Side Trips from São Paulo
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1. Museu Pelé
Edson Arantes do Nascimento's, better known as Pelé's, self-assessment—"I was born for soccer, just as Beethoven was born for music."—may seem a tad self-important, but to many soccer fans, who regard him as one of the world's greatest footballers, it is not far from the truth. Housed in a 19th-century mansion and opened during the 2014 World Cup, Museu Pelé honors Santos's most famous son through displays of his personal items and trophies, plus photos, videos, and documents concerning the footballer.
Largo Marquês de Monte Alegre 1, São Paulo, Brazil0800-173--887Sight Details
Rate Includes: R$10, R$5 on Sun., Tues.–Sun. 10–5 -
2. Balneário Municipal Dr. Octávio Moura Andrade
Want immersion baths in sulfurous springwater? You can swim in the pool or sweat in the sauna while you wait for your private soak, massage, or beauty treatment. A snack bar and a gift shop round out the spa services. The surrounding forested grounds are perfect for a leisurely stroll or a ride on horseback. The park is free and open to the public in the morning on weekdays and all day on weekends.
Av. Carlos Mauro, Águas de São Pedro, São Paulo, 13525–000, Brazil19-3482–1333-to book services at the SPA ThermalSight Details
Rate Includes: Baths start at R$25; other services start at R$90 -
3. Barra do Sahy
Families with young children favor small, quiet Barra do Sahy. Its narrow strip of sand (with a bay and a river on one side and rocks on the other) is steep but smooth, and the water is clean and calm. Kayakers paddle about, and divers are drawn to the nearby Ilha das Couves. Area restaurants serve mostly basic fish dishes with rice and salad, as well as sharing platters of snacks, seafood, and fries. Note that Barra do Sahy's entrance is atop a slope and appears suddenly—be on the lookout around marker Km 174. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee). Best for: snorkeling; sunrise.
Rio-Santos Hwy. SP 055, São Paulo, 11600–000, Brazil -
4. Camburizinho and Camburi
Wealthy paulistanos flock to Camburizinho and Camburi, to sunbathe, surf, and party. While the first beach is more secluded and also where the families head to, the latter, on the other side of the river Camburi, is where the action is, with night owls heading here to play guitar by the moonlight. At the center of the beaches is a cluster of cafés, ice-cream shops, bars, and restaurants. The two beaches are located just north of Barra do Sahy. If you're coming from the south, take the second entrance, which is usually in better shape than the first entrance, at Km 166. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee). Best for: partiers; sunset; surfing.
Rio-Santos Hwy. SP 055, São Paulo, 11600–000, Brazil -
5. Centro Histórico
The best place to begin your trip to Santana de Parnaíba is in the Centro Histórico, where you'll be able to appreciate numerous examples of 17th- and 18th-century colonial architecture. The more than 200 well-preserved houses are concentrated around three streets: Suzana Dias, André Fernandes, and Bartolomeu Bueno—two of which are named after famous bandeirantes.
Santana de Parnaíba, São Paulo, 06500–000, Brazil -
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6. Estação Ferroviária Emílio Ribas
A wonderful little train departs from Estação Ferroviária Emílio Ribas for tours of the city and its environs, including the 47-km (29-mile) trip to Reino das Águas Claras, where there's a park with waterfalls and models of Monteiro Lobato's characters (Lobato is a well-loved children's-book author). Be sure to book in advance.
Av. Dr. Emílio Ribas 2, Campos do Jordão, São Paulo, BrazilSight Details
Rate Includes: R$16, Daily departures every hour starting at 10am -
7. Horto Florestal
Horto Florestal is a natural playground for macacos-prego (nail monkeys), squirrels, and parrots, as well as people. The park has a trout-filled river, waterfalls, and trails—all set among trees from around the world and one of the last araucária (Brazilian pine) forests in the state.
Estrada do Horto–Descansópolis, Campos do Jordão, São Paulo, 12460–000, Brazil012-3663–3762Sight Details
Rate Includes: R$13 -
8. Igreja Matriz de Sant'Anna
Baroque Igreja Matriz de Sant'Anna was built in 1610 and restored in 1892. It has terra-cotta sculptures and an altar with gold-plated details.
Largo da Matriz s/n, Santana de Parnaíba, São Paulo, 06500–000, Brazil11-4154–2401Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
9. Igreja Nossa Senhora do Rosário
Igreja Nossa Senhora do Rosário was built in 1690 and it's worth seeking out if you won't have a chance to visit the historic cities of Minas Gerais. The church contains baroque images of saints and is next to a 1730 monastery now turned into a museum of sacred art.
Rua da Matriz 35, Embu, São Paulo, 04603–000, Brazil11-4704--2792Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
10. Maresias
Maresias is a 4-km (2-mile) stretch of white sand with clean, green waters that are good for swimming and surfing. Maresias is popular with a young crowd and compared with the others along the North Coast, its beach village is large and has a good infrastructure, with banks, supermarkets, and a wide choice of nightlife entertainment. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); toilets. Best for: partiers; surfing; windsurfing.
Rio-Santos Hwy., Km 151, SP 055, São Paulo, 11620–000, Brazil -
11. Monte Alegre do Sul
If you have more than a day to spare and are driving, pay a quick visit to the delightful little town of Monte Alegre do Sul, just 6 km (4 miles) from Serra Negra and known for its September strawberry festival. The buildings of the historic center, including the town's church, Santuario Bom Jesus, date from the 19th century. Check out the shop of local artisan group Associarte, as well as the traditional sweet shop Peschiera nearby. At the old train station, a steam engine used for transporting coffee waits at a decommissioned platform.
Monte Alegre do Sul, Serra Negra, São Paulo, Brazil -
12. Morro do Elefante
Outside town a chairlift ride to the top of Morro do Elefante is a good way to enjoy the view from a 5,850-foot height.
98, R. N "Cinco" 2, Campos do Jordão, São Paulo, 12460–000, Brazil12-3663–1530Sight Details
Rate Includes: R$17 -
13. Museu Casa do Anhanguera
Museu Casa do Anhanguera provides a sharp picture of the bandeirantes era. In a 1600 house (the second-oldest in the state) where Bartolomeu Bueno—nicknamed Anhanguera, or "old devil," by indigenous people—was born, the museum displays objects and furniture from the past four centuries.
Largo da Matriz 9, Santana de Parnaíba, São Paulo, 06500–000, Brazil11-4154--1874Sight Details
Rate Includes: R$2, Closed Mon. -
14. Museu do Café
The grand neoclassical Palácio da Bolsa Oficial de Café, where the Coffee Museum is located, was home to the coffee exchange up to 1957. Rosewood chairs are set out for traders in the trading hall, whose walls are hung with panels painted by Brazilian Benedito Calixto. Upstairs are exhibits related to the world of coffee. Visitors can also sample the drink at the museum's cafeteria.
Rua XV de Novembro 95, São Paulo, 11010–151, Brazil13-3213–1750Sight Details
Rate Includes: R$10, Tues.–Sat. 9–5, Sun. 10–5, Closed Mon. -
15. Palácio Boa Vista
Palácio Boa Vista, the official winter residence of the state's governor, has paintings by such famous Brazilian modernists as Di Cavalcanti, Portinari, Volpi, Tarsila do Amaral, and Anita Malfatti. On the same property, the Capela de São Pedro (São Pedro Chapel) has sacred art from the 17th and 18th centuries. Tours need to be booked in advance.
Av. Dr. Adhemar de Barros 3001, Campos do Jordão, São Paulo, 12460–000, Brazil12-3668--9759Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed Mon. and Tues. -
16. Parque Amantikir
Open 365 days a year, the Parque Amantikir consists of 26 gardens that are home to 700 different plant species. On the grounds you can find a cafeteria and a learning center, where there are courses on gardening.
Rodovia Campos do Jordão Eugênio Lefreve, 215, Campos do Jordão, São Paulo, 12460–000, Brazil12-99634--6784Sight Details
Rate Includes: R$40 Fri.–Sun. and holidays; R$30 Mon.–Thurs., Daily 8:30–5 -
17. Praia da Armação
The long strip of white sand and calm sea attract sailing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing aficionados. Busy during most of the year, Praia da Armação has an excellent infrastructure, with bars, restaurants, and kiosks serving food and drinks and renting parasols and beach chairs. Bathrooms, baby changing facilities, and parking bays are available. There is a church on-site, which is said to be one of the oldest buildings on the island. The beach was also once the site of a factory for processing blubber and other resources from whales caught in the waters around Ilhabela. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; sunset; walking; windsurfing.
Ilhabela, São Paulo, 11630–000, Brazil -
18. Praia do Curral
Curral is one of the most famous beaches on Ilhabela, and is popular with tourists as well as young people. It has clear and slightly rough waters and also a large green area, which serves as a refuge for those needing a break from sunbathing. The local vendors provide tables and chairs, fresh showers with clean water, bathrooms, and parking. At night people gather at the many restaurants and bars—some with live music—and there are places to camp. The wreck of the ship Aymoré (1921) can be found off the coast of this beach, near Ponta do Ribeirão, where you can also look for a waterfall trail. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: partiers; sunset.
Ilhabela, São Paulo, 16630–000, Brazil -
19. Praia do Prumirim
Surrounded by rain forest and lined with summer holiday mansions, Prumirim is a small beach of coarse sands and turquoise calm waters. Despite its exuberant natural beauty, Prumirim is not very busy. There's good surfing, but the waves are generally smaller than those at Praia Grande. About a kilometer out to sea, Prumirim Island also has magnificent scenery and is a great place for diving. To reach the island you can pay one of the local fishermen to ferry you out there or, if you're particularly fit, you could even swim. The access to Praia do Prumirim is near Km 29 of SP 055, past the entrance to a private condominium. A beautiful waterfall with a natural pool can also be accessed nearby off the highway. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: snorkeling; solitude; sunrise; walking.
Ubatuba, São Paulo, 11680–000, Brazil -
20. Praia do Santos
The massive, 7-km (4½-mile) strip of sand along Santos's shoreline is made up of a series of lively beaches. The city is crossed by seven channels, which act as borders between districts and separate the beaches. The busiest beaches—José Menino, Gonzaga, and Boqueirão—are between channels 1 and 4, where you'll find the greatest concentration of hotels and restaurants. The sea conditions do not differ greatly from one beach to another, but at José Menino (channels 1 to 2) the waves are a bit stronger and better for surfing. Partiers gather at Gonzaga Beach (channels 2 to 3), where open-air concerts often take place. Boqueirão (channels 3 to 4) has Santos's best infrastructure with ATMs, toilets, and showers, as well as a crafts fair on the weekend. Embaré Beach (channels 4 to 5) has many kiosks and bars and is a magnet for the younger set. Aparecida Beach (channels 5 to 6) is the meeting point for families with children, as well as seniors, and the location of the biggest beachfront garden in the world. The calm, almost flat sea at Ponta da Praia (channels 6 to 7) is suitable for water sports such as sailing, windsurfing, and jet skiing. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: partiers; walking.
From Av. Presidente Wilsom 1900 (José Menino beach) to Av. Saldanha da Gama (Ponta da Praia), São Paulo, Brazil
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