Três Ilhas

The waters of Três Ilhas hold a diversity of corals and marine fauna. Seen from the mainland, they look like just three islands, but there are five: Quitongo, Cambaião, Guararema, Leste-Oeste and Guachumbas. The protected area covering the archipelago was created in 1994 under the name APA de Três Ilhas and, in 1998, was renamed APA Paulo Cesar Vinha, or APA de Setiba. The mooring area, between the northwest face of Cambaião island and the southwest face of Quitongo, is the part most sheltered from the northeast winds, which prevail in Espírito Santo for most of the year, especially in summer.

Rocks and corals with plenty of aquarium fish are surrounded by light sand, where flounders are common and turtles and rays sometimes appear. Sharks, octopuses and moray eels also appear. The best season tends to be from December to April.