Ilha Vitória

As early as 1902, Ilha Vitória had a village of about 35 people who came from neighboring Ilha de Búzios and who, in the mid-19th century, used the island as a lookout post for slave smuggling. The island is inhabited by a traditional caiçara community that lives from artisanal fishing, and fishing nets and traps are common in the surroundings. Covering 221.3 hectares, it has no sandy beaches, only a rocky coastline, and fresh water is scarce and depends on rain. At Saco do Paiá, also called Canto da Sereia, remains of small motorboats and wooden boats keep alive the legend of sailors who, lured by a mermaid's song, let their boats sink against the rocky coast.

On the submerged rocky shore, 43 species of crabs have been recorded, mostly Mithraculus forceps, and nine of them were recorded for the first time on the São Paulo coast. On the way to the archipelago it is common to spot bottlenose dolphins, Bryde's whales and even humpback whales. The water averages around 22 °C over the year and can reach 27 °C between mid-January and the arrival of autumn; at the start of summer, cold thermoclines may occur.