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

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, are convenient to the major tourist areas in the city.

outdoor sports enthusiasts with enjoy the arquipélago das ilhas tijucas more, since, unlike for the cagarras islands, access is unrestricted and lots of leisure activities can be undertaken there.

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