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Which is better: Mariana or Ubatuba?

Short answer

Mariana is in the Historic Cities of Minas Gerais (MG), while Ubatuba is on the North Coast of São Paulo (SP): different regions of Brazil. Mariana: the first capital of Minas; Ubatuba: more than a hundred beaches between the Serra do Mar and the ocean. For this month's weather, Mariana has the edge.

Sources: INMET (updated 2026) · ANP · OpenStreetMap

Most reviewed activity in UbatubaUbatuba Northern Islands Boat Tour★ 10 · 1 review · from US$ 99 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →

	Mariana	Ubatuba
Best time to visit	May → Aug	May → Aug
Weather this month	29° · 8 days of rain	26° · 15 days of rain
By car	R$ 70 · from Belo Horizonte	R$ 145 · from São Paulo
Ideal stay	2–3 days	4–5 days
Best for	Romantic, Family, Food	Adventure, Relax, Family

Choose Mariana if

you want a trip for couples and families: gilded Baroque carving, cobbled hills and the German organ of 1701 that still plays in the Sé Cathedral.

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: Mariana or Ubatuba

What usually tips the balance for your wallet is the rate on your travel dates. Check current prices for each city before deciding.

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

See all hotels in Mariana

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

9 ★★★★ · 16 reviews Kaliman Pousada See on Booking →

9.6 ★★★★ · 1 review Catalina Hotel See on Booking →

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

Frequently asked questions

Mariana or Ubatuba: which is better?

What is the best time to visit Mariana and Ubatuba?

The best time to visit Mariana is from May to August; 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 Belo Horizonte, Mariana is 112 km (70 mi) and costs about R$ 70 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, Mariana or Ubatuba?

Averaged over the year, Mariana has 8 rainy days a month and Ubatuba has 13. Mariana is the drier of the two over the year as a whole, but what decides the trip is the month: the rainiest month in Mariana is December and in Ubatuba, January. For temperature, both have the same average high, 27°.

How many days should you spend in Mariana and in Ubatuba?

To see the main sights without rushing, Mariana 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.

Mariana or Ubatuba with kids?

Both work with kids: Mariana (Minas Baroque, first capital of Minas, and historic center) 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: Mariana has fewer rainy days over the year.

What should you not miss in each?

In Mariana: Praça Minas Gerais, Sé Cathedral Basilica, Church of São Francisco de Assis. 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.