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.