The name Búzios is derived from Portuguese and refers to a shell fish that was common in the area.

When the French invaded Rio de Janeiro in 1555 they created good relationships with the indians, on the Búzios peninsula it was the tribe Tupinambás. The French built bases with ports. It was for exporting the then valuable brazil wood that these ports were used, pirates and smugglers of other nationalities were also active in this trade. Only in 1615 the Portuguese definitely managed to conquer the French, exports stopped and the activities in the region was limited to fishing and agriculture.