Skip to content
Voykit
Set your trip — dates, party, bagsPlanner

Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · Brazil

Caraguatatuba

Give Caraguatatuba 2 nights as a north-shore base: beach day, Morro de Santo Antônio at opening, then move on to Ubatuba or Ilhabela.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
BRL
Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Nov
avoid Dec–Feb (crowds, peak prices), Carnival
Airports
GRU · SJK
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
  • South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
  • South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
  • South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
  • Brazil ↗US, Canadian and Australian citizens need an e-visa (about US$81 — check) applied for online at the official VFS portal before travel; EU and UK citizens do not. Check your passport with Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs before booking.
  • Brazil ↗Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for many areas, including the Amazon and Pantanal; check with a travel clinic at least 10 days before travel.
  • Brazil ↗Keep your phone out of sight in the street and on beaches; phone theft is the most common crime against visitors in big cities.
  • Brazil ↗Carnival 2027 runs about 5–10 February (Tuesday 9 February; Salvador from 4 February): book Rio, Salvador and Recife/Olinda months ahead or avoid those dates.

Caraguatatuba (Caraguá) is the largest town on São Paulo's north coast, about 3 hours by bus from São Paulo and 1 hour from São José dos Campos. It is a summer beach base for Paulistas, with a long line of beaches, a hill viewpoint over the channel to Ilhabela, and easy road links to Ubatuba and São Sebastião. Two nights covers the town; most travellers pair it with the neighbours.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Caraguatatuba, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeR$6–12 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Beerdraught at a kiosk / can at a shopR$10–18 (≈ US$2–4)R$5–8 (≈ US$1–2)
  • Taxi, about 5 km5 km app rideR$15–30 (≈ US$3–6)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekR$40–80 (≈ US$8–15)
  • Budget bedHostel bed, a night, per personR$70 (≈ US$13)
  • Mid-range bedPousada double room, a night, per roomR$380 (≈ US$75)
  • High-end bedPousada double room, a night, per roomR$800 (≈ US$150)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget R$180 (≈ US$35) · Mid R$350 (≈ US$65) · High R$700 (≈ US$130)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Long beach line from Tabatinga to Porto NovoMorro de Santo Antônio viewpoint and free-flight rampFesta da Tainha and Festa do CamarãoPraça Dr. Cândido Motta and the Calçadão
Airports
GRU São Paulo–Guarulhos International (About 3–4 h by road via the Tamoios highway; bus from Tietê terminal instead) · SJK São José dos Campos (About 1.5 h by road; the closest useful air gateway)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Caraguatatuba: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

31°C

23°C

17 rd

Feb

31°C

23°C

15 rd

Mar

30°C

22°C

14 rd

Apr

28°C

20°C

11 rd

May

26°C

18°C

9 rd

Jun

25°C

16°C

8 rd

Jul

24°C

16°C

8 rd

Aug

25°C

17°C

8 rd

Sep

26°C

18°C

11 rd

Oct

27°C

19°C

13 rd

Nov

28°C

20°C

14 rd

Dec

30°C

22°C

17 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The town is spread along BR-101 and the coast, so a car or app ride is the practical way to reach beaches. Local buses run along the main road but are slow and infrequent. Uber and 99 work in the centre; agree the fare or use the app. Walking works only within the centre.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Ubatubago

Door to door: About 1–1.5 h

BR-101 north by car, or Litorânea/Praiamar bus from the rodoviária

More beaches and surf; a full day or an overnight.

Ilhabelago

Door to door: About 1.5–2 h

BR-101 south to São Sebastião, then the ferry

Ferry queues are long on summer weekends; go early.

São Sebastiãogo

Door to door: About 40–60 min

BR-101 south by car or bus

Maresias and the channel beaches; easy half-day.

São Luiz do Paraitinga

caution

Door to door: About 2 h

Car via the Tamoios highway and inland roads

Colonial town; better as an overnight from São José dos Campos.

São José dos Campos

skip

Door to door: About 1.5–2 h

Litorânea bus from the rodoviária, or car via Tamoios

Transport hub only; nothing here for a beach trip.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Centro / Praia do Centro

Walkable to the Calçadão, crafts fair and restaurants; best for a car-free stay.

Martim de Sá and Indaiá

Beachfront hotels and pousadas, 5–10 min by car from the centre.

Massaguaçu and Cocanha (north)

Quieter beaches toward Ubatuba; you need a car.

Prainha and Porto Novo (south)

Near the São Sebastião road; good for onward travel.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
R$180–300 (≈ US$35–60) excl. bed
Mid
R$300–550 (≈ US$60–110) excl. bed
High
R$550 (≈ US$110)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Pousada double room1 × 2 nights × R$380R$760
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × R$350R$1,400
Bus São Paulo (Tietê) → Caraguatatuba, one way2 × R$90 · checkR$180
Bus São José dos Campos → Caraguatatuba, one way2 × R$50 · checkR$100
eSIM, about a week of data2 × R$60R$120
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeR$256
Trip total≈ R$704 per person per day, bed includedR$2,816≈ US$550

2026 estimate in reais; long-distance travel excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeR$6–12 (≈ US$2–3)
Per-kilo lunch buffetLunch only.R$45–80 (≈ US$9–15)
Beer: draught at a kiosk / can at a shopR$10–18 (≈ US$2–4) / R$5–8 (≈ US$1–2)
Fried tainha or shrimp plateR$60–120 (≈ US$12–25)
5 km app rideR$15–30 (≈ US$3–6)
Beach kiosk chair and umbrellacheckR$20–40 (≈ US$4–8)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekR$40–80 (≈ US$8–15)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Caraguatatuba has a rough reputation, but violence is mostly drug-related; for visitors the real risks are night walks on the beach, break-ins at rented summer houses and unlit streets. Stay central, use app cars after dark.
  • Do not walk on the beach or unlit streets at night; use an app car.
  • Rented summer houses are targeted by break-ins: check locks and alarms, or stay in a hotel.
  • Do not enter lower-income neighbourhoods, day or night.
  • Summer and Carnival fill every bed: book weeks ahead.
  • The Morro de Santo Antônio access road limits cars (about 18 at a time, 15-minute stay): walk up or go early.

Emergency numbers

Police (military)
190
Ambulance (SAMU)
192
Fire brigade
193

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

CaraguatatubaCaraguatatuba

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Para este endereço, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police190
  • Ambulance192
  • Fire brigade193

Embassy

No embassies here; the US, UK and other consulates are in São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Bus São Paulo Tietê → Caraguatatuba: about R$90 (≈ US$17), 3 h (check)
  • Bus São José dos Campos → Caraguatatuba: about R$50 (≈ US$10), hourly (check)
  • App ride centre → Martim de Sá: R$15–25 (≈ US$3–5) (check)

Say or show

  • Bom dia — Good morning (bom JEE-ah)
  • Obrigado / Obrigada — Thank you (oh-bree-GAH-doo / -dah)
  • Quanto custa? — How much is it? (KWAN-too KOOS-tah)
  • A conta, por favor — The bill, please (ah KON-tah por fah-VOR)
  • Onde fica a praia? — Where is the beach? (ON-jee FEE-kah ah PRY-ah)
  • Socorro — Help (soh-KOH-hoo)

Print this card before you leave; mobile signal is patchy on the beaches.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Caraguatatuba. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–May, Sep–Nov · avoid Dec–Feb (crowds, peak prices), Carnival · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for GRU and SJK: last bus departures, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Beach pages with verified access, parking and kiosk hours for Tabatinga, Cocanha, Martim de Sá and Porto Novo.
  3. Morro de Santo Antônio page with the car limit, checkpoint rules and sunrise timing.
  4. Festa da Tainha and Festa do Camarão dates confirmed with the municipal calendar.

Meanwhile

Back to Brazil

Sources