Things to do in State of São Paulo

Discover the wonders of Santos on a 7-hour city tour. There is plenty to see, do, and explore in the city, which is famous for its beaches, tropical climate, and wide variety of tourist attractions. Meet your friendly bilingual guide for the day at either Santos Seaport or the Municipal Aquarium, then set out onto the vibrant streets of Santos for the tour expedition. Start the tour with an exploration of Porchat Island, then enjoy a 45-minute visit to the colorful Botanical Gardens. Once you’ve worked up a bit of an appetite, take an hour for lunch in Santos before heading to the popular Monte Serrat. Throughout the journey, listen to your guide share fascinating stories and insight into each of the landmarks, as well as Santos’ history, culture, and traditions. After an hour at Mount Serrat, enjoy a quick visit to the iconic Pelé Museum and the Shrine of St. Anthony of Valongo. From there, head to the Coffee Museum for a 40-minute tour to learn about the history of Brazilian coffee and its production. At the end of an unforgettable day, relax on the return journey to the tour meeting point or an alternate location of your choice along the way.

This tour starts in Santos Downtown with a tram ride through the historical center to see the main squares, important buildings, churches, monuments and historical landmarks of the city. After that, the tour continues to Itararé beach located in São Vicente city, where you'll stop to take pictures and free time to enjoy the beach or to go on a optional ride by cable car from Itararé beach to the top of Itararé Hill, where you can marvel at a beautiful view over São Vicente coast and Porchat Island. The next stop will be at the Japanese culture viewpoint to overlook the coast with all the beaches of Santos. In the afternoon, visit the Campina viewpoint in Guaruja where you can enjoy a panoramic view over Enseada beach and Stones Hill. The tour will stop next on Enseada beach to have some lunch, relax on the beach and take a fresh bath in the crystal clear water.

The city of Santos has the largest port in Latin America, which comes complete with a beautifully restored historic center. Another major highlight of the city is the largest beach garden in the world, which was recorded in the Guinness Book of Records at 5,335 meters long. The sights listed below are suggestions of activities to do and sights to see in Santos. The actual tour can be personalized by your guide according to your preferences and available time. Sights and activities that you can see are: • Santos Beach • A coffee museum • Mount Serrat • Porchat Island • Santos Stadium • The Pelé Museum • The Botanical Garden • A tram tour • The Cathedral • The Aquarium • The fishing museum • The cable car and paraglider

Following pick-up from your hotel in São Paulo, journey to the coastal cities of Santos and Guarujá, approximately 80 kilometers from the capital. Relax in air-conditioned comfort on the 1-hour drive through expansive sections of the Atlantic Forest, and then discover the largest maritime port in Latin America upon arrival at Santos. Marvel at the countless shipping containers and cargo vessels in the Port of Santos, where thousands of immigrants arrived in Brazil at the end of the 19th century to work on the great coffee plantations. Get to know the main tourist attractions of the city, both in the historic city center and on the edges of the city. Learn how coffee production influenced the local way of life and customs, and hear more about the important historical figures of the area who affected not only the state of São Paulo but the country as a whole. Then, take the ferry to Guarujá on Santo Amaro Island, known for its large selection of beaches, restaurants and lookout points. Since the 1970s, following a boom in the local real estate market, the island has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the state of São Paulo. Go to a lookout point to get some amazing views and take some excellent souvenir photographs. Stop at an excellent local restaurant to enjoy the local seafood before making your way back to São Paulo.

Arrive in Campos do Jordão and enjoy a city tour to the main sights and neighborhoods. During the tour, make a stop at the Boa Vista Palace, which is the palace of the Governor of the State of São Paulo. Afterwards, continue with your city tour and pass by the English village and stop at the dammed waterfall of Ducha de Prata, where today there is a handicrafts fair and a large variety of shops.  Then in the afternoon, visit the Villa Capivari, the tourist center of the city. Here you will have free time to enjoy some lunch and other local attractions like a cable car or horse ride. You'll finish the trip with a visit to a typical chocolate factory.

If you only have a short time in São Paulo and want to venture off the beaten track, this full-day guided tour combining a coffee farm and a cheese farm is ideal to experience the rural charms of Brazil. Visit a farm located in Itu, 1 hour and 20 minutes away from the center of São Paulo. Upon arrival, a flavorful full breakfast at the farmhouse will fill you up and get you ready for a packed day of exploring. After breakfast, learn how the farm has changed character over the years.  Next, head inside the main farmhouse to discover the original features, such as roof tiles molded on the thighs of black slave women. Then take an informative tour to learn all about the process of harvesting and roasting coffee beans, and all the work involved in the production of coffee. Visit the coffee warehouse, coffee machines, former slave quarters. Meet with local farmers and hear about the important role that coffee has played in the history and development of modern-day Brazil. Then join a guided walk along forested trails to reach a breathtaking viewpoint. The coffee shop offers the opportunity to try out different types and aromas of coffees, grounded right before drinking. In addition, you can try coffee liqueur, jabuticaba fruit, handmade cachaça, papaya candies, pickles, honey, and much more. Take a lunch break and taste typical Brazilian countryside cuisine, surrounded by nature. Continue to a family-run goat cheese farm and learn how cheese is made, from fresh milk to the curdling stage. Finish with cheese tastings and interesting stories.

Benefit from pick-up at the cruise ship terminal at Santos Port, and then journey by air-conditioned vehicle to the city center of São Paulo. Discover the highlights with the help of your driver/guide and get a feel for everyday life. Marvel at the old houses of the coffee barons and the amazing contemporary architecture by Oscar Niemeyer. Indulge your passion for art and culture at museums and cultural attractions that showcase the best of Brazil and the international arts.  Stroll around downtown to see the Estádio do Pacaembu football stadium, the monuments of Praça da Sé and the Jesuit mission of the Pátio do Colégio. Find the city's green lungs at Ibirapuera Park, admire the elegant façade of Luz Station and be tempted by the produce on sale at the Municipal Market of São Paulo.  

Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city to the tranquil forests of the Atlantic on this day trip. A 50-minute drive away from downtown São Paulo, the Serra do Mar State Park is full of rushing falls, trickling streams, and lush vegetation. Visit the largest Atlantic Forest protected area in Brazil. Experience the rich flora, fauna and traditional culture. The Serra do Mar mountain range extends for approximately 1500 kilometers along the south and southeast coast of Brazil. Explore the area by foot on a 9-kilometer trail. Start from the park's main entrance and finish at the same place. The walk lasts about 5 hours, taking you on an old paved road with a winding route in the heart of the Atlantic Forest. On clear days, you can catch a view of the coast and surrounding cities including the first Portuguese settlement in Brazil, the city of Saint Vincent. Explore the rich biodiversity of the Atlantic Forest on the way. The place is home to a precious environmental heritage, characterized by the Atlantic Forest. Soak in the scenic beauty along with historical and cultural information from your guide about the state of São Paulo. Then, take a walk down Calçada do Lorena, the first paved path in Brazil that boosted trade and production connecting São Paulo to the coast. Learn how this path played a part in the country's history and declaration of independence.

After pickup from your hotel in São Paulo at 7:30 AM, begin your tour of one of the most important religious sites in South America. Approaching the city of Aparecida, you’ll make a stop at the Itaguaçu Port to learn the history of the Virgin Mary statue to which the Aparecida Cathedral is dedicated. Found by fishermen in the 18th century, the miracles surrounding the statue quickly caused the city to become an important site of religious pilgrimage. In 1955, plans for the cathedral were unveiled, and it was consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1980. After leaving the Itaguaçu port, you’ll head to Aparecida’s historic center for a tour of the cathedral. Walk the immense grounds before heading into the basilica itself, marveling at the nearly 250-foot-tall dome and sprawling main hall, capable of holding 30,000 parishioners. See the original Virgin Mary statue, and watch the spectacle that is the church’s mass. After your tour, enjoy some free time to explore the town, grab a bite to eat, or view the nativity exhibition on Olive Trees Mountain. Afterwards, you’ll be driven back to your accommodation.

After pickup from your hotel in São Paulo, drive to São Roque to start your tour along the famous wine route. This route consists of the Wine Road, Venâncios Road, and the Quintino de Lima Highway. There are more than 30 establishments along the route, including wineries, restaurants, farms, and entertainment centers. The production of wine in São Roque dates back to the 17th century, when the first Portuguese immigrants became interested in the climate of the region. They invested in the production of the first vineyards, which were later taken over by Italian immigrants. On your tour you will visit 4 different wineries, with a tasting at each one. The wineries visited will be the Terra do Vinho Winery, Canguera Winery, Goes Winery, and the Quinta do Olivardo Winery and Vineyards. Along the way, a stop will be made at a typical local restaurant where you can buy lunch. Along with the wine, you will also try typical products grown in the region, such as sausages, cheeses, sweets, and cachaça, a traditional Brazilian liqueur.  In the afternoon, visit the Catarina Outlet located on the Castelo Branco Highway, an excellent shopping center inspired by North American outlets. Explore a wide variety of stores selling famous footwear, clothing, accessories, cosmetics, perfumes, and different types of drinks.