somewhere in between bay and lakeside formations, are some the islands of the zona oeste, set in a canal in the middle of an ecological reserve, and giving them great charm and character, as is the case for the wonderful ilha do bom jardim.

in a class of its own, is the fascinating ilha da marambaia, a 42-kilometer long sandbank connected to the mainland by a bridge, and often thought to be a peninsula - under military management and of limited access, this island is actually one of the last completely untouched areas of mata atlântica in rio de janeiro.

right in front of ipanema beach, are the cagarras islands, the most famous of the two groups of oceanic islands in rio de janeiro.

rivaled by the other group of islands, called tijuca islands, both arquipélago are a must-visit for nature lovers in rio.