Sao Paulo to Rio

We pick you up in Sao Paulo and drive north to the coast, descending from around 760 metres above sea level. The route crosses a mountain range that runs along Brazil’s south–east coast, with winding roads and wide valley views. We spend the day and evening in Sao Sebastiao, a favourite weekend escape with lively urban beaches and busy commercial centres. You can wander different neighbourhoods and the preserved historic centre, where colonial houses and small chapels line the streets.

We settle on a popular sandy beach close to snack bars and restaurants – an easy spot for swims, appetisers and drinks by the sea. Juquehy Beach offers nearly 4 km of soft, light sand and strong infrastructure, with good waves at one end and calmer water at the other, plus options such as hikes, stand–up paddle, kayaks and surfboards. It is one of the region’s busiest beaches, with two small shopping arcades and excellent restaurants.

After sunset, we head out to explore the town’s nightlife – a relaxed scene where people gather in bars for cold beers and snacks as the day fades.

After breakfast, we travel from Sao Sebastiao to Ubatuba to spend the day exploring this coastline of inlets and bays backed by dense Atlantic Forest. Ubatuba’s beaches stretch for about 100 kilometres and the Serra do Mar State Park offers trails through preserved rainforest, with rivers, waterfalls and remnants of old settlements along the way.

We set out on the Seven Beaches trail (Travessia das Sete Praias), a coastal hike linking secluded sands and viewpoints within native Atlantic Forest. We stop at Cedro Sul beach – considered one of Brazil’s most beautiful and peaceful – to swim and take in the scenery before continuing at an easy pace.

After the hike, we unwind by the sea. You can order appetisers, freshly prepared seafood and caipirinhas at beachfront spots, take a dip in the river or the ocean, and ask the guide about hidden trails to waterfalls, viewpoints and nearby isolated beaches. You can also visit the TAMAR Project in Ubatuba – an NGO dedicated to protecting five endangered sea turtle species in Brazil – which features tanks and aquariums for environmental education. Downtown, seafood restaurants serve regional dishes, including the traditional fish-and-banana recipe known as Azul-Marinho.

We travel from Ubatuba to Paraty along a scenic coastal road that skirts countless beaches and crosses a largely uninhabited stretch of forested mountains. On arrival, we step into a town where the colonial era still shapes daily life – the Historic Centre preserves elegant mansions and 18th–19th century churches, with cobbled streets once paved by enslaved people and closed to cars.

We spend the morning on a guided walking tour of the Historic Centre, listed by the National Historical Heritage Institute. Many of its townhouses now host bars, restaurants, inns and craft shops, and there is plenty to see as we wander the alleys and squares.

In the afternoon, we head into Serra da Bocaina National Park for a hike to one of its waterfalls – a chance to experience preserved Atlantic Forest landscapes that run from mountain peaks to the sea, with viewpoints along the way.

As evening falls, Paraty’s historic streets light up and the atmosphere shifts to relaxed and inviting. You can linger over dinner at a restaurant, sit at pavement tables to watch the world go by, sample a local cachaca and listen to live music.

We leave Paraty for Angra dos Reis along a coastal road of sweeping bays and peninsulas – the scenery opens to dozens of islands, with Ilha Grande the standout. Angra’s archipelago counts 365 islands and more than two thousand beaches.

On arrival, we head to the marina and embark on a shared small group motorboat tour for around six hours of island hopping. We stop to swim in clear, turquoise waters, snorkel among colourful fish and visit a mix of wild and livelier beaches as we explore Ilha Grande. The area is renowned for diving, with clean, crystalline waters and numerous historic shipwreck sites.

Typical stops include Blue Lagoon – a postcard cove with inviting natural pools – and Lagoa Verde with calm, translucent green water. We pause at Japariz Beach for lunch and a little souvenir shopping, a small community run by local fishers and traders. You can also use part of the lunch break to stroll to nearby Funil Beach – about 15 minutes – where the water is very clear and as calm as a lake. Further stops may include Praia da Feiticeira, edged by Atlantic Forest, and Praia do Amor, where a local tradition says couples who kiss on the sand will never part.

After the cruise, we continue by road to Rio de Janeiro, arriving in the evening to end the tour.