Built on an island just 1.5 hours from São Paulo, Guarujá’s 22-mile (35-kilometer) coastline includes hidden coves only accessible by motorbike, plus sandy beaches lined with high-end hotels, restaurants, and snack shacks. The longest beach, Enseada, has plenty of waves for experienced surfers—surfers looking for a quieter spot head to Tombo. Pitangueiras is the most famous beach and good for water sports, and there are also some spectacular hiking trails in the mountains
Tours range from abseiling to aquarium visits, but a popular way to visit Guarujá is on a day trip from São Paulo—tours typically combine time exploring Guarujá’s beaches with a stop in Santos, a coastal city famous for its historic center and coffee museum.
The closest airport is in São Paulo Congonhas, but it’s often more practical to fly to São Paulo Guarulhos Airport, from where direct buses leave daily to Guarujá. Guarulhos is also São Paulo’s biggest airport with direct flights to many US cities and to London too. By road, Guarujá is 1 ½ hours from São Paulo, and you can book transfers in advance.
High season here is December through February, but the weather is hot year-round. Even in July, the coldest month, the average temperature is 70°F (21.1°C). Book accommodation in advance if you’re visiting between December and February, as rooms fill up fast.
The coastal city of Santos is just across the bridge from Guarujá and has a fantastic museum on the region’s coffee-growing history. For a cup of Joe in Guarujá, head to O Rei do Trigo for inexpensive coffee and glass cabinets filled with every Brazilian pastry imaginable, or Georgia Café for the best brew in town enjoyed with a beach view.
