Paquetá Island

Top Attractions in Paqueta Island

Paqueta Island Essentials

Located in Guanabara Bay, Paquetá Island is a car-free district of Rio de Janeiro preserved with a 19th-century aesthetic. This list highlights the island's unique heritage, including the massive Baobá Maria Gorda tree and sites inspired by Joaquim Manuel de Macedo’s romantic novel, A Moreninha. Visitors arrive via the central ferry terminal to explore landmarks like the symbolic Bird Cemetery, colonial-style chapels, and squares designed by artist Pedro Bruno. The island’s narrow streets are navigable only by foot, bicycle, or electric carts.

Paqueta Island Essentials — Map

Marcelocandidoli / Public domain

A

Paqueta Island

Paquetá Island is an island in Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro. The name of the island is a Tupi word meaning "many pacas".

B

Praia da Moreninha

Scenic beach on the island's eastern side, known for its calm waters and connection to the famous 19th-century Brazilian novel A Moreninha.

C

Brunette Beach

Named after the 1830 Romantic novel, this pristine island beach features beautiful scenery. The waters may often be polluted, though.

D

Baobá Maria Gorda

A historic African baobab tree planted in 1627. It is one of the island's most famous natural landmarks, recognized for its exceptionally large trunk circumference.

E

Cemitério dos pássaros

Founded in the 1920s by Pedro Bruno, this unique site serves as a symbolic burial ground for birds, featuring small monuments and poetic inscriptions.

F

Praça Pintor Pedro Bruno

Landscaped square located near the ferry terminal, featuring a fountain, decorative tiles, and benches designed by the local artist and architect Pedro Bruno.

G

Igreja de São Roque

A colonial-style chapel dedicated to the patron saint of the island. It serves as a central site for traditional local festivals and religious celebrations.

H

Casa da moreninha

A historic residence traditionally identified as the setting for the classic Romantic novel A Moreninha, written by Joaquim Manuel de Macedo in 1844.

I

Paquetá

The primary transportation hub connecting the island to Praça XV in downtown Rio de Janeiro via regular ferry services across Guanabara Bay.

J

Estátua de Carlos Gomes

A public monument dedicated to the renowned 19th-century Brazilian opera composer, who was a frequent visitor to the island.