the tijuca archipelago sits less than a mile south of the carioca neighborhood of barra da tijuca, located in the west zone. the group consists of ilha do meio, ilha alfavaca, ilha pontuda, and laje das tijucas - small islets that surround the main islands.

the islands are a diving hotspot due to the comfortable water temperatures, the wide variety of marine life found there and their proximity to the mainland. commonly sighted sea creatures include turtles, stingrays, moray eels, and a plethora of fish.  underwater visibility is generally very good, though it is diminished during low tide as a result of outflows from the joatinga canal.