Rio–Santos Highway
The coastal stretch of BR-101 linking Rio and Santos through Atlantic rainforest, passing Angra dos Reis, the colonial town of Paraty and the surf beaches of São Paulo's north shore.
The Rio–Santos Highway is the coastal section of federal highway BR-101 between Rio de Janeiro State and São Paulo State. Built in the 1970s, it runs about 500 km, squeezed between the steep Atlantic rainforest of the Serra do Mar and a winding coastline. On the Rio side it is known as the Costa Verde ('Green Coast'). From north to south: the Grumari and Prainha beaches on Rio's west side; Mangaratiba; Angra dos Reis, surrounded by islands, with boat trips to car-free Ilha Grande and Lopes Mendes Beach; the UNESCO World Heritage colonial town of Paraty, with its stone-paved streets, schooner island-hopping tours and cachaça distilleries; and the natural pools of nearby Trindade. In São Paulo State are the surf town of Ubatuba and its hundreds of bays, Caraguatatuba, and São Sebastião, with ferries to Ilhabela. Finally comes the port city of Santos, home to the Pelé Museum. Allow 3 to 7 days, with 2 to 3 nights in Paraty. The road has many curves and heavy trucks, and it is prone to landslides in the rainy season. Some stretches have only average security, so avoid driving at night. On weekends and holidays, traffic leaving Rio and São Paulo is severely congested.