Núcleo Picinguaba covers 47,500 hectares and spans 80 percent of the entire municipality of Ubatuba. Its protected coastal area includes five beaches: Brava da Almada, Fazenda, Picinguaba, Cambury, and Brava do Cambury. The area offers different ways to experience the forest and coast as you plan your visit: explore trails with varied characteristics, choose a cycling route, or focus on cultural history and traditional ways of life.

Discover the Forest and Coast on Hiking Trails

The Trilha do Jatobá starts at Casa da Farinha in Sertão de Picinguaba. The trail passes through preserved forest areas with endangered species such as the juçara palm and centuries-old trees such as the jatobá. At the end, there is a pool in the Rio Fazenda where you can stop for a swim. As access and activity conditions can change, check them before your visit.

Another option is the moderately difficult Trilha Brava da Almada in Núcleo Picinguaba, part of Parque Estadual Serra do Mar. The hike is 3 to 4 kilometers long and starts at Praia da Fazenda. It follows a rocky stretch of coast, with a stop at Saco das Taquaras, before reaching Brava da Almada. The return follows the same route. The Trilha do Saco Grande offers a different experience: it passes prison ruins, goes through preserved Atlantic Forest vegetation, and ends at a rocky coast with panoramic ocean views.

The routes can be distinguished by their described features: the Brava da Almada hike is rated moderately difficult and follows the same route back; the Trilha do Jatobá focuses on forest areas and the option of swimming in the river pool. If you prefer to travel on two wheels, the Ciclismo na Praia da Fazenda route is an easy, self-guided 6-to-7-kilometer cycling tour. It mostly follows the beach and returns to the starting point at the visitor center.

Traditions and Historic Sites

Traditional communities such as Vila de Picinguaba, Cambury, Sertão da Fazenda, and Sertão do Ubatumirim offer opportunities to experience caiçara and quilombola cultures. The Folia do Divino is also part of Ubatuba’s cultural tradition: it is more than two centuries old and originated in Portugal. During the pilgrimage from house to house, participants are accompanied by songs and the Divino flag. Traditionally, it takes place on Saturdays and Sundays after Easter and ends near the Festa do Divino in July. It is carried on by the Folia do Divino Espírito Santo de Ubatuba and the Folia Caiçara do Divino Espírito Santo de Ubatuba. Annual dates may vary; check them if you want to plan your trip around the event.

The Cadeia Velha and Casarão do Porto are among the places to explore the area’s architectural heritage. The Cadeia Velha was recognized as a municipal historic heritage site in 2001 and houses the Museu Histórico “Washington de Oliveira”; museum visiting conditions may change. The Casarão do Porto is a historic, protected building. It hosts exhibitions of art, handicrafts, and photography, as well as cultural workshops, courses, and competitions. As the program may change, it is worth checking the latest visitor information.

Casa da Farinha and Other Excursion Options

The restored Casa da Farinha is used by local cassava producers. As a historic site, it preserves a traditional processing technology whose significance has cultural, social, and economic dimensions. A food festival is generally held there in September. Exact dates may vary from year to year.

There are also different options for a boat trip to Ilha Anchieta: the island can be reached by schooner from Enseada and the Saco da Ribeira pier; alternatively, you can rent a boat with a crew. As availability and operators may change, check the options in advance.

Opened in 1991, the Projeto Tamar center in Ubatuba was the first Tamar base in a sea turtle feeding area on the Brazilian coast. The visitor center on the base’s grounds covers 2,500 square meters and is one of the most comprehensive of its kind. The facility’s history and size make this destination different in focus from the hiking and cultural experiences. Check the current visiting conditions before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Caraguatatuba, São Caetano Do Sul, Cunha, Arujá, Tambaú, Boituva, Itapetininga, Tanabi.

For the broader travel overview: São Paulo.