Plan on about 5 h 28 min of driving for the 219-mile (352 km) trip from Cabo Frio to Historic Village of Mambucaba, before any stops.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
Full advisory: Brazil. Advisory issued: Brazil August 31, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Brazil: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Total distance | 219 mi (352 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 28 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-140 → RJ-124 → BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 → RJ-145 → RJ-139 → BR-494 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Cabo Frio to Historic Village of Mambucaba is like
BR-101 (61 mi) and BR-116 (44 mi) carry about 48% of the 219 miles. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Which roads connect Cabo Frio and Historic Village of Mambucaba
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-140 | 2–9 | 7 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 9–12 | 3 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-124 | 12–47 | 35 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 47–93 | 46 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 93–102 | 9 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 102–104 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 104–148 | 44 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-145 | 148–157 | 9 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-139 | 157–163 | 6 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-494 | 163–198 | 35 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 198–213 | 15 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 213–219 | 6 | Rio de Janeiro |
Where to stop on the way to Historic Village of Mambucaba
- Nature and outdoors: Costa do Sol State Park (mile 12), Araruama Lagoon (mile 18), Praia do Buraco (mile 79), Tijuca National Park (mile 93)
- Museums and history: Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Niterói (mile 85), Old Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro (mile 89), Igreja de São Sebastião dos Capuchinhos (mile 93)
Costa do Sol State Park
Scattered along the coast of Rio de Janeiro state, Costa do Sol State Park protects fragments of Atlantic Forest coastal habitat under pressure from urban growth.
Araruama Lagoon
In Rio de Janeiro state's Região dos Lagos, Araruama Lagoon is a permanent hypersaline lagoon covering 220 km², about 40 km long and 13 km wide.
Praia do Buraco
About four kilometers from Praia Central in Balneário Camboriú, Praia do Buraco borders Praia do Canto; strong waves make it unsafe for swimming, so it draws mostly fishermen and photographers.
Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Niterói
Built in a late colonial style, the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Niterói Cathedral) is the Catholic cathedral of Niterói, in Rio de Janeiro state.
Pedra do Índio
On Icaraí beach in Niterói, Pedra do Índio is a rock formation used by local anglers and beachgoers, with views over Guanabara Bay.
Carioca Aqueduct
Better known as Arcos da Lapa, the Carioca Aqueduct in Rio de Janeiro was built in the mid-18th century to carry fresh water from the Carioca River to the city.
Old Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro
Dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Rio's Old Cathedral is a Carmelite church that served as cathedral from around 1808 to 1976 and as Royal and then Imperial Chapel.
Tijuca National Park
Covering mountains inside the city of Rio de Janeiro, Tijuca National Park is an urban national park within the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve, managed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation.
Igreja de São Sebastião dos Capuchinhos
Igreja de São Sebastião dos Capuchinhos is a Catholic basilica and sanctuary on Rua Haddock Lobo, in the Tijuca neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.
In Historic Village of Mambucaba itself
Praia do Laboratório
Praia do Laboratório is a beach in the municipality of Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro state, right next to the nuclear power plant.
More drives to Historic Village of Mambucaba
- Guaratinguetá to Historic Village of Mambucaba
- Caraguatatuba to Historic Village of Mambucaba
- Pindamonhangaba to Historic Village of Mambucaba
- Taubaté to Historic Village of Mambucaba
- Niterói to Historic Village of Mambucaba
- São José dos Campos to Historic Village of Mambucaba
From Cabo Frio to other places in Brazil
- Cabo Frio to Nova Friburgo
- Cabo Frio to Teresópolis
- Cabo Frio to Itaguaí
- Cabo Frio to Barra Mansa
- Cabo Frio to Angra dos Reis
- Cabo Frio to Resende
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cabo Frio to Historic Village of Mambucaba?
About 5 h 28 min of driving without stops, over 219 miles.
How far is Historic Village of Mambucaba from Cabo Frio by car?
About 219 miles (352 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Is it safe to drive from Cabo Frio to Historic Village of Mambucaba?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Cabo Frio to Historic Village of Mambucaba?
In order: RJ-140, RJ-124, BR-101, BR-040, BR-116, RJ-145, RJ-139 and BR-494. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Cabo Frio to Historic Village of Mambucaba?
Closest to the road: Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Niterói (cathedral, mile 85, 1 mi from the route); Pedra do Índio (rock formation, mile 85, 2 mi from the route); Igreja de São Sebastião dos Capuchinhos (basilica, mile 93, 2 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.