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Which is better: São Sebastião or Ubatuba?

Short answer

São Sebastião and Ubatuba are in the same region (North Coast of São Paulo). São Sebastião: the town that gives its name to the north coast of São Paulo state; Ubatuba: more than a hundred beaches between the Serra do Mar and the ocean. The weather is similar in both this month. The two are about 73 km (45 mi) apart, 1h36 by car; you can combine them in a single trip.

Sources: INMET (updated 2026) · ANP · OpenStreetMap
Most reviewed activity in São SebastiãoSão Sebastião Whale Watching★ 8 · 1 review · from US$ 102 · 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 →
São Sebastião Ubatuba
Best time to visit May → Aug May → Aug
Weather this month 26° · 15 days of rain 26° · 15 days of rain
By car R$ 107 + tolls · from São Paulo R$ 145 · from São Paulo
Ideal stay 4–5 days 4–5 days
Best for Adventure, Relax, Family, Romantic Adventure, Relax, Family
Choose São Sebastião if

you want a trip for adventure seekers and relaxation: almost 100 km of coastline, from the surf of Maresias to family beaches and a 17th-century historic center that almost nobody visits.

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: São Sebastião or Ubatuba

The average nightly rate is around R$ 412 in São Sebastião 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 São Sebastião on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

Amora Hotel Maresias in São Sebastião 9.3 ★★★★ · 65 reviews Amora Hotel Maresias See on Booking → Suítes Las Flores Maresias in São Sebastião 9 ★★★ · 118 reviews Suítes Las Flores Maresias See on Booking →
See all hotels in São Sebastião

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

São Sebastião or Ubatuba: which is better?
São Sebastião and Ubatuba are in the same region (North Coast of São Paulo). São Sebastião: the town that gives its name to the north coast of São Paulo state; Ubatuba: more than a hundred beaches between the Serra do Mar and the ocean. The weather is similar in both this month. The two are about 73 km (45 mi) apart, 1h36 by car; you can combine them in a single trip.
What is the best time to visit São Sebastião and Ubatuba?
The best time to visit São Sebastião 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 São Paulo, São Sebastião is 196 km (122 mi) and costs about R$ 107 each way (fuel only, tolls not included); 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, São Sebastião or Ubatuba?
Averaged over the year, São Sebastião has 13 rainy days a month and Ubatuba has 13. The two are practically tied over the year, but what decides the trip is the month: the rainiest month in São Sebastião is January and in Ubatuba, January. For temperature, both have the same average high, 27°.
How many days should you spend in São Sebastião and in Ubatuba?
To see the main sights without rushing, São Sebastião calls for 4–5 days and Ubatuba, 4–5 days. Since the two are 73 km (45 mi) from each other, anyone with 8 days or more can combine them in a single trip.
São Sebastião or Ubatuba with kids?
Both work with kids: São Sebastião (dozens of beaches, surf, and ferry to Ilhabela) and Ubatuba (more than a hundred beaches, surf, and Atlantic Forest). The choice usually comes down to getting there, not to infrastructure.
Can you visit São Sebastião and Ubatuba on the same trip?
Yes. The two are about 73 km (45 mi) apart, 1h36 by car and in the same region (North Coast of São Paulo). Combining them in a single itinerary is common, with a few days in each.
What should you not miss in each?
In São Sebastião: Praia de Maresias, Praia de Camburi, Praia de Boiçucanga. 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.