Espírito Santo

A low-key coastal state in southeastern Brazil, where coastal beaches and Italian-style mountain villages make for a relaxed getaway.

Espírito Santo lies in southeastern Brazil, between Rio de Janeiro and Bahia states, with terrain that rises from the Atlantic coastal plain to the mountains inland. The capital, Vitória, sits on an island in a bay, next to Vila Velha across the water, which has the hilltop Convento da Penha. Guarapari on the southern coast is known for its beaches, while the cool mountain area around Pedra Azul preserves the rural character of Italian and German immigrant settlements. The beach season runs from December to March, and the mountains are pleasant all year. The gateway is Vitória Airport.

Destinations

• Vitória (Espírito Santo)
• Pedra Azul (Domingos Martins)

Itineraries

• Espírito Santo Coast & Mountains – From Vitória to the black sand beaches of Guarapari, then up to the Pedra Azul mountains and immigrant towns.