Have you had any doubts when planning your trip to Ubatuba on the coast of the state of São Paulo? In this article you check out all the information necessary to have an amazing experience when visiting the beautiful beaches of Ubatuba!
View from Serra do Mar – Ubatuba
Ubatuba is a place that will always be close to my heart.
It’s where I spent the summers of my childhood, where I learned to surf and where I lived most of my adventures of youth. 
So if you have a chance to go, it’s a place I know you won’t regret visiting.
After all, with its immense variety of beaches, Ubatuba is one of the best coastal destinations in Brazil. And not only is home to stunning beaches, but also an abundance of preserved (and wild!) nature… like the Atlantic Forest that stretches throughout the area.
And with more than 100 kilometers of coastline, Ubatuba is a region to which you will have to return many times if you want to explore all the beauties you have. And believe me: you will definitely want to come back!
The city attracts different profiles that seek to visit Ubatuba, and throughout the year it will be possible to find young people, surfers, families etc. However, because it is the region of beaches closest to the interior of São Paulo, they often find themselves excessively full. So it’s interesting to do good research before deciding to hit the road!
But before that… Check out great tips in this guide to visit Ubatuba and enjoy the maximum without headache!
(OBS: I also made a map marking all places in Ubatuba to visit included in this article. You can find this map here or below in the section “what to do in Ubatuba”!)
Where is Ubatuba?
Ubatuba is a municipality (and city) located on the southeast coast of Brazil about 3 hours drive (that is, depending on the famous traffic of São Paulo!) of the largest city in Brazil, São Paulo.
If you are coming from Rio de Janeiro in the north, it is about 5 hours by car (and a beautiful trip along the coast!).
When to visit Ubatuba?
No, the nickname “Use” is not just a joke. Due to the proximity to the Serra do Mar and the intense presence of the Atlantic Forest, Ubatuba usually has a very high rainfall index compared to other beaches. Even so, the rain does not prevent those who like to enjoy a beach. No one is sugar to melt, is it? 
However, of course, enjoying a beach on a sunny day is much more interesting than on a cloudy day. The sun intensifies the colors of the landscape and you can truly honor the shades of blue and bright green that make the landscapes of Ubatuba so enchanting.
When planning to visit Ubatuba, attention is essential in weather forecasting. If the forecast is rain, you already know that there is no miracle, it will rain surely!
As everyone knows, summer is the rainiest time of year and the presence of it in Ubatuba in this period is right. Another negative factor is that in high season the beaches are VERY crowded, the traffic is intense to circulate in all regions and the price of stays is very high. If you are not the type who likes muvuca, crowded kiosks, loud music, etc., I do not recommend visiting Ubatuba at that time.
If you can travel outside of the season, a delightful period is between the end of July to October for firm time and warmth in the right measure. Take the opportunity to honor the times of city events as well: in June there is the Fisherman’s Festival, which recalls the caiçaras traditions and origin of the city, and between October and November the PUC Surf, surf championship of the universities of São Paulo.
How to go to Ubatuba?
Update: Azul Airlines has just started operating daily commercial flights to the local airport of Ubatuba from Congonhas (Saols) during the high season … making it easier than ever to get to Ubatuba quickly from the city!
Go to Ubatuba de Carro
Due to the extensive territory, the ideal means of transport to visit Ubatuba is the car. With it you have the ease of transiting all the beaches of the city, which by the way are many: Ubatuba has about 102 beaches!!
The trip between northern beaches and southern beaches can take up to more than 1 hour, so the ease of the car. If it is not an option and you want to very much explore the different corners of the coast, a good idea is to share the rental of a car. Thus, you can even know some beaches on the border with Rio, such as Paraty or Trinidad.
(If you go to Paraty, here’s a guide I wrote about how to visit her)
If you want to rent a car to get to Ubatuba, my article with the 5 Best and Cheapest Sites to Compare and Rent Car Around the World can help.
Go to Ubatuba from Bus
Of course, we cannot exclude the possibility of the bus. Ubatuba has a bus station and it is possible to get there in this way too.
To get your bus ticket to Ubatuba, you can check out my article with the 2 Best Passages for Intermunicipal Bus in Brazil.
To get around the beaches when you are in the city, you can use the municipal Verde Bus company. On their website, you will find the bus lines and current schedules: http://verdebus.com.br/.
It is important to remember that buses are scheduled to pass one in an hour, but because the locomotion is through tortuous roads, they usually delay. If you travel in high season or holidays, it will be almost impossible to depend on buses.
Go to Ubatuba by ride
One way out would be to bet on the ride, a very common practice among residents of the northern coast. Thus, you can know several beaches and still save money on car and gasoline rental!
Things to Do in Ubatuba: The Best Beaches and Trails
Below you will find the best beaches of Ubatuba and hiking that you can do (in the north and in the south). Depending on the region in which you are staying, it is possible to take advantage of totally different types of beaches and trails.
I’ve also created a map that shows exactly where each location is, so you can plan your itinerary (just click on the map below to zoom in).
The Best Beaches in the South of Ubatuba
Domingas Dias, Larzaro Beach, and Sununga
In the south of Ubatuba the beaches usually have the calmer and calmer sea, attracting many families with children and the elderly. Good options are the Lázaro Beach, which has kiosks and street vendors, and Domingas Dias.
Since my grandfather’s house was only a few blocks from these two beaches, I have good memories of them.
The two are very close and you can walk quietly from one to another. At the end of the beach of Lazaro in the right corner (when facing the ocean), you find a path that takes you to Domingas Dias.
The path to Sununga Beach is on the opposite side, in the left corner of Lázaro Beach. The Sununga differs by the sea from tone with large waves that break in the sand, a characteristic that attracts many surfers adept to skimboard.
(I spent many happy hours as a kid playing in these waves… and I learned to surf here!)
At Sununga you find the famous “Crying Grum”, a cave in the middle of the stones that from inside it, the noise of the sea echoes and you hear a peculiar sound, similar to a cry.
It is interesting to do this tour when visiting Ubatuba, since you can visit all these three beautiful beaches, walking in a single day (these are the beaches where I used to spend my summers – I even learned to surf at Sununga!), this is one of my favorite areas of Ubatuba.
Praia Domingas Dias – Ubatuba (a tip: when I was a child, I used to jump from the rock you see in the distance in this photo. Sometimes I even met the local sea turtles!)
Best Trails/Walks in the South of Ubatuba
How to do the walk “Trilha das Sete Praias” in Ubatuba
If you are the adventurous type and can stand a trail ride for a full day, an amazing option in the south of Ubatuba is the Seven Beaches Trail. The route has a length of 10 km (one way), which requires good physical conditioning, water and good food for the journey.
In addition to a great exercise in the midst of the best of nature, you will pass seven beautiful and deserted beaches, without spending on extensive boat trips.
Starting with Fortaleza Beach and moving to Cerdo Beach, you will still have Desert Beach, Praia Grande do Bonete, Praia do Peres, Praia do Oeste, Praia da Lagoinha.
Enjoy Praia Grande do Bonete in the middle of the way to rest and have a snack, since the beach has infrastructure of bars and kiosks. On the way back, you can also take a boat from Bonete to return to Ubatuba, if you are very tired and do not want to make the whole way back. The boat costs on average R$50.
One of the most favorable points of visiting Ubatuba is that it has everything for all tastes. If you prefer shorter walks, there are still several hiking options in the southern region for you.
Brava de Camburi Beach, Praia de Fora and Santa Rita Beach
The Brava de Camburi Beach is one of the most beloved of Ubatuba for its beauty and good waves, a factor that attracts many surfers who seek a more deserted beach. Besides it we have the Trail of Praia de Fora and Santa Rita Beach, all with routes of maximum 40 minutes.
If you are looking for only a slightly further away beach but without long trips, I recommend Praia do Costa, a beautiful beach that when the tide rises natural pools in the region of the stones (not far from where the “Ste Beaches Trail” begins).
Best Beaches in North Ubatuba
One of the things you can not fail to do when visiting Ubatuba is the tour of the north of the city. It is great because you can observe from the road from the top of the beaches, unlike the northern beaches that are almost all hidden by the vegetation. It is worth doing this route and stop at each of them, or even stop on the road to take pictures.
View of the road in northern Ubatuba
Passing the city center, the first beach you will see will be Praia Vermelha. Almost all northern beaches follow the same pattern: extensive vegetation present throughout the beach and sea with surfers composing the scenery. How not to enter one of them?
Following the road a little further on, you can park at Praia do Alto Mirante to take photos. Praia do Alto is soon after and has bars and kiosks.
Itamambuca, Praia do Félix, Praia do Português and Prumirim
Continuing the route, a few km later you will find with the entrance of Itamambuca Beach. This is a very interesting stop because in reality, the beach is part of a huge roots condominium, very wooded that has private houses, hostels, campsites, restaurants, bars, etc.
Although there are families who frequent the place, the place is the right destination of young people who seek a good beach, surf but also nightlife when visiting Ubatuba. That’s because the night in the condominium rolls parties in houses or in the bars.
Following the road, the next beach is Praia do Félix which access is also by condominium. At the entrance there is a viewpoint, Mirante do Félix, where you can take beautiful photos. This beach contemplates different tastes: from those who prefer a rough sea to catch a wave, even those who prefer to rest in clear and quiet waters.
The right corner of the beach has a good structure with kiosks, bars and formation of natural pools when the tide is high. The left corner attracts young surfers to the region.
On the right side of Praia do Félix it is possible to walk along the stones or go swimming to a paradise hidden on the other side of the hill: the Portuguese Beach. I recommend the course in the morning, when the tide is still low, and come back before the end of the afternoon. Remember not to carry too many things in your hands.
Praia do Português – Best Destinations
Praia do Português is a scenario worthy of film! The sea, which mixes vibrant shades of blue and green, is located between two major rock formations. The beach is empty and because it is a little visited destination, it does not have infrastructure. One idea is to spend the morning at Praia do Português and enjoy the rest of the day at Praia do Félix.
Continuing the route, the next beach is Prumirim Beach, considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil. In addition to its beautiful natural wealth, the advantage of this beach is to be able to stay quiet and enjoy the calm and sounds of nature, because it is hardly full.
There is also the option to visit the Cachoeira do Prumirim, very well evaluated by visitors to Ubatuba, or take a boat in the left corner of the beach to the island of Prumirim – an alternative option for the famous Island of the Couves, which is always full.
A good tip: if you are adept at stand up, with the board it is possible to arrive in a few minutes on the island of Prumirum. So you can save from R$30 to R$50, which are usually the values of boat trips.
For those who visit the north of Ubatuba, it is essential to follow the road a little with attention passing the Prumirim Beach and stop the car in the viewpoint that exists on the right side of the route. There you will find one of the most beautiful views of Ubatuba.
View near Prumirim Beach – Ubatuba
Food in Ubatuba: bars, restaurants and market options
A friend of mine was recently in Ubatuba in the month of August and told me that even though they were out of high season, prices in Ubatuba were still quite high. Perhaps, because of the financial crisis caused by the pandemic, restaurants have raised their prices to recover.
I’m not sure if these high prices will stay, but if you have a smaller budget for your trip to Ubatuba, then I recommend buying from local supermarkets. Surprisingly, they have very fair prices that compare to those you find in the city (unlike other supermarkets you find on the northern coast of São Paulo).
If you are more financially, I recommend looking for options in the center of Ubatuba.
The food in the center can be expensive, but at least it’s good (while things on the beach are usually expensive, but not so good).
You can find lowcost options in the center of Ubatuba too, an alternative for those who have little money but do not want to warm their head in making food every night. A great option is Ki-Beirut.
For those looking to eat well and enjoy the night with good drinks, beers and bustle, I recommend walking along Guarani Street and looking for the best options that align with your tastes and pocket. Whoever enjoys craft beers and portions, recommend the Sullivan Bar, which is a very cool structure and is very trendy on weekends. Already fans of good pasta, Spaguetto or Perequim.
Don’t get in the center! Along the entire beach of Itaguá and downtown Ubatuba there are several options of good restaurants, in a slightly quiet environment without so much trendy, for those who prefer to have meals with a little more peace.
Conclusion…
Of all the cities on the northern coast of São Paulo, Ubatuba is certainly on my list of favorite beaches. It is a wonderful experience to enjoy all the natural wealth that its beaches have to offer.
In fact, if you want to take an even more advantage of your stay in São Paulo, check out this article and know how to get to the Island of the Couves, by car or bus!
And following my tips above, I’m sure you’ll take a wonderful trip!
Tell here in the comments what you liked to do most for Ubatuba?! Or if you have any questions about how to travel to Ubatuba (or travel in general), let me know in the comments area below and I will get back to you!
Hugs and the next!
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