Ubatuba

The surf and beach capital of São Paulo's North Coast, with over a hundred coves tucked beneath Atlantic Forest-clad mountains and boat trips to Anchieta Island for snorkelling.

Ubatuba lies at the northern end of São Paulo state's North Coast in Brazil, bordering Paraty in Rio de Janeiro state. Its roughly 100 km of coastline holds over a hundred beaches and more than a dozen islands, backed by the Serra do Mar coastal range, cloaked in Atlantic Forest; about 80% of its land lies within Serra do Mar State Park. It's São Paulo residents' favourite beach getaway and is also known as the "surf capital". The north coast is characterised by pristine coves such as Félix, Prumirim, Itamambuca and Puruba, along with Couves Island and the fishing village of Picinguaba; in town are the Ubatuba Aquarium, the TAMAR sea turtle conservation centre and the Itaguá seafront promenade; the south coast has Anchieta Island State Park, Lázaro and Domingas Dias beaches, the Weeping Cave (Gruta que Chora) and the Sete Praias trail linking seven coves. Climate: humid tropical and warm year-round; Dec–Mar is the hottest period with frequent afternoon showers, and also peak season for summer holidays and Carnival; Apr–Oct brings less rain and fewer people, good for hiking and boat trips, though the sea is cooler in Jun–Aug. Getting there: about 3.5–4 hours' drive from São Paulo via the Tamoios and Rio–Santos (BR-101) highways, and direct buses leave from São Paulo's Tietê bus terminal; getting between beaches requires a car or local buses, and some north-coast coves can only be reached on foot. Suggested stay: 3–4 days. Note: traffic is heavy on peak-season weekends, and boat trips to popular islands should be booked ahead; some beaches have big waves and rip currents, so swim in areas with lifeguards; bring insect repellent for rainforest trails.

Top sights

• Ilha Anchieta State Park – A state park island in the southern bay of Ubatuba, with an old prison site, rainforest trails and snorkelling bays. It is the most classic…
• Ilha das Couves – A small island off the northern coast with white sand and crystal-clear water, nicknamed 'the Caribbean of Ubatuba'. Snorkelling here revea…
• Praia do Félix – A half-moon bay on the northern coast framed by rainforest, with emerald water and fine white sand. It is often named one of Ubatuba's most…
• Trilha das Sete Praias – A rainforest coastal trail on the southern shore that links seven pristine bays. It is about 10 km in total, climbing over headlands and jo…
• Praia de Itamambuca – A well-known Brazilian surfing beach. A river flows into the northern end of the roughly 1 km bay, major surfing competitions are held here…
• Ilha do Prumirim & Praia do Prumirim – A small island just offshore from Prumirim Beach. It takes only a few minutes by small boat or kayak to reach, with white sand and clear wa…
• Praia Vermelha do Norte – A curved beach on the northern outskirts of the city, with a slightly reddish sand colour. Its moderate waves are popular with surfers, and…
• Cachoeira do Prumirim – A rainforest waterfall beside the BR-101 highway, where water slides down the rock face into a natural pool. It is only a few minutes from…
• Picinguaba – A traditional fishing village inside Serra do Mar State Park, with a serene bay full of small boats. It is the main port for boats to Ilha…
• Projeto TAMAR Ubatuba – The Ubatuba base of Brazil's national sea turtle conservation project. Visitors can see turtles up close in pools, and the displays cover t…
• Aquário de Ubatuba – One of Brazil's earliest privately run marine aquariums, showing South Atlantic fish, sharks, penguins and seahorses. Small but well curate…
• Praia Domingas Dias – A small bay on the south shore, encircled by private gated communities. The water is calm and clear, like a swimming pool, and the soft san…
• Praia do Lázaro – A sheltered, calm bay on the south shore lined with seafood restaurants. You can rent stand-up paddleboards and kayaks here, and boats run…
• Praia da Fazenda – A pristine long beach inside Serra do Mar State Park, where the Picinguaba River flows into the sea. Rainforest, river and ocean meet here…
• Pico do Corcovado (Ubatuba) – A peak of about 1,150 metres in the Serra do Mar. You can climb it in a day for views over Ubatuba's bay and islands. It is the region's mo…
• Gruta que Chora (Praia da Sununga) – A sea-carved cave at the end of Sununga Beach. Fresh water drips constantly from the rock ceiling as if weeping, and legend says the sound…
• Praia do Puruba – An undeveloped long beach on the north shore, where the Puruba and Quiririm rivers meet the sea. You can paddle upriver by kayak into mangr…
• Praia da Almada – A traditional fishing-village beach on the north shore with small waves and clear water. It has seafood restaurants and boats to Ilha das C…
• Praia do Tenório – A small bay just south of the city centre with fairly clear water and gentle waves. Bars and restaurants give it a lively atmosphere, and i…
• Praia Grande (Ubatuba) – Ubatuba's liveliest urban beach, about 2 km long, south of the city centre. Hotels and bars line it, and surfing, beach volleyball and nigh…
• Praia do Itaguá & Waterfront – A seaside promenade south of the city centre, where a walkway, restaurants and an artisan market line the bay. You can see fishing boats ac…
• Sobradão do Porto – A two-storey 19th-century colonial mansion by the sea in the city centre. It was once the home of a coffee merchant and is now a cultural c…

Where to eat

• Peixe com Banana – A Caiçara restaurant in a seaside old house in Itaguá, serving the rare traditional green-banana fish stew known as azu…
• Raízes Ubatuba Pizzeria – A seafront seafood pizzeria on Itaguá's beach avenue, with ocean views and a regular on Ubatuba's popular lists.
• Rei do Camarão – A long-running shrimp specialist on Itaguá's seafront near the aquarium, with large shrimp platters for sharing.
• Mediterra Gastronomia – A Mediterranean-style seafood restaurant on Rua Guarani, known for seafood risotto and octopus, and rated among Ubatuba…
• O Rei do Peixe – A seafood house opened in 1984, a long-standing Ubatuba name and a representative of Caiçara cuisine, with generous por…

Itineraries

• Rio to São Paulo Coast Road – Follow the Rio–Santos Highway to connect Ilha Grande, Paraty, Ubatuba, and Ilhabela.
• São Paulo North Coast Islands & Beaches – Descend from São Paulo, stay three nights in Ilhabela, and head to Ubatuba for island boat trips.