ilha do cavado is part of a set of islands located in the eastern edge of the sepetiba bay and included in the 'reserva biológica e arquelógica de guaratiba', or 'biological and archeological reserve of guaratiba' in english.

cavado is the island located more to the west, being very close to both the ilha nova and the bom jardim island.

beyond these one can also find the ilha das baleias, the suruquai island and the ilha do capão - these islands are part of the small single arquipélago between sepetiba bay and the ilha da marambaia.