praia josé bonifácio is one of the most important beaches on paquetá, the charming island-neighborhood in rio's centro.

also called praia da guarda (beach of the guard) as a reference to the guard that was posted on this beach to watch over josé bonifácio, a former brazilian intellectual and politician condemned to domiciliary arrests on the island in 1833.

this beach is an important cultural space for the island, also home to many of the celebrations for carnival and réveillon.

the beach has a direct view of the beautiful ilha de brocoió, the island where slaves from africa were left in quarantine before being taken to the continent.