Santos

Santos is a city in the Brazilian state of São Paulo, located in the south. Santos is the capital of Baixada Santista, a 1.6 million-person coastal metropolitan region that is home to South America’s most significant port. Santos is a city notable for its historical core, football club Santos FC (led by the famous Pelé), and beaches (reputedly, not the cleanest).

UNDERSTAND

Santos is a municipality in Brazil’s state of São Paulo. It was created in 1546. It is situated partly on the island of São Vicente, which is home to both Santos and So Vicente, and partially on the mainland. It is the most populous city on the Paulista Coast. As of 2006, it has a population of 418,375. Santos boasts Latin America’s largest harbor, is a major tourist destination, and is home to enormous industrial complexes and shipping facilities that handle a substantial amount of the world’s coffee exports, as well as a variety of other Brazilian products such as oranges, bananas, and cotton. Additionally, the city has the Coffee Museum, which was previously used to negotiate coffee rates, and a football monument honoring the city’s finest players, including Pelé. Its beachfront garden, measuring 5335 kilometers in length, is included in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s biggest.

A tourist information office is located in the beach garden at the beach’s center. It’s the building with Mondrian-inspired walls next to the large I sign. The staff speaks good English and is really helpful.

Despite its proximity to the tropics, Santos has a tropical rainforest environment with no discernible dry season. Tropical rainforest climates are normally located near the equator, making Santos’ climate unique. Every month of the year receives an average of more than 60 millimeters of rainfall. Santos has pleasant weather throughout year, albeit June is somewhat cooler (and drier) than January. June’s average temperature is 23 °C, while January’s average temperature is 28 °C.

Santos receives an alarming quantity of precipitation, 2,081 mm (81.9 in) yearly. Santos is one of the few isolated regions of Brazil outside the tropical Amazon Basin that receives more than 2,000 mm (79 in) of total annual precipitation, although nearby Ubatuba, approximately 140 kilometers (87 miles) to the east-northeast, receives significantly more precipitation, receiving an average of 2,645 mm (104.1 in) per year. This climate is classified as a Köppen Climate Classification subtype “Af” (Tropical Rainforest Climate).

Santos is located around 79 kilometers (49 miles) from the capital of the state of São Paulo, the city of São Paulo.

It is separated into two different geographic areas: an island that is extensively urbanized and a continental territory that is protected to around 70%. The regions are markedly different in terms of population, economics, and topography.

Santos is home to Latin America’s largest seaport, which handled more than 72 million tons in 2006. It is home to vast industrial complexes and shipping hubs that handle a significant amount of the world’s coffee exports, as well as a variety of other Brazilian products such as steel, oil, automobiles, oranges, bananas, and cotton.

Santos was Brazil’s sixth-biggest exporting city by value in 2014, trading $4.36 billion (USD) worth of products. Santos’ top four exports were raw sugar (23% of total exports), refined petroleum (16%), coffee (15%), and soybeans (15%). (13%).

• By air – Arriving the airports in São Paulo (Congonhas / CGH) or (Guarulhos / GRU), packtours can arrange convenient TAXI service to Santos, it may take slightly more than one hour to go. There are also about 8 bus service a day from Guarulhos.
• By bus – Take a taxi or the subway to Jabaquara Bus Station. There you can take a bus directly to Santos. Estimated travel time: 1 hour 20 minutes. Buses leave every 15 minutes 24 hours a day. More information: 011 50113421. The bus stops at the Centro Rodoviário and them some go on to São Vicente (Santos’ twin city), some to Gonzaga (beach) and some to Ponta da Praia (on the channel, handy for taking a boat on to Guarujá). You can get off at many other stops on the bus way on, but only if you do not have luggage in the luggage trunk of the bus.

There is also a direct service from terminal 1. The Bus is Cometta and costs around 12 usd, arriving into Santos in 2h20

• By car – From São Paulo, take either rodovia Padre Anchieta (“Anchieta”, SP-160) or rodovia dos Imigrantes (“Imigrantes”, SP-160). Both roads have a “planalto” (plateau) section and a “serra” (mountain) section that goes down the Serra do Mar to the sea level. Anchieta being older, its mountain section is winding and narrow, while Imigrantes’ is wider and mostly straight due to extensive use of tunnels and bridges. Both roads are linked through a high and a low interlink. Trucks and busses are prohibited in the mountain section of Imigrantes, and are forced to take the interlink and use Anchieta. Both roads feature a toll of about R$ 20,00 that you pay only in one direction (when leaving São Paulo). Also note that traffic is frequently deviated from one road to the other for traffic regulation purposes or road works, so you should follow the dynamic signs.

Taxi is a useful approach to go to distant locations. Although little frauds are not unheard of, they are not extremely expensive and the drivers are generally kind. To prevent it, make sure the taximeter has been turned on after getting in the vehicle. If not, request the cabbie to do it.

Taxi is a useful approach to go to distant locations. Although little frauds are not unheard of, they are not extremely expensive and the drivers are generally kind. To prevent it, make sure the taximeter has been turned on after getting in the vehicle. If not, request the cabbie to do it.

The best method to get around town is by bicycle, although there are sadly not many locations where you may hire one (but plenty where you can buy). The majority of beaches prohibit riding during the day. There are various “ciclovias” (bike lanes), particularly one in front of the beach that is clearly marked. Purchase a padlock as well. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

There are a couple of tourist routes with early XX century streetcars.

MARKET / SUPERMARKET

RESTAURANTS

ENTERTAINMENT

PERSONAL CARE

CLOTHES / SHOES

TRANSPORTATION

• Dock Museum, Av. Rodrigues Alves with Rua João Alfredo,  3233-6565. Mon-Fri 7-11AM and 3-5PM. This museum tells the story of what was during the 19th century the greatest coffee dock in the world.Free. 
• Statue of the dock worker, Praça Silvério de Souza. 12-meter-high statue in homage to the labor force that endured carrying tons of coffee everyday back in times. 

• Coffee Stock Exchange, Rua XV de Novembro, 95,  3219-5585. Tue-Sun, 9AM-6PM. Once an active and important institution, nowadays it houses a Museum of Coffee where visitors can see the history of Coffee in Brazil. There are also some old machineries and different kinds of coffee. The building has renascentist inspiration and was reopened to the public in 1997.Adults R$4; Students and seniors R$2. 
• Monte Serrat Hill, Praça Correia de Melo, 33,  3221-5665. Right in the center of the city. On the top of the hill (157m) one can have a 360 degrees view of all Santos and adjacent cities (like Guaruja). Full of restaurants and coffee bars. If climbing is not your sport, you can take the tram (R$12,50). 

• Beach front garden. The longest beach front garden in the world according to the Guinness with 5335 meters long. Just go to the beach and you will find it.
• Aquarium.,  3236-9996. Av. Bartolomeu de Gusmão, Ponta da Praia. The first public aquarium in Brazil featuring hundreds of sea creatures of the Brazilian seas. Tue to Sat, 9:00 to 18:00. R$ 5,00, students pay R$ 2,50 and free for children under 12.
• Church of Embare., Av. Bartolomeu de Gusmão, 32,  3227-5977. Gothic church built in 1946. Everyday from 8:00 to 20:00. No admission fee. 
• Orchid Garden plus Zoobotanic garden at Praça Washington Luis at the end of Avenida General Francisco Glicério, 200 metres from beach and 300 metres from São Vicente border. Small entrance fee. Several green houses full of orchids. Small local animals loose in the garden: turtles, pacas. Walk in fenced garden with loose large birds: tucanos, macaws.
• Benedicto Calixto Art Collecion at Bartolomeu de Gusmão Avenue, 15 (near a touristic guide place) is a beautiful mansion house with a permanent exhibition of paintings by Benedicto Calixto and an art library. Worth visiting the beautiful indoor garden.

• Santos Futebol Club.,  3239-4000. Rua Princesa Isabel. The famous club where Pele played most of his career exhibits some glories and trophies of the past and present. Interesting only for football fanatics. From 9:00 to 11:30 and 13:30 to 18:00. No admission fee. 

• People from São Paulo often go to Santos to lie down under the sun and enjoy the beach. Santos beaches are not the most beautiful in the Paulista Coast, but they are still popular and a good place for a walk. Once there, you may try some coconuts (R$ 4.00) or buy handicrafts. If you can’t find the vendors, don’t worry, they will find you.
• Walk on the XV de Novembro Street. Located in the center of Santos, the street used to be where the office s of Coffee Lords were located. The interesting colonial architecture and the many bars and Cafes around make it a pleasant walk in the ending afternoon.
• Trams in Santos date back to 1861. You can still ride them and take a peek in all main attractions of the center. Tours costs R$5,00 and leaves from Maua Square (Praca Maua).
• Double Deck tour travels along the beach front on Saturdays and Sundays in summer, and during the rest of the year, on long holiday weekends. Departure point is near the Aquarium. A guide points out the main attractions along the route. Departures: Municipal Aquarium (Neighborhood: Ponta da Praia)tickets costs: R$4

• Beduíno, Av. Ana Costa, 466,  3284-1702. Or Av. Marechal Floriano Peixoto, 44, – Brazilian burgers and other finger foods. 
• Gotissô, Av. Saldanha da Gama, 159,  3261-1880. Japanesecuisine with affordable prices, self-service system. 

• Cafe Paulista, Praça Rui Barbosa 8 (in Centro, close to the Coffee Bourse),  +55 13 3219-5550. Nice old cafe from 1931 where the coffee bosses used to hang out. It has kept some of the former style with white table cloths, attentive servers that fill up your glass, etc. Great salads, meat, and seafood. Very good selection of Brazilian and imported wines R$15-40 for big portions. 
• Vista ao Mar, Av. Bartolomeu de Gusmão, 68, 3273-4411. This seafood restaurant serves, among others, a tasty paella. The portion is huge, so it’s better to come with a big group.
• Mar Del Plata, Av. Saldanha da Gama, 137, 3261-4253. Traditional seafood restaurant. 
• Piccola Forneria, Av. Almirante Cochrane, 62,  3273-6699, 3271-1200. Charming Italian restaurant with a great variety of pizzas and pasta. Good selection of wines. 
• Último Gole, Rua Carlos Afonseca, 214,  3284-0508. Traditional Portuguese cuisine. A nice dish of codfish, try the bacalhau Zé do Pipo. 
• Point 44, Rua Jorge Tibiriça , 44 Gonzaga Santos/SP,  +55 13 3877-7561. One of the better place to eat around the beach R$ 40 for mains. 

• La Recoleta, Av. Washington Luiz, 422,  3232-2803. Argentinianrestaurant inspired on area in Buenos Aires. Mainly meat. There’s a Tango performance on Tuesday nights. 
• Tertulha, Av. Bartolomeu de Gusmão, 187,  3261-1641. Steak house with many options of meat, salads and desserts. The waiters went at the tables with many options of meat, that you can choose what you prefer.

• The handicraft market is the place to buy a nice souvenir from Santos. There you can find paintings, earrings, clothes, candies, esoteric stuff, flowers and the like. It’s located at the end of Avenida Conselheiro Nébias, every Saturday from 14:00 to around 23:00, and Rua Conselheiro Ribas (in front of SESC) every sunday.
• Some tourists like to check the Fish Market, close to the ferry boat, where one can buy fresh fish with a very cheap price.

Bars in Santos are usually crowded and lively during the weekends. Many bars offer live MPB music (Popular Brazilian Music). Beer, caipirinha and batidas are found everywhere.

• Armazém 29, Rua Pindorama, 29,  3289-4629. A very informal bar where people go after a day at the beach. Santistas say they serve the best caipirinha in town. 
• Barão do Café, Av. Ana Costa, 547,  32861603. Thematic bar that celebrates the glorious times of the coffee in Brazil. Old photos of the city on the walls. Live music from Wednesday to Sunday at nights. 
• Chop Santista, Av. Vicente de Carvalho, 54, 3284-5428. Huge bar with two separated rooms, one with live music, that stays very crowded in the weekends. A lot of flirting. 
• Heinz, Rua Lincoln Feliciano, 54,  3286-1875. A more traditional option with a not-so-young crowd. They serve good German food and appetizers to go with the beer.

Santos is infamous for beach pollution, and during most of the year, swimming on its beaches is not advised. A red flag of CETESB in the beach indicates that it is not suitable for swimming.

You will probably see plenty of people swimming on the beaches, and some sanitarians argue that CETESB’s indicators are too conservative. Nonetheless, if you want to play safe, it is better to go the neighboring city of Guarujá for swimming.