Ilha do Cardoso

Ilha do Cardoso

On the island of Cardoso (area 22,000 hectares/55,000 acres), which has been a nature reserve since 1962, are unspoiled beaches and several sambaquis. The hilly part of the island is the home of caimans, tortoises and ocelots; the coastal region, on the Rio Ararapira canal, is characterized by mangrove swamps. Among particularly attractive beaches are Pereirinha (with a branch of the Institute of Oceanography), Prainha, Lages, Camboriú, Ipanema and Bica. Near the three last-mentioned beaches are picturesque waterfalls. The boat trip from Cananéia to the Ilha do Cardoso takes about 3 hours.