Ilhas Botinas

The Ilhas Botinas are two small rock formations covered with coconut palms and bromeliads, visible from several points in the center of Angra. As soon as the anchors go down, schools of sargentinhos surround the boats. With a mask and snorkel you swim among colorful fish, amid varied marine life. Near the islets you can see yellow, blue and striped fish, corals, starfish and, at times, turtles. Along the rocky shores there are spider crabs and large starfish.

According to popular legend, the name comes from the shape of one of the islands, which would resemble the sole of a shoe or a pair of upside-down boots, and another version attributes the name to the symmetrical pair. Another explanation is that, seen from afar, the two islets look like two little shoes side by side, and the nickname Ilhas Gêmeas comes from their always being together. A local legend says the two islets were formed when a pirate ship, fleeing the English fleet, ran into an island and split it in half. For decades the spot has been the setting for marriage proposals, photo shoots and religious ceremonies on board, and sailors call it the bay's natural altar. State Decree 20.172/1994, which sets out the Master Plan of the APA de Tamoios, places the Ilhas Botinas in the Wildlife Zone, among the islands of the Baía de Jacuecanga.

The best season tends to run from April to September, when there is less rain and the water tends to be clearer, and on rainy or cloudy days the water tends to lose clarity. Morning and early afternoon tend to be the best times to visit, and, as the site is exposed, the visit depends on sea conditions. After 2 p.m. the wind tends to pick up, and in that case anchoring at nearby Ilha de São João is recommended. On holidays and weekends, care is needed with boat traffic.