9 Best Sights in Side Trips from São Paulo, Brazil

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

It's busy, but some of the best infrastructure in Ilhabela can be found here: the kiosks have tables in the shade; you can rent a chair from most vendors along the long sandy strip; showers are available free of charge; and there's even a chapel. The beach is popular for windsurfing, diving, and surfing. The sandy strip is rather inclined, with a tumble in the central part. The sands are thick and yellowish. On the far left there is a small river that ends in the sea. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: partiers; surfing; walking; windsurfing.

For those seeking a party atmosphere, Praia Grande is a great option. It has bars and restaurants by the sea, with local samba and country music playing all day. Chairs and parasols can be hired from beach vendors. The waters here are clean and green, and the hard sands are ideal for football, volleyball, and racquetball; it's also a great place for hiking. Praia Grande is a major surf spot in Ubatuba, with consistent, perfect waves. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee). Best for: partiers; surfing; walking.