just off the coast of ipanema beach are the scenic cagarras islands, for visitors looking for a different ecological experience - made up of seven small islands and rocks, they are the second largest nesting area in brazil for boobies and fragile birds .

the vegetation around the islands is typical of sea sandbanks, but the waters around them are home to a huge variety of fish, often frequented by visiting turtles, dolphins, and sometimes even whales.