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Major city · Brazil

São Sebastião

Give São Sebastião 2–3 nights: one for the colonial centre and the Ilhabela ferry, one or two for a beach base such as Maresias, Juquehy or Camburi.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
BRL
Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Nov
avoid Dec–Feb (crowds, peak prices, rain), Carnaval
Airports
GRU · CGH · SJK
Nights
2–3
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.

São Sebastião is not one town but about 100 km of coast: a small colonial centre with a 17th-century church and Brazil's busiest ferry crossing to Ilhabela, then a chain of beaches — Maresias, Camburi, Juquehy, Boiçucanga — each with its own pousadas and surf. Buildings are capped in height, so it still feels low and green. Most visitors come from São Paulo for a beach weekend; you need a car or the coastal bus to move between beaches.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about São Sebastião, 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.

  • CoffeeCoffee or coconut water on the beachR$8–20 (≈ US$2–4)
  • Beer600 ml bottle at a bar / can at a shopR$15–30 (≈ US$3–6)R$6–10 (≈ US$2)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personR$90 (≈ US$17)
  • Mid-range bedPousada double room, a night, per roomR$480 (≈ US$90)
  • High-end bedPousada double room, a night, per roomR$900 (≈ US$170)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget R$250 (≈ US$50) · Mid R$500 (≈ US$95) · High R$1,100 (≈ US$250)

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.

Maresias beach and surfIlhabela ferry crossingColonial centre and Igreja MatrizJuquehy, Camburi and Boiçucanga beaches
Airports
GRU São Paulo–Guarulhos (About 3–4 h by road via SP-070 and SP-099 (Tamoios); allow more on Friday nights and holidays.) · CGH São Paulo–Congonhas (Closer to the city's south side; same road route.) · SJK São José dos Campos (Regional airport; about 2 h by road down Tamoios. check)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

São Sebastião: 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

15°C

8 rd

Aug

25°C

16°C

8 rd

Sep

26°C

17°C

11 rd

Oct

27°C

19°C

13 rd

Nov

28°C

20°C

14 rd

Dec

30°C

22°C

16 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 centre is small enough to walk. Between beaches you need a car, a ride-share or the coastal bus (Ecobus line 51, roughly every 20–30 min, more often at weekends) from the downtown rodoviária to Boracéia. BR-101 (Rio-Santos) is the spine road and jams on holiday weekends. The Ilhabela ferry leaves from the centre, 24 h, every 30 min by day and hourly overnight, about 15 min crossing.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Ilhabela

go

Door to door: About 1 h including boarding

Ferry from the centre terminal, about 15 min, every 30 min by day

Go early: the island's beaches and waterfalls fill up and the return queue builds after 16:00.

Caraguatatuba

go

Door to door: 40–60 min

BR-101 north by car or coastal bus, about 30 km

Largest town on the north coast; useful for banks, pharmacies and Serra do Mar state park access.

Ubatuba

overnight

Door to door: 1.5–2 h

BR-101 north-east, about 80 km

Too far for a relaxed return day; sleep there and work back down the coast.

São Luiz do Paraitinga

caution

Door to door: 2–2.5 h

SP-125 inland from Caraguatatuba, by car

Colonial town in the hills; only worth it with your own car and a full day.

São José dos Campos

skip

Door to door: 2–2.5 h

SP-099 (Tamoios) up the Serra, by car or bus

A transport hub, not a sight; use it only to change buses or flights.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Centro (historic centre)

Walkable colonial streets, Igreja Matriz, Rua da Praia restaurants and the Ilhabela ferry terminal. Best for one night or a car-free stop.

Maresias

The famous surf beach, busiest nightlife, most pousadas and hotels. Good for surfers and groups; 30–40 min by car from the centre.

Juquehy

Best beach infrastructure for families: calm water, restaurants, shops. Mid-range to upscale pousadas.

Camburi and Camburizinho

Surf and a young São Paulo crowd; bars and clubs along the road. Choppy water, so weaker for small children.

Boiçucanga

Central point on the coast with a small shopping centre and the best sunsets; handy if you want to reach several beaches.

Barra do Una and Barra do Sahy

Quieter, greener, family-friendly; fewer restaurants, more need for a car.

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$250–450 (≈ US$50–85) excl. bed
Mid
R$450–900 (≈ US$85–170) excl. bed
High
R$900 (≈ US$170)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Pousada double room1 × 3 nights × R$480R$1,440
Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × R$500R$3,000
Ilhabela ferry, car return1 × R$34 · check; pedestrians and cyclists cross freeR$34
Coastal bus, one ride2 × R$6 · checkR$12
eSIM, about a week of data2 × R$60R$120
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeR$461
Trip total≈ R$845 per person per day, bed includedR$5,067≈ US$950

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

Prices of common things

Coffee or coconut water on the beachR$8–20 (≈ US$2–4)
Prato feito (rice, beans, meat) at a beach restaurantR$35–70 (≈ US$7–13)
Fried fish or moqueca for twoR$120–220 (≈ US$25–45)
Beer: 600 ml bottle at a bar / can at a shopR$15–30 (≈ US$3–6) / R$6–10 (≈ US$2)
Ride-share, centre to Maresiascheck; higher at night and in summerR$60–110 (≈ US$12–25)
Ilhabela ferry, car with drivercheckR$11–17 (≈ US$3–4) each way
Beach parking on a busy weekendcheckR$30–60 (≈ US$6–12)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Reasonably safe by Brazilian beach-town standards, but summer crowds bring pickpocketing and car break-ins: keep valuables off the sand, lock the car, and avoid dark side streets at night.
  • Summer (Dec–Feb) brings heavy rain, landslides on the Serra roads and the year's worst traffic.
  • Vehicle queues for the Ilhabela ferry can reach an hour in high season; cross on foot if you can.
  • Do not leave bags, phones or keys on the sand while you swim; beach theft rises in summer.
  • Some beaches have strong surf and rip currents: Maresias, Camburi and Baleia are surf beaches, not swimming pools.
  • Book pousadas months ahead for New Year, Carnaval and long weekends; prices can double.

Emergency numbers

Police
190
Ambulance (SAMU)
192
Fire
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.

São SebastiãoSão Sebastião

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Para este endereço, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police190
  • Ambulance192
  • Fire193

Embassy

No embassies here; the US, UK and other consulates are in São Paulo, embassies in Brasília.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Ilhabela ferry, foot passenger: free; car R$11–17 (≈ US$3–4) each way, 15 min crossing (check)
  • Bus São Paulo (Tietê) → São Sebastião: about R$70 (≈ US$13), 3.5–5.5 h depending on the service (check)
  • Coastal bus, centre → Maresias: about R$6 (≈ US$2), 40–60 min (check)

Say or show

  • Bom dia — Good morning (bohn DEE-ah)
  • Obrigado / Obrigada — Thank you (oh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-dah)
  • Quanto custa? — How much is it? (KWAHN-too KOOS-tah)
  • A conta, por favor — The bill, please (ah KOHN-tah por fah-VOR)
  • Não falo português — I don't speak Portuguese (nowng FAH-loo por-too-GAYS)
  • Onde fica a praia? — Where is the beach? (OHN-jee FEE-kah ah PRY-ah)

Ferry and bus times change with the season: confirm before a late return.

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 São Sebastião. 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, rain), Carnaval · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 6 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. Ferry and bus timetables field-checked for the centre, Maresias and Juquehy, with last-return times.
  2. Beach pages with surf, lifeguard and parking notes for Maresias, Camburi, Juquehy, Boiçucanga and Barra do Sahy.
  3. Eat pages for the centre and Maresias with price bands and cover-charge notes.
  4. Rain and landslide fixtures for the Serra roads so arrival plans can go green or reroute.

Meanwhile

Back to Brazil

Sources