evidence: Most of the development is on the west coast facing the mainland, and the island’s economy is based on tourism. There are 35 kilometers of beaches, a coastal Atlantic rain forest, and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve to explore mountain peaks to climb, and over 400 cool waterfalls cascading into the ocean to see. Add to those legends of pirate treasure, underwater wrecks to explore, great sailing (enough to make Ilhabela's annual Sailing Week a must) and you've got the makings of a fantastic vacation destination. From the top of Pico São Sebastião, the island's highest spot at 4,521 feet (1,378 meters) on the northern coast, you can look over the tops of trees to the water, catch a glimpse of local wildlife, and perhaps see, at the southern end of the island, the Ilhas das Cabras, part of the Santuário Ecológico de Ilhabela, devoted to the preservation of marine wildlife. From that vantage point, you can also see the other islands in the archipelago: Vitória, Búzios, Serraria, and Cabras. The archipelago is about 130 square miles total, with about 84 miles of coastline. Boats near Jabaquara Beach.