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São Paulo is a state in the southeast of Brazil. It is undoubtedly the country's economic powerhouse, contributing alone to one third of the Brazilian GDP. Among visitors, the state is more well-known for its huge and somewhat chaotic capital, São Paulo. However, the vast countryside of the state offers much else to be enjoyed, including rainforest-surrounded amazing beaches, a rich Italian and Japanese heritage blended seamlessly with local (caipira) culture, and prosperous, relaxing small towns.
São Paulo rivers at their best, and a hugely popular hot spring waterpark.
With the country's most famous draft beer and largest rodeo festival.
Quiet towns and strong marks left by Japanese immigration.
A transition area between the industrialized east and the rural north and west of the state.
The bustling metropolis of Campinas, cozy mineral spring towns and traditional farms founded by European immigrants.
The state's cycling capital Sorocaba, the tranquility of the Jurumirim and Barra Bonita reservoirs, the canyons and waterfalls of the Itararé Valley.
The coastal metropolis of Baixada Santista side-by-side with the UNESCO-protected rainforest area of the Ribeira Valley.
The sprawling metropolitan area of the largest city in the Southern Hemisphere.
Beach resort getaways and, inland, some charming cities of the Paraíba Valley.
By car
São Paulo's state roads are reputedly the best and safest roads of Brazil, although they have also by far the most expensive tolls. Expect to spend in tolls up to 60% of what you spend in fuel.
By bus
Intercity buses, provided by private operators, are generally a comfortable, efficient and reasonably priced way of moving between cities of the state, and competition between operators is intense.
By train
Once the most popular means of transport in the state, passenger trains have become almost extinct, although there are projects to reactivate some rail links.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Campinas · International · VCP
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The huge, prosperous and cosmopolitan capital of São Paulo, with its large number of museums, theaters, restaurant, malls, offices and annual and international events. It's one of the best cities for business tourism in the world
The second largest metropolis in the state, one of the country's main centers of technology and scientific research, and a great place to party
Containing the largest port in Brazil, a valuable historical heritage and testimonies to some of the most glorious moments of Brazilian football
Town famous for its XIX century historical center, its traditional Carnaval and for its ecotourism options
Where millions of Christians flock every year to visit the largest Catholic temple in the World outside the Vatican
A Colonial-era town with a lovely historic center surrounded by unspoiled beaches and nature
A lovely mountain city covered by lots of Brazilian Pines, with a nice climate, European architecture, cobblestone streets, and small shops. The city is famous for its yearly Winter Classical Music Festival
Coastal town with the state's most famous beach, Maresias, a pleasant historic center and the entry point to Ilhabela
Largest city of the northwest half of the state, with valuable historical buildings and the country's most famous chopp
Capital West Paulista, the city offers visitors the experience of a city within the country, with the facilities of large cities.
Previously called "Jacupiranga State Park", it contains a large original Atlantic rainforest reserve, the famous "Caverna do Diabo" (Devil's Cave) and the beautiful Lagamar de Cananéia
One of the largest original Atlantic rainforest reserves of the country, hence with large animal biodiversity, also with the highest concentration of caves in the World
A huge reserve facing the coast, composed mostly of regenerating Atlantic rainforest, thus with smaller biodiversity than the Jacupiranga and Alto Ribeira reserves. Famous for its marvelous noncontiguous beaches
A collection of calm mineral spring towns over the Serra da Mantiqueira mountain range
An arquipelago containing mostly intact nature, several savage trails and beaches, and the country's premier sailing destination
A large rainforest reserve located between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, with both original and regenerating Atlantic rainforest
Municipality with dozens of kilometers of coast with dozens of beaches surrounded by rainforest, many completely deserted outside (and some even inside) the peak season. Also one of the country's main surfing destinations
Municipality popular for practitioners of radical sports, including rafting, ziplining, canopy and rapel
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