the island is rich of epiphytes - mainly  bromeliads and orchids, as well as a variety of protected species.

there is plenty of flora and fauna for nature enthusiasts to spot, including the maria farinha, a type of albino crab (caranguejo) special to the area.

furthermore, marambaia is of particular historical and archeological significance as it contains 'sambaquis' (shell-mounds) - ancient deposits formed by shells, kitchenware, utensils, and skeletons piled up by the populations which inhabited the coastal area in prehistoric times and then petrified by a natural calcification process.

ancient indian burial sites have attracted much interest in the area because many of the dead were buried with their belongings.