Ubatuba

Ubatuba is a true paradisiac area, being predominantly covered by exuberant Atlantic rainforest and containing more than 80 non-contiguous beaches distributed along 100 km of coast. You may find some of them completely deserted, especially on low season.

High vs. low season

Ubatuba is devoted to tourism, but the fact that it is relatively far from both São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro (despite being almost exactly between them) makes it far more a "vacation or holiday" destination than a "weekend destination".
For that reason, during summer vacation (Jan-Feb) and holidays, the city and the more central beaches will be packed, and congestion in the Rio-Santos road may frequently occur. However, during the rest of the year, especially during weekdays, the city will be almost empty, and some beaches far from the city center may even be completely deserted.
The low season is thus great if you want tranquility, but in the other hand, the city center will be far less vivid, and it may be very difficult to find something to eat or drink outside it. Many shops, kiosks and restaurants close during low season.

Climate

Ubatuba is humorously referred by Paulistas as "Ubachuva" (chuva means rain in Portuguese) due to the good chance of raining when they get there. In reality, this reputation is likely due to the city being most visited between December and March (the summer), which coincides with the rainy season. Winter months (between June and August) have little rain, but the average temperature goes below 20°C. However, there is usually plenty of sunshine hours year-round.

Tourist information

• Ubatuba Tourist Information

  phone: +55 12 3833-9123

By bus

• Rodoviária de São José

  address: Avenida Professor Thomáz Galhardo
  The bus station has connections to many places around Ubatuba: to Rio de Janeiro at 11:00 and 23:59, to Paraty at 09:50 and 17:00, to Taubaté/Guará at 08:30 and 18:10, to São Paulo at 05:00, 07:00, 09:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00 and 19:00, to São José dos Campos 3 buses per day.

From specific destinations:

• Buses stop en-route between Rio de Janeiro and Santos. Buses from Rio go at 08:30 and 23:00 (R$100). Direct buses from Paraty are also available, R$15.

• From São Paulo, you can take an intercity bus at Terminal Tietê. Many buses go via São Sebastião (for Ilhabela), R$70-80.

• From the International Airport (GRU) at São Paulo City there is a bus line from Expresso Rodoviário Litoranea. They come to Caraguatatuba, which is a neighboring city, about 43 km from Ubatuba. There are only four departures from the airport to Caraguá: 07:00, 11:00, 16:30, and 20:00. From the airport to Caraguá it takes about 3 hours by bus. The bus ticket is about R$35 per person.

By car

By car, from São Paulo or São José dos Campos, you may take either Tamoios (SP-099) and after Rio-Santos (BR-101) or Osvaldo Cruz (SP-099). Journey from São Paulo to the city center of Ubatuba should take about 3 hours in good traffic conditions.

By plane

• Ubatuba Airport/Gastão MadeiraUbatuba has an airport near the city center. However, only helicopters, single-engine aircraft and small twin-engined aircraft are able to take off and to land due to the small extension of the runway. It is possible to charter a flight in a few airports such as the Campo de Marte Airport in São Paulo.

By car

Ubatuba has about 100 km of coast, so if you plan to check out the beaches far from the city center, a car is highly recommended. You can rent a car in the city if you are not up to driving 3 hours from São Paulo (which can become much more in holidays). If you are going to Ubatuba in low season, and you are not staying in the city center, a car is also a good idea, since you may find out that where you are staying there is no place to go out to eat, sometimes not even a supermarket.

By bus

Public transport is administrated by Verdebus. There are some buses that go to more remote beaches, but they are not very frequent and they may stop not at the beach itself but rather at a nearby village. Be sure to check these things in advance.

By bicycle

Amogn locals, bicycles are a very popular means of transport. However, the beaches of Ubatuba are not contiguous, requiring a cyclist to ride in the sides of the Rio-Santos road to move between them, which is not particularly safe, despite being done by locals. Also, Ubatuba is quite hilly!
Cycling in the city center of Ubatuba, however, is much easier. The area is flat and there is a fair amount of cycleways.

• Prumirim Waterfall

  address: Rio-Santos (BR101)
  It is actually a sequence of waterfalls, surrounded by exhuberant rainforest. Easily accessible by a short trail from the Rio-Santos road; check the signs for "Cachoeira de Prumirim". It is possible to swim, but some care, specially with children, is advised.

• Automobile Museum

  address: Rua Tapajós 65 - Itaguá

• Caiçara MuseumExhibits items produced by the traditional caiçara communities, coast-dwelling fishing communities.

• Projeto Tamar

  address: Praia do Itaguá
  The local unit of the country's most important sea turtle conservation project offers the chance to get up close and personal with the sea turtles.

• Serra do Mar National Park, Picinguaba UnitContiguous with Serra da Bocaina National Park.

• Ubatuba Aquarium

Beaches

Ubatuba is simply one of the best places in Brazil to practice surf, nautical sports, diving and birdwatching. With 80 beaches, there are beach options for all kinds of audiences – from the high waves of Itamambuca to the calms waters of Lázaro. Uninhabited beaches such as Brava, Almada and Cedro draw one’s attention, and the access to them is made through tracks. For those looking for movement, the best option is “Grande” Beach or the schooner rides to Anchieta Island.

• Almada

• Brava

• Cedro

• Enseada

• FélixBeach with preserved natural surroundings, despite being next to a condominium. It is popular among surfers, although slightly less than Itamambuca.

• GrandeThe most popular beach in town, over 2 km long with a wide sandy area and strong waves that are good for surfing. With younger crowds and many kioks.

• ItaguáUbatuba's central beach is not suitable for bathing, but it can be very pleasant place for walking or cycling at morning, or having a snack or a drink during the evening.

• Itamambuca

  address: access via a sidestreet at Km 34 of BR-101
  Famous beach that hosts international surfing competitions. Like Félix, it is at a condominium complex but has preserved natural surroundings. It is also where the Itamambuca river flows into the sea. The river is not suitable for bathing, but you can make a short boat ride there.

• LázaroBeach with beautiful surroundings, popular among families due to its calm waters.

• Maranduba

• Perequê

• PrumirimWonderful beach and a view of the Prumirim island, which is popular among divers and can be accessed by a boat ride. The Prumirim river flows here to the sea.

• Saco da Ribeira

• Sununga

• ToninhasAn urban beach that does not look urban at all, being surrounded by trees instead of roads and buildings. One can walk from there to Praia Grande by a small trail.

• UbatumirimLong, broad and flat beach, perfect for walking, jogging and other sports. One of the few beaches that is easily accessible by car and not inside a suburb or condominium,instead containing some camping facilities.

• Vermelha do NorteBeautiful beach with thick and red sands, strong waves indicated for surfing, and a small waterpark for children.

• Vermelha

• Trekking or hiking at Ubatuba's dozens of forest trails. Reach various deserted beaches, waterfalls and even some indigenous tribes
• Scuba diving at the islands (Anchieta, Vitória and Prumirim)
• Surfing at Itamambuca, Félix, Vermelha do Norte and other great surfing points
• Climb Corcovado - Not the famous statue-crested peak of Rio de Janeiro, Ubatuba's Corcovado Peak can be reached by a trail from Praia Dura, offering a pretty, albeit Jesus-free, view of the area. The trail is poorly-signposted and hard to follow, however, so it is best to arrange for a guide through the tourist information center (see the Understand section above).

There are many tourist-oriented shops on Rua Guarani and in the north part of R. Leovegildo Dias de Oliveira, in front of the Itaguá beach. The area becomes quite crowded during evenings on high season and holidays, and contains shops, restaurants, bars and kioks in the beach front.
The "actual" commercial center of the city is Av. Thomás Galhardo, where you can find more general products and services. The area is being revitalized, to make it a popular spot among local and tourists.

Specialties in Ubatuba include locally-harvested mussels and peixe azul marinho, blue marine fish served and pirão de banana verda, a dish made with manioc flour and green bananas.

• Perequim Restaurante e Pizzaria

  phone: +55 12 3832-1354
  address: Rua Guarani 385
  Pasta and pizza, with more than 60 brands of beer and 100 wines on offer.

• Rei do Peixe

  phone: +55 12 3832-3272
  address: Rua Guarani 480 - Itaguá
  Specializes in seafood. All dishes are large portions intended for two people.

• Anchieta Café

  phone: +55 12 3833-4232
  address: Av. Tamoios, 64

• Areia Summer House

  phone: +55 12 3836-2261
  address: Rodovia Rio Santos, km 101 - Praia Vermelha do Norte

• Coyote Bar

  phone: +55 12 3832-4856
  address: R Coronel Domiciano 74 - Centro

• Friends Lounge and ClubGood spot for a caipirinha.

• 180°

  phone: +55 12 3832-6991
  address: Félix Guisard 11 - Prainha
  This nightclub, in an old Matarazzo family mansion, has three dance floors, six bars, a pizza restaurant and snack bar. National and international DJs spin all types of electronic music for a mostly 20-something crowd.

• Ubatuba

• Hotel Coquille

  phone: +55 12 3835-1611
  address: Rua Praia Grande, 405 - Praia Grande

• Hotel Ubatuba

  phone: +55 12 7817-4136
  address: Avenida principal, 55 - Praia do Itamambuca
  Pousada Twin Hotel in Ubatuba na Praia de Itamambuca

• Pousada Omnimare

  phone: +55 12 3832-2005
  address: Rua Guaicurus 30
  A cozy bed and breakfast, rooms with air conditioner, LCD cable TV, solar heated shower, swimming pool and beautiful gardens.

• Pousada Taiwan

  phone: +55 12 3832-6448
  address: Rua Felix Guisard Filho 60

Ubatuba is generally a safe place. There is no place to be really avoided during the day, at least not a place that a visitor has reason to go. Walking during the night is generally fine, but consider driving or taking a cab if the place where you want to go is more than a few blocks away. During high season and holidays, R. Guarani and R. Leogevildo Dias de Oliveiro are pretty safe during the evening, since there will be many people there.

As you may expect from a rainforest area, mosquitos will be a serious nuisance in most places. Using a good repellent in all but the most urban beaches is advised.

• Anchieta Island State Park
• Paraty, just north of Ubatuba, is a historical and coastal town and one of the main destinations of Rio de Janeiro state