Santos to Rio

We pick you up in Santos – including from the port – and drive north along the Sao Paulo coast. The route winds through mountains with broad valley and ocean views, and we make scenic stops for photos and short breathers along the way.

We spend the day and evening in Sao Sebastiao, a weekend favourite for beachgoers. We explore its lively neighbourhoods, where commercial centres sit alongside urban beaches, and visit the historic centre with preserved colonial houses and chapels. We then settle in for a relaxing beach day near snack bars and restaurants, with time to enjoy appetisers and drinks by the sea. We head to Juquehy beach, a long sweep of clear, soft sand – almost 4 km – with excellent facilities. You can choose to take gentle hikes, try stand up paddle, kayak or surf, or enjoy the nearby river. The beach typically has waves at one end and calmer water at the other – good for families. You can also browse two small shopping centres and find excellent dining options close by.

As the sun sets, we go out to experience the town’s nightlife – a sociable scene where bars serve cold drinks and tasty snacks with sunset views.

After breakfast, we travel from Sao Sebastiao to Ubatuba – a coastline of inlets and bays stretching for around 100 kilometres, where green and blue waters are almost always framed by dense Atlantic Forest. We spend the day exploring this wilder stretch of the North Coast, known for its waterfalls, islands and trails, many running through the Serra do Mar State Park. We set out on the Seven Beaches trail – a coastal hike through native forest that links quiet coves, cliffs, rivers and historic ruins. We pause at Cedro Sul beach, considered one of Brazil’s most beautiful and peaceful, to swim and take in the views.

After the hike, we unwind on the beach. You can order appetisers, freshly prepared seafood and caipirinhas, take a dip in the river or the sea, and ask our guide about short trails to waterfalls, viewpoints and nearby secluded beaches. There is also the chance to meet members of the local fishing community, who have lived here for generations. In your free time, you can explore Ubatuba’s centre and its seafood restaurants – the traditional fish-and-banana dish, Azul-Marinho, is a local highlight. You can also visit the TAMAR Project, an NGO dedicated to protecting Brazil’s five endangered sea turtle species, which offers educational exhibits with tanks and aquariums.

We travel from Ubatuba to Paraty along a spectacular coastal road lined with beaches, mountains and preserved forest – much of it wonderfully undeveloped. Paraty sits between the sea and the Serra do Mar and flourished during Brazil’s Gold Cycle. Its Historic Centre preserves colonial mansions, 18th–19th century churches and cobbled streets laid by enslaved people – car traffic is prohibited, keeping the area pleasantly walkable.

We spend the morning on a guided walking tour of the Historic Centre, discovering its listed heritage – much of it built between the 17th and 19th centuries – and exploring alleys filled with galleries, craft shops, bars and restaurants. It is an engaging mix of tradition and contemporary culture.

In the afternoon, we hike in Serra da Bocaina National Park to reach one of its scenic waterfalls – an authentic slice of Atlantic Forest with viewpoints, rivers and lush vegetation.

As evening falls, the Historic Centre glows and the atmosphere shifts to relaxed and convivial. You can choose a restaurant that suits your taste, sit at pavement tables, sample a local cachaca and, if you wish, enjoy live music.

We leave Paraty for Angra dos Reis along a scenic coastal road of bays and peninsulas, with views of dozens of islands at every turn. Angra is famed for its 365 islands and more than 2,000 beaches, with Ilha Grande as the standout attraction.

On arrival in Angra, we head to the marina and embark on a small‑group motorboat tour for around six hours of island‑hopping, including Ilha Grande. We make several stops to swim in clear, turquoise waters, snorkel among colourful fish, and enjoy wild or lively beaches – with time for photos, exploration and contemplation along the way. Ilha Grande is one of Brazil’s great diving areas, known for clean, crystalline waters and a notable concentration of shipwrecks linked to historic battles with pirates and corsairs.

Highlights typically include Blue Lagoon – ideal for snorkelling in calm natural pools – and Lagoa Verde, where the transparent green water lives up to its name. We pause at Japariz Beach for a break – you can buy lunch and browse for small souvenirs in this community of fishermen and traders – and you can also take about 15 minutes to visit nearby Funil Beach, noted for its very clear, lake‑calm waters. We may also stop at Praia da Feiticeira, set against Atlantic Forest scenery with abundant wildlife, and at Praia do Amor, where a local tradition holds that couples who kiss on the sand will never be apart.

In the evening, we continue to Rio de Janeiro, where the tour concludes.