São Vicente: Coast, Trails and History

São Vicente combines coastal experiences with trails through nature and historic sites. At Praia do Itararé, you’ll find a 2,400-meter-long beach with waves suitable for surfing. A hike to Praia de Itaquitanduva and a ride on the São Vicente cable car offer further ways to experience the landscape from different perspectives. The city’s history also gives your trip a distinctive focus.

Beach and Surfing at Praia do Itararé

At 2,400 meters long, Praia do Itararé is a key destination for anyone wanting to spend time by the sea in São Vicente. Its waves are suitable for surfing. If surfing is one of your travel interests, you can give this beach particular consideration when choosing your activities. If you’re traveling with children, you can choose between a beach day and the other experiences described for your day out.

The coast is about more than the beach: the Trilha dos Surfistas starts at the edge of the Japuí neighborhood and leads to Praia de Itaquitanduva. Along the way, you can enjoy sea views and catch glimpses of birds and surf. So, alongside time at the beach, you can also choose a hike offering natural and coastal scenery. If you’re mainly interested in the sea and outdoor activities, you can consider these two different options.

Another Perspective from Morro do Voturuá

The São Vicente cable car connects Praia do Itararé to the summit of Morro do Voturuá, which is 170 meters above sea level. The experiences described here are therefore quite different: Praia do Itararé centers on the beach and waves suitable for surfing, while the cable car links the beach and the summit. The elevation makes the destination specific without stating anything about the ride’s duration or requirements.

This suggests a simple question to guide your vacation planning: would you rather spend your time at the beach and in the waves, hike to Praia de Itaquitanduva, or consider including Morro do Voturuá in your plans? These different travel interests can also play a part in choosing a vacation rental in São Vicente. The key is which experiences appeal to you most during your stay.

Discover São Vicente’s History

Porto das Naus is a historic site in the mainland part of São Vicente. Its remains are the ruins of a 16th-century sugar mill. Porto das Naus is said to have been officially established by Martim Afonso de Sousa in 1532 as Brazil’s first customs pier. The ruins and its reported role as a customs pier offer two specific starting points for exploring the site’s history and its economic significance at the time.

Another way to explore the city’s history is the Casa Martim Afonso. It opened in 2000 and is intended for historical exhibitions. For your travel plans, you can make a distinction: Porto das Naus is characterized by the sugar mill ruins and the history of the customs pier; Casa Martim Afonso is intended for historical exhibitions. Both can make São Vicente appealing to travelers who want to include historical context in their vacation plans alongside coastal experiences.

Discover More Places

More destinations: Anhumas, Santa Branca, Itu, Bebedouro, Pirassununga, Itobi, Ribeirão Grande, Joanópolis.

For the broader travel overview: São Paulo.