the oceanic islands around rio de janeiro are a must-visit for outdoor sports enthusiasts of all stripes.

not only are there a variety of activities able to be performed there, but most of the islands are close to each other (mostly split into two major archipelagos), and convenient to the major tourist areas in the city. 

ilhas alfavaca and pontuda, in the tijuca island chain, have become very popular in the climbing community, both in its traditional form and in a newer style of free climbing called 'psicobloc,' also referred to as 'deep water soloing.'