ilha do bom jardim (good garden island) is located in the eastern edge of the sepetiba bay, being one of the large landmasses of that area where the fresh waters descending from the nearby 'maciço da pedra branca' and from the portinho cana intertwine with the saltwater from the bay and the atlantic ocean beyond.

bom jardim island is located to the north of the mouth of the canal do bacalhau and extends well into the clearer waters to the north.

surrounding it are several smaller islands like the suruquai and the capão to the northeast, the ilha nova, or 'new island' in english, and the ilha do cavado to the north, and the ilha das baleias, or 'whales' island', to the southwest.