In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Brazil
Cajati
Skip unless you have a car and want waterfalls and caves in the Ribeira Valley: half a day from Santos or a stop on the BR-116 between São Paulo and Curitiba.
Cajati is a small town in the Ribeira Valley, 2 h 30 min south of São Paulo by car, known for its Atlantic Forest waterfalls (Abraão, Azeite, Manoel Gomes) and the Capelinha Cavern. It has no airport, limited public transport and few services for tourists. Best as a half-day stop for hikers and cavers driving the BR-116.
- Country
- Brazil
- Best months
- Apr–Sep (dry season, better for trails and caves)
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (heavy rain, trails slippery)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BRL
- Money
- Currency is the Brazilian real (BRL, R$). About R$5–5.8 per US dollar in 2026 — check. Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere, even at beach kiosks.
- Daily spend
- Budget R$ 80–150 (day trip from Santos) · Mid R$ 150–300 (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vivo, Claro and TIM cover the country; buying a prepaid SIM needs a passport and sometimes a CPF — an eSIM before you fly is easier.
- Emergency
- Police 190 · Ambulance 192 · Fire 193
- Plugs
- Types N, C · 127 V (Rio, São Paulo) or 220 V (Brasília, much of the Northeast) · Check the voltage on the socket; most chargers are dual-voltage.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10% service (serviço) usually on the bill; optional but normal.; Beach kiosk / bar: Often included; round up.; Taxi / Uber: Not expected; round up.; Guide: US$5–15 per person per day.; Hotel staff: Small tip for porters.
- Water
- Do not drink tap water; filtered water is provided in most homes and hotels.
- Toilets
- Put toilet paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.
Get in
By air
- GRU · São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport
- about 2.5 h drive via BR‑116
Typical fares
- São Paulo → Cajati by car
- about 2.5 h via BR-116, toll about R$ 30 (check)
- Santos → Cajati by car
- about 2.5 h via SP-055 and BR-116
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car essential. BR-116 runs through town; unpaved roads to waterfalls and the cave. No local bus service to attractions.
See and do
Known for
- Abraão Falls
- Capelinha Cavern
- Lamarca Trail
- Ribeira Valley Atlantic Forest
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Santos | Car via BR-116 and SP-055, about 2 h 30 min | 2.5 h |
| Iguape | Car via SP-226, about 1 h | 1 h |
| Peruíbe | Car via SP-226, about 1 h | 1 h |
Sleep
- Town centre
- A few basic pousadas; most visitors stay in Jacupiranga or Registro.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Oláoh-LAH |
| Thank you | Obrigado / Obrigadaoh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-dah |
| How much does it cost? | Quanto custa?KWAN-toh KOOS-tah |
| Where is the waterfall? | Onde fica a cachoeira?OHN-deh FEE-kah ah kah-shoo-AY-rah |
| Do you have a guide? | Você tem um guia?voh-SAY teng oong GEE-ah |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, hug or cheek kiss (one in São Paulo, two in Rio); avoid: Being stiff with new acquaintances
- Gestures: Use thumbs-up freely; avoid: The OK hand sign (it is rude)
- Language: Try Portuguese; say obrigado/obrigada; avoid: Defaulting to Spanish
- Time: Expect relaxed social punctuality; avoid: Being late for tours and flights
- Beach: Bring only a towel, cash and a copy of your ID; avoid: Leaving things unattended
Scams and watch-outs
- Trails are unmarked in parts: download offline maps.
- No ATM in town (check). Bring cash.
- Capelinha Cavern requires a guide (check).
- Mobile signal is patchy on the trails.
Low crime; risks are on the trails (slippery rocks, wasps, snakes). Carry a first-aid kit and tell someone your route.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Cajati yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Abraão Falls
- Capelinha Cavern
- Lamarca Trail
- Ribeira Valley Atlantic Forest
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Cajati official website: www.cajati.sp.gov.br/
- Wikivoyage: Cajati, revision 5321473 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5321473
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/cajati). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.