Beaches

Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the beaches in the state of São Paulo are a special attraction.

São Paulo "was born" at the São Vicente beach, in the South coast. Next to it, there are the developed municipalities of Santos and Guarujá. Further to the South, there are Praia Grande, Mongaguá, Itanhaém, Peruíbe, and Ilha Comprida. To the North, Bertioga, Ubatuba, Caraguatatuba, Ilha Bela. Of rare beauty, some of these beaches are virtually uninhabited. They are real preserved and sunny paradises surrounded by the Atlantic Forest, with white sand, calm waters, and hospitable people.

South Coastline

The beaches in the South Coast are home to ecologic sanctuaries, areas of native tropical forest and big and modern cities. Estação Ecológica Juréia-Itatins, one of the first natural areas to be preserved in Brazil, is there. This ecologic station, 200 kilometers far from the capital city, is an area full of slopes which houses some of the coast's major ecosystems in their wild state, thanks the systematic preservation, research and educational projects conceived by the Government of the State of São Paulo and carried out by Secretaria Estadual de Meio Ambiente (State Department of the Environment). Along its 197,000 acres of vegetation, most of which wild and untouched, there are wooded lands, mangroves, high fields, cilia woods, grassy march and seaweeds. This variety of ecosystems is responsible for the rich flora and fauna of the ecologic station, a refuge for many species. The station's largest river is Una do Prelado, also known as Comprido, which stretches out over 50 kilometers through flat wooded lands and has many streams. Entirely navigable, the river is used by the local people who live on its banks. Another interesting city in the region is Peruíbe. One of Peruíbe's rivers has a black medicinal mud known all over the world. The city is home to the park Estação Ecológica Juréia-Itatins, a real sanctuary for the wild life.

Santos is a city of great economic importance to the country because of its port, the largest one in Brazil. It is one of the country's most developed and urbanized seashore cities. Among its attractions, there are Museu da Pesca (Fishing Museum), Aquário Municipal (Municipal Aquarium), Museu do Café (Coffee Museum) and Fortaleza da Barra Grande (Barra Grande Fort).

Guarujá became one of the most sophisticated beaches in the state. Central beaches are Astúrias and Pitangueiras; Tombo is a beach loved by surfers, but due to its waves it can be dangerous for tourists.

Another must-see beach is Praia Grande, whose name was originated from the indian word "Peacabu". Emancipated from São Vicente in 1967, Praia Grande is today a national reference in terms of tourism. Its famous "vacation clubs" are always crowded during the summer, what makes the city an interesting place. For this reason, there are lots of people from other cities who have summer houses in Praia Grande. It is a city that welcomes the tourist in a special way.

North Coastline

The beaches of the North Coast of São Paulo stretch out over picturesque fishermen villages and small cities. To the north of Guarujá, the first city is Bertioga, where there is an old fort that keeps, until today, the memory of Hans Staden, a German adventurer who was kidnapped in the 16th century by the Tupinambás, a tribe of Brazilian native indians. Hans Staden escaped from being devoured by the cannibal indians and, after that, wrote his memories and made a series of drawings that are considered to be the first existing images of Brazil.

The next city is São Sebastião with its dozens of beaches of deep blue sea. Founded in the end of 16th century, the region was crowded with sugar cane mills and coffee crops. Today, its economy is based on the tourism, on the fishing industries and also on port activities since São Sebastião is home to the second largest port in the country. A historic city, São Sebastião is home to lots of old buildings and remains of the colonial period. The city houses 78 kilometers of landscapes and exuberant beaches such as Enseada, Cigarras, Guaecá, Toque-Toque Grande, Toque-Toque Pequeno, Paúba, Maresias, Boissucanga, Camburi, Barra do Sahy and Juquehy, among others.

Ilhabela, the largest Brazilian sea island, with almost 350,000 square meters, is also in the North Coast. There are more than 60 beaches in Ilhabela, widely known as the paradise for those who like water sports. Ilhabela has 150 kilometers of coasts and beaches, some of them wild and accessible only by boat. Parque Estadual de Ilhabela (Ilhabela State Park) is home to four hundred waterfalls and a great variety of trees and plants. The island attracts people who like sports such as sailing, yachting, surfing, underwater hunting, and swimming.

Further to the North, next to the state of Rio de Janeiro, Caraguatatuba and Ubatuba offer an amazing scenario. There, the beauty of dozens of beaches and the blue sea contrast with the green of the Atlantic Forest. Ubatuba's first inhabitants were the native indians Tamoios. The city was scene to a number of historic events such as Confederação dos Tamoios, when the native indians attacked Portuguese explorers.

Caraguatatuba, on the other hand, was known by the native indians Tupi as the "high and low seashore." The city's geographic formation is characterized by many reefs and sand undulations. Pedra do Jacaré, at Prainha, and also Pedra do Sapo were originated from these rock formations. Rio das Pedras, with its several waterfalls, adds beauty to Caraguatatuba.

Another must-see attraction is Ubatuba. Founded on October 28, 1637, its name was originated from two indian words: "Uba", "Tuba", which means "many canoes". It was in Ubatuba that the priest Anchieta wrote his poem to Virgin Mary, with more than 4,000 verses. Ubatuba, aside from its rich history, has beautiful beaches, what makes it a perfect place for the holidays. Click here to get more information about the city.

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Beach conditions

Governo do Estado de São Paulo