connected by a bridge to the neighborhood of barra de guaratiba, marambaia island is about two hours from the zona sul of the city and a short boat ride away to experience a side of rio de janeiro most tourists don't venture out to see, especially because access is limited and requires much and careful advance planning.

reaching all the way to the costa verde region in the south of the state of rio, the sand bar creates about seventy-nine square kilometers of beach area.

at the entrance of the sepetiba bay, marambaia faces ilha grande (the big island).

the highest peak of the sandbar is pico marambaia, which elevates 647 meters above the sea.