the island community is made up of about 380 residents, of varied origins (blacks, whites, descendants of carijó indians), some of whom have been living there since 1943, when the escola técnica darcy vargas fishing school was created there under president getúlio vargas.  

along the marambaia, on the side farther from the city of rio de janeiro, there is a portion of beach that belongs to the municipality of itaguaí.  this portion of the marambaia is accessible to the public via boat, for a limited time during the day, and it is nothing less than a paradise.