It protects two coastal islands with beaches, dunes, mangroves and wetlands that are home to fishing people and are popular with tourists.

[3] The APA has an area of about 3,100.34 hectares (7,661.1 acres) and consists of two islands separated by an intermittent tidal channel called the Furo Velho.

[4][a] Maiandeua island has 2,494.82 hectares (6,164.8 acres) and holds the villages of Fortalezinha, Mocooca and Camboinha, the localities of Camaleão, Passagem and Pedra Chorona, and beaches, mangroves and terra firme areas with vegetation.

[6] Common bird species include guará, garça, pavão, socó, taquerê, gavião caranguejeiro, caracaraí, cebinho do mangue, yellow-crowned night heron, Platalea ajaja, garganey, parrots, collared plover, sanderling, Hudsonian whimbrel and ruddy turnstone.

Common fish include pescada amarela, xaréu, tainha, anchova, corvina, gó, cação, mero, Aspistor luniscutis, dourada, pratiqueira, serra and robalo.

Other fauna include sloths, quatis, anteaters, foxes, gatos maracajá, chameleons, mucuras, various species of monkey, racoons, alligators, jabutis and tartarugas.

[4] The APA has high tourism potential due to its scenic beauty and variety of ecosystems, beaches, dunes, cliffs, mangroves and trails linking the villages.