The view from Ipanema
A horizon icon.
Rafael Rabello de Barros — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cyro A. Silva from Rio de Janeiro, Brasil — CC BY 2.0 · Rafael Rabello de Barros — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Jmarcospcastro — CC BY-SA 3.0
The Cagarras Islands are an uninhabited archipelago in the Atlantic about five kilometres off Rio de Janeiro's famous Ipanema beach, visible from the sand on any clear day. Since 13 April 2010 they have been a federal «natural monument» protecting the remains of the island ecosystem and its scenic beauty and providing a refuge for migratory seabirds. The archipelago is made up of islands and rocks, the largest being Cagarra, Palmas and Comprida, and covers 523 hectares; Cagarra, the tallest, rises seventy-nine metres. Its name most likely comes from the droppings of the seabirds that nest here, which stain the rocks white, a colour clearly visible from Ipanema; others think Portuguese sailors confused the local frigatebirds with the shearwaters, «cagarras», of Madeira and the Azores. Any activity that harms the ecosystem or disturbs marine life and birds is banned around the monument, but the islands receive daily boat trips for ecotourism and diving from the city's marinas. Choose a calm day for the crossing.
A horizon icon.
Nesting colonies.
Waters around the islands.
About 5 km off Ipanema beach, Rio de Janeiro
Visits are usually by boat around them, with limits to protect the birds.