the channel is partially surrounded by the reserva biológica and arqueológica de guaratiba, which is a huge area of environmental protection, spanning an impressive 3,600 hectares. due to the area's relative isolation from the city, and its importance to ecological conservation, the lands around the canal do bacalhau are sparsely populated.

popular places of interest near the channel, include a number of beaches, hills, and some popular islands in the sepetiba bay. on the west side of the canal do bacalhau there is the marambaia restinga, with an extension of 42 kilometers, separated from the mainland by the channel, it houses some of the rarest ecosystems of the atlantic forest.