the paper 'estrutura vegetal e grau de perturbacão  dos manguezais da lagoa da tijuca, rio de janeiro, rj, brasil' (structure and degree of perturbation of mangroves at tijuca lagoon, rio de janeiro, brazil), by mario luiz gomes soares, of the universidade do estado do rio de janeiro's oceanographic department provides a wealth of information about the flora in the region.

the small pier with the taxi-boat station connecting the main avenue to the islands is located behind a building near the barra point shopping center, on avenida armando lombardi, 350, barra da tijuca.

getting to this shopping center via taxi from the zona sul takes about 25 minutes and costs approximately 40 reals. if going via bus from the zona sul, bus line 535 (alvorada - leme via avenida niemeyer) rides along rua barata ribeiro in copacabana and rua prudente de morais in ipanema.