about 150 km from rio de janeiro, located on the atlantic coast in the região dos lagos (region of the lakes),  rio das ostras (oyster river), is a town of just over 100,000 inhabitants known for its beaches and peaceful, cozy atmosphere.

even as far back as 1575, this town was attracting the attention of the portuguese navigators who were cruising off its coast.

rio das ostras is serious about protecting its environment, in fact, the town is home to several units of conservation - the área de relevante interesse ecológico (arie) de itapebussus, the área de preservaçao ambiental da lagoa do iriri, the reserva biológica união, the área de preservação permanente do manguezal da foz do rio das ostras, and the monumento natural dos costões rochosos.