Tour.
- Miles: 370
- Start: Santos
- End: Rio de Janeiro
- Time: 10 hours to 3 days
- Suitability: adventure, tourer
The coastal road linking Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo is definitely not the quickest way to get between the two cities, but it’s certainly the most interesting.
Wedged between the forest-covered slopes of the Serra do Mar and the Atlantic Ocean, this winding route takes in all the curves of the coastline, passing thousands of beaches and hundreds of islands, some of which are well worth an overnight stop (Ilha Grande and Ilha Bela are standout places to break the trip).
The road was built in the 1970s and it has views of the ocean for much of the way, crossing sparkling rivers and passing peaceful fishing villages as well as more bustling vacation spots.
The Portuguese-founded town of Paraty is an essential overnight stop, as are the pristine beaches north of Ubatuba, such as Praia do Félix and Itamambuca.
