because of its location relative to the rest of the city, it is an excellent viewing point for pedra da gávea, copacabana, leme, sugar loaf, morro cara de cão, the mouth of guanabara bay, the bridge to niterói and the beaches to the east.

it is especially popular with canoers and kayakers, and many tours embark from the beaches nearby; the most common approach is from praia vermelha, urca, botafogo or flamengo.

once clear of sugar loaf, it is a straight shot to contuba - keeping an eye out for fisherman and larger boats - and the best places to land are in the small cove formed between the 'comma' and the 'point' on the south side of the island.