus was scheduled to depart. One note about the driver, he gradually drove faster and more aggressively the closer we got to Rio, even showing bit of road rage toward a couple of other aggressive drivers on the road. That's why only 4 stars. Was it a cushy luxury experience? No defititely not. Was is good for getting 4 young people to the airport in good time? Yes for sure. Was the driver going GTA Rio edition mode reassuring? Not really. Was it entertaining? Oh yeah.

Our shuttle from Rio to Ilha Grande was scheduled for 12:45 PM, but communication was almost non-existent. An hour before the pickup, we were informed of a delay, and the new pickup time was set for 1:20 PM. At 2:00 PM, we received another vague update about “short delays,” and then nothing until nearly 5:00 PM when we were told the driver would arrive in “10 minutes” – only to disappear again. We ended up waiting with our baggage and work equipment until 10:00 PM, with no further communication or resolution. Top Travel has no direct phone number – only a WhatsApp contact that does not answer calls. I even reached out via Instagram in the evening, where they initially responded but also stopped. We lost an entire vacation day, and were forced to book an expensive hotel last minute as we never heard back from them. To help others avoid this hassle, I’ve attached screenshots showing our attempts to get in touch with them. If you’re looking for reliability, consider other options – for example, we heard that Green Toad Bus Brazil is more reliable. This experience may not reflect everyone’s, but if you value clear communication and punctual service, we definitely did not receive that.

Top Transfer experience was definitely not top. We were meant to be picked up at the airport at 9:30am (which was already 2 hours after our flight arrived) by someone holding a sign, but there was no one to be found, so we made our way to the pick up point on the second floor. The driver arrived at 10am, but we spent another half an hour waiting for other passegners and driving around the airport. We finally left the airport at 10:30am, only to find out that we were going to Barra da Tijuca first instead of straight to the port. That added another hour to the trip and we didn’t leave Rio until 11:45am. Communication during the day was very poor and we arrived in Abrão after 2:30pm

I had an amazing experience with this shared transfer from Rio to Ilha Grande! Everything was perfectly organized from start to finish. The pickup was punctual, and the van was modern, clean, and comfortable. The driver was professional and drove safely, making the journey smooth and enjoyable. I highly recommend this service for anyone traveling to Ilha Grande. It’s the perfect hassle-free way to start your trip! Li Yan

The pickup process was an absolute nightmare. The driver was THREE HOURS late, and there was ZERO communication. I sent 15 messages begging for an update, and got ignored every single time. We were actually packing our luggage into the Uber we had called because we had completely given up—still no response from them. Then, they finally replied, only to tell us we had to walk to some random spot for pickup, even though they had promised to come directly to the hotel. Do yourself a favor and avoid this company at all costs.

Really struggled with these guys. We booked a round-trip from Rio to Ilha grande. Whilst the outbound was easy and on time, the driver was great and the transport was fantastic, we had a lot of problems organising the return leg. The biggest problem with these people is that they don’t communicate and you cannot get through to them if you have any queries. And whilst it all worked out in the end with no issues, when you’re on holiday as a couple looking to have a stressfree holiday, you don’t want to be thinking about these small issues. I must’ve contacted the top transfer WhatsApp number eight times. Furthermore, once we finally do get in touch with them, and everything was on track. I decided to request a transfer from Rio airport and to get a private fat to Buzios. We were dropped off at the airport from our initial round-trip booking, and we have absolutely no idea where to go to meet our private driver to buzios. It just created more anxiety and stress. In the end , someone contacted us at the exact time and told us where to meet them. If the communication was better and you could contact them nice and easily, they get a five star . Because of their communication issues, I drop it to 3/5 Unfortunately, I will not be booking through this organisation again .

Everything went perfect ! Camilla gave us really precise and good information! Everything was really well organized. Already 3 times with them I recommend 100%

Do NOT book with this company. We booked a trip from Rio to Ilha Grande. Departure at 12h. Few weeks after booking the trip was postponed by the company with 45min. At moment of arrival in the airport in Rio (pick-up location), we got a text estimating pick-up time at 2pm (which was still acceptable for us, as in the voucher a time window was given). However at 2pm, we got a text the driver would be 'a few minutes' later... After another 30min, we asked where the driver was. Then we got a text the driver would be late for another 50min! We waited patiently. But only at 4.20pm the driver came: more than 4h after the initial booked pick-up moment. Afterwards, we still had to pick-up other people and drove around in Rio for another 1.5h! So we left Rio at little before 6pm... When finally arriving in the harbour close to Ilha Grande, where normally a ferry would be: it was already 8.30pm, completely dark and abandond. (Last ferry leaves at 6.30pm.) We were passed on to a 'middle man'. During this whole time, we had little or no information as the driver and middle man could not speak English. Also the company dit not give much information. Just the text: 'We were informed that the ship has already embarked. Thank you for your patience and have a good trip.' Seriously? Finally, al little before 9pm, we were put on a small speedboat, without life vests in stormy weather, and driven by a teenager, to go to Ilha Grande with the rest of the people of our van. Really scared and not save. Thank God we made it to Ilha Grande alive.

I spent ages trying to find a transfer between Rio and Ilha Grande, as so many had mixed reviews. Top Transfer provided a very efficient service. We received communication the evening before pick up to confirm what time the driver would arrive. In the morning, they confirmed the driver was in his way and he arrived on time. We were driven to a Dock that was super quiet, it was only our minibus and one other there to get the boat, so it was all quick and efficient. The way back was also on time and we'll organised. My only tip is to check the price quoted. I had seen another tour company selling the transfer, with the price advertised on their website. I saw it was operated by Top Transfer, so I decided to contact them directly. They originally quoted a higher price than I had seen elsewhere. Once I queried it, the price was reduced. So do your research!

I made the trip Rio x Ilha Grande and found the service very good. They validate the travel information via WhatsApp on the day of purchase and also one day before departure. The transition from the van to the lanch was super fast and organized by the team. The crossing is done in the famous Flexboat, a very mass adventure! 😍 Recommend!

I hired a transfer from Rio de Janeiro to Vila do Abraão and the service was well organized. The driver picked me up at the hotel in Copacabana. The van was clean and airy. The trip to the Conception Pier of Jacareí took about 2h30 and was super quiet. Arriving there, their team already directed us straight to the marina. Their ground support is very good, with bathroom and covered area. The boarding of the speedboat was priority and, in 20 minutes, I was already landing in the village..

The service was carried out with punctuality, organization and security from beginning to end. The staff provided attentive and cordial care, providing all the necessary information during the journey. The transportation was clean, comfortable and well kept, providing a quiet journey. The logistics of boarding and landing was efficient, without delays or downtime. I recommend the service for those who seek convenience, comfort and confidence in their travel.

Incredible experience! Without a doubt very well worth it, high-quality service with a complete experience.

We did not enjoy the ride at all neither the car (uncomfortable) nor the driver (unpleasant and driving very very very dangerous) We were afraid! , we did not feel safe at all. We took a taxi to the return trip Much safer and cheaper .!

It's absurd what happened today. I received my voucher informing that the bus would depart at 2:00 from Galeão Airport. I contacted several times to confirm that time was correct, and I was informed that so. I was even told there could be a delay of no more than 15 minutes. Because of this, I had to rush out of the VIP room — I lost an access that has an average cost of about $35 — all to avoid losing the transportation. To my surprise, when I arrived at the venue, I was informed that the bus had even left to pick up in Galeão and that there was no forecast of arrival. This demonstrates a total lack of organization and respect for the customer. I programmed myself based on the information provided by you and had financial loss and unnecessary wear-out. I await a positioning and an appropriate solution in the face of this situation.

I did not like the treatment and driving from Marina Porto Real to Ilha Grande, a lot of people, the woman who led us to the boat was rude and poorly polite. We made the return trip from Paraty to Rio de Janeiro, we took more than 6 hours, a lot of stops, transfer change, it was exhausting

Not at all responsive, breakdown of the first van so they send us two taxis late and we miss the boat for the crossing, no solution from them and they do not want to give us the coordinates of the drivers. Perfect communication for booking but after they sometimes take more than 3 hours to reply! Run away!

On the way were punctual and on the return too ...come to the island was great and return safely is what is worth it ...this company and employees are very TOP!!!

Excellent service. On time and organized. All right. Highly recommended. With very good units. Quiet trip with stop in between.

Good care, prudent handling And all on time As for the agility with boat and transfer is very good I recommend 100%

Great. The communication and transportation was perfect ........................................................................................

Driver arrived at the agreed time Easy communication We arrived in the greatest tranquility, for those who do not want perrengue is worth it!

Best experience in transfer. Sympathy, punctuality, organization... Really surpassed everything!!! Very worth the experience!

Good condition of the phone, seemed almost new. They went to the starting point on schedule. Good service from the motorist. He drove with agility

Very good the attention of Julia Dias de Salles for the realization of the reservation. I'm informing myself of all my questions. It was very fast and efficient.

Horrible. More than one hour late departure A very unpleasant driver He made us miss two boats because of an endless break to make the gas The obsolete vehicle was not advancing uphill In the end a trip that was supposed to last 2 hours lasted 3 hours and it made miss 2 boats for ilha grande. Absolutely not great this transfer

Very good organization and communications!! Everything went very well. We were even able to easily retrieve things we had forgotten

The pick-up was punctual and the mobility that took us was in excellent condition. Recommended for all transfer service.