Located at the island's extreme southern tip, with high waves, perfect for surfing, and sheltering the largest and most traditional caiçara (local inhabitants) community to be found in the archipelago, with around 100 families, Bonete is a world apart from the rest of Ilhabela. Having about 600 m of white sand, and surrounded by trees of a local variety (Cordia tentrandra), the beach offers refuge to canoes and small vessels in the Bonete stream, that flows into the left end of the beach and can be reached across the sand bar that connects it to the sea.

The best way to reach Bonete beach is by boat, going around Septuba point, on the south end of the Island. There is a trail which approaches the beach by land, but it is not for everyone. Being 15 km long, it takes about 4.5 h to complete the walk, passing through the Lage and Areado waterfalls.