pedra do pontal is also sometimes called pedra do pontal tim maia, in honor of the famous song do leme ao pontal (from leme to pontal) by tim maia, the father of brazilian soul music. the beach is edged on one side by pedra do pontal de sernambetiba, a 120 meter tall granite rock joined to the beach by a thin trail of sand, and on the other side by the rock named pedra de itapuã.

notably, pedra de itapuã is a natural monument land-marked by the city to commemorate a failed attempt by the french jean françois duclerc to disembark here and conquer the city in 1710. as history tell in 1711, rio was indeed taken hostage for two months during the last attempt by the french to create an 'antarctic france' - readers interested in knowing more about this episode can read more on this page.