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Which is better: Arraial do Cabo or Ubatuba?

Short answer

Arraial do Cabo is in Rio de Janeiro and its surroundings (RJ), while Ubatuba is on the North Coast of São Paulo (SP): different regions of Brazil. Arraial do Cabo: the Brazilian Caribbean of the Região dos Lagos (Lakes Region); Ubatuba: more than a hundred beaches between the Serra do Mar and the ocean. For this month's weather, Arraial do Cabo has the edge. Driving from São Paulo, Ubatuba costs less.

Sources: INMET (updated 2026) · ANP · OpenStreetMap
Most reviewed activity in Arraial do CaboArraial do Cabo Boat Trip★ 8.7 · 20 reviews · from US$ 56 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Most reviewed activity in UbatubaUbatuba Northern Islands Boat Tour★ 10 · 1 review · from US$ 99 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Arraial do Cabo Ubatuba
Best time to visit Apr → Nov May → Aug
Weather this month 25° · 8 days of rain 26° · 15 days of rain
By car R$ 394 · from São Paulo R$ 145 · from São Paulo
Ideal stay 2–3 days 4–5 days
Best for Family, Adventure, Relax, Romantic Adventure, Relax, Family
Choose Arraial do Cabo if

you want a trip for families and adventure seekers: transparent water, white sand and the clearest (and coldest) sea on the Rio de Janeiro coast.

See guide
Choose Ubatuba if

you want a trip for adventure seekers and relaxation: surf, Atlantic Forest and coves you reach by trail.

See guide
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Where to stay

Where to stay: Arraial do Cabo or Ubatuba

The average nightly rate is around R$ 351 in Arraial do Cabo and R$ 417 in Ubatuba; what changes in practice is each place's season. Check current prices for your dates before deciding.

Compare hotels and places to stay in Arraial do Cabo on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

Sophia 2 Residence Inn in Arraial do Cabo 9.5 ★★★★★ · 12 reviews Sophia 2 Residence Inn See on Booking → Mediterrane Hotel by Castelo Itaipava in Arraial do Cabo 8.4 ★★★★ · 42 reviews Mediterrane Hotel by Castelo Itaipava See on Booking →
See all hotels in Arraial do Cabo

Compare hotels and places to stay in Ubatuba on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

Kaliman Pousada in Ubatuba 9 ★★★★ · 16 reviews Kaliman Pousada See on Booking → Catalina Hotel in Ubatuba 9.6 ★★★★ · 1 review Catalina Hotel See on Booking →
See all hotels in Ubatuba

Rates change with the dates: confirm the price on Booking.com.

Frequently asked questions

Arraial do Cabo or Ubatuba: which is better?
Arraial do Cabo is in Rio de Janeiro and its surroundings (RJ), while Ubatuba is on the North Coast of São Paulo (SP): different regions of Brazil. Arraial do Cabo: the Brazilian Caribbean of the Região dos Lagos (Lakes Region); Ubatuba: more than a hundred beaches between the Serra do Mar and the ocean. For this month's weather, Arraial do Cabo has the edge. Driving from São Paulo, Ubatuba costs less.
What is the best time to visit Arraial do Cabo and Ubatuba?
The best time to visit Arraial do Cabo is from April to November; for Ubatuba, it is from May to August, based on INMET's climate normals (temperature and rainfall for each month). If your trip already has a date, check each destination's page for your month.
Which of the two is cheaper to get to?
By car, leaving from São Paulo, Arraial do Cabo is 585 km (364 mi) and costs about R$ 394 each way (fuel plus tolls); leaving from São Paulo, Ubatuba is 225 km (140 mi) and costs about R$ 145 each way (fuel plus tolls). The calculation assumes a car that gets 11 km/L. Lodging and activities vary with each place's season.
Where does it rain less, Arraial do Cabo or Ubatuba?
Averaged over the year, Arraial do Cabo has 7 rainy days a month and Ubatuba has 13. Arraial do Cabo is the drier of the two over the year as a whole, but what decides the trip is the month: the rainiest month in Arraial do Cabo is December and in Ubatuba, January. For temperature, Ubatuba is the warmer one (average high of 27° versus 26°).
How many days should you spend in Arraial do Cabo and in Ubatuba?
To see the main sights without rushing, Arraial do Cabo calls for 2–3 days and Ubatuba, 4–5 days. These are distant regions: with a week or less, it is usually better to pick one of the two and make the most of it.
Arraial do Cabo or Ubatuba with kids?
Both work with kids: Arraial do Cabo (crystal-clear water, boat trip, and diving) and Ubatuba (more than a hundred beaches, surf, and Atlantic Forest). The choice usually comes down to getting there, not to infrastructure. With small children, weather matters: Arraial do Cabo has fewer rainy days over the year.
What should you not miss in each?
In Arraial do Cabo: Boat circuit of the islands, Prainha, Praia do Forno. In Ubatuba: Praia de Itamambuca, Praia do Félix, Praia Vermelha do Norte. These are the sights that show up most in first-trip itineraries for each destination; the full guide to each has the whole list.