reaching 16 meters (45 ft) in length and formerly hunted, these whales are a protected specie, but the efforts to restore their population have been successful and they are now showing a strong yearly growth in the number of exemplars.    

the best way of getting to barra beach is via taxi, normally a 45 reais ride from ipanema or copacabana.

from zona sul, bus number 332 (taquara x castelo via barra da tijuca) rides along copacabana, ipanema, and leblon and then covers the entire length of barra beach.