[1] The state park occupies about 90% of the Ilha do Cardoso, and can be reached by boat from the town of Cananéia.

[1] In July 2023, the Caiçaras community living on Cardoso took over park operations in cooperation with state authorities, a "public-community conservation partnership".

[3] The park lies in the Iguape-Cananéia-Paranaguá estuary lagoon complex that stretches from Peruíbe in São Paulo state to Paranaguá in Paraná.

[3] The park has many species of bromeliad, which host invertebrate and vertebrate communities, which have been studied in detail.

[8] There are many archaeological sites holding ruins of human occupation from the colonial period, and a landmark of the Treaty of Tordesillas.

[3] Perequê has a visitor center and a waterfront kiosk on the Praia de Itacuruçá, and several trails.

[2] Boats may be hired in either center for trips to other parts of the island and hikes on trails, where visitors must be accompanied by monitors.

[5] The Cachoeira Grande (Great Waterfall) is reached from Marujá by a 15-minute boat ride and 20 minutes walk along a trail.

The Praia da Laje is a large beach, with a 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) trail at the end that leads to freshwater pools.