ilha das palmas sits a short distance from the east end of grumari beach, which is past the barra da tijuca neighborhood of rio de janeiro.

palmas is preserved as part of the grumari environmental protection area, along with nearby ilha das peças, prainha, praia de grumari, praia do abricó, praia do perigoso, praia do meio, praia funda, praia do inferno, morro de são joão da mantiqueira, and morro guaratiba.

from the south, palmas eclipses its 'little brother' peças, which is situated directly between ilha das palmas and the mainland.