to get to this part of niterói  from rio's zona sul, perhaps the easiest way is via the bus 7003 (also marked 740 d), which leaves from praça general osório in ipanema posto 8, across from the easy to spot zona sul supermarket.

the 7003 bus also stops in copacabana along avenida nossa senhora de copacabana, at the bus stops marked brs3,  this is the main avenue one block away from the water travel time from ipanema to the entrance of forte do rio branco, forte de são luiz, and forte do pico varies between 60 and 80 minutes.