Itanhaém combines around 26 kilometres of beaches with rivers, a rocky coastline, islands and tourist attractions. This offers different options for your stay: the beach and water sports, nature trails or an excursion into the city’s colonial history. Praia de Itanhaém itself is also varied: it stretches for around 10.5 kilometres from the border with Mongaguá to the mouth of the Rio Itanhaém. Along this stretch, different sections of the beach have their own names, including Praia do Tombo, Centro, Praião, Satélite, Nova Itanhaém and Suarão.

Beaches and Waterscapes

Praia de Itanhaém is used for sunbathing and beach sports. The coastline also has places with their own distinct character. Praia da Saudade is a riverside beach at the mouth of the Rio Itanhaém and can be reached via the Sapucaitava trail. At Boca da Barra, the Rio Itanhaém meets the sea; there are no waves here. Suitable activities at this spot include stand-up paddleboarding, kitesurfing, wakeboarding, kayaking and boating.

The seven-kilometre-long Rio Itanhaém has calm waters that are well suited to canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, water skiing and wakeboarding. Its described course runs from the river mouth to the area of Ilha do Bairro do Rio Acima. The Rio Branco and the Rio Preto meet there. This confluence is also considered a natural spectacle. Water activities therefore vary by location: the river has calm waters, while Boca da Barra is distinguished by its location on the seafront and lack of waves.

Nature Trails and Excursions

For a shorter nature trail, consider the ecological trail on Morro do Sapucaitava. The route takes around 30 minutes and is classified as easy; there is also a tourist information kiosk and standardised trail signage. Another option is the 14-kilometre route in Vale do Rio Branco. It follows a country road through the Atlantic Forest, past farms and the slopes of Morro Guapuruvu. The route runs alongside the Rio Branco and offers views of Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar. The two trails offer different experiences: a short, easy-rated trail on the hill, or a longer route through forest and river landscapes.

Colonial Centre and Culture

The historic centre includes a group of colonial buildings dating back to the 16th century. These include Convento Nossa Senhora da Conceição, the former Casa de Câmara e Cadeia, Igreja Matriz de Sant'Anna and colonial houses. The historic cityscape also includes Beco de Sant'Anna and the former Largo São Francisco, on the site of which Praça Carlos Botelho was later created.

Convento Nossa Senhora da Conceição has been a place of faith and devotion for more than 400 years and is listed by the Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional (Iphan). The Museu Conceição de Itanhaém is housed in the former Casa de Câmara e Cadeia. Documents, photographs and other historical records are displayed there, including José de Anchieta’s baptismal record and Benedicto Calixto’s book “Vila de Itanhaém”. In the historic centre, you can explore the architecture and religious history, as well as the records preserved in the museum.

Pinacoteca Alfredo Volpi hosts travelling exhibitions, maintains a permanent collection and holds talks, workshops and other cultural events. Espaço Gabinete de Leitura José Rosendo is a replica of the historic cultural centre that opened in 1896. The replica was built at the original site in 2011. Festa Divino Espírito Santo is also part of Itanhaém’s cultural history: it has been celebrated there for more than 300 years and includes, among other things, a procession and a solemn Mass.

Passarela de Anchieta and Getting There

The 220-metre-long Passarela de Anchieta starts at Gruta Nossa Senhora de Lourdes and leads to Cama de Anchieta. The walkway was built to make access easier for people with reduced mobility; passage is free. Check the conditions before your visit if needed. Cama de Anchieta is a rock formation on the rocky stretch of coastline at Praia do Sonho and is associated with the meditation and prayer of Blessed José de Anchieta. Gruta Nossa Senhora de Lourdes is a religious tourism site; a Mass is held there on the 11th day of each month.

Itanhaém can be reached via the Rodovia Padre Manoel da Nóbrega. For reference, Santos is around 90 kilometres away and São Paulo around 120 kilometres away. At Praia dos Pescadores, artisanal fishers return from the sea with fresh fish every morning; fish is sold at Praça Mario Bernardi. These details add fishing, an important part of local life, to the picture of the beaches and the town centre.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Jaguariúna, Barbosa, São Roque, Alambari, Ubatuba, Santa Cruz das Palmeiras, Santa Rita do Passa Quatro, Carlópolis.

For the broader travel overview: São Paulo.