to the east is ilha do meio, closer to são conradothan barra da tijucaand directly facing the tiny joatinga beach - a gem of the coast. the depth here varies between 6 and 30 meters and, perhaps more so than the other islands in the arquipélago, it is a popular fishing destination depending on the season.

ilha alfavaca is between ilha do meioand ilha pontuda, and though it is slightly closer to the shore than the others, it is ringed with cliffs and thus somewhat less visited. for this reason more marine life can be seen in the surrounding waters, and depths range from 6 to 18 meters. this is the island that can be seen as a backdrop to the dozens of colorful kite surfers right across from praia do pepê.