Plan on about 11 h 39 min of driving for the 503-mile (809 km) trip from Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Caraguatatuba, 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: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
| Total distance | 503 mi (809 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 39 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-482 → BR-101 → CA-M-197 → RJ-238 → RJ-180 → BR-040 → BR-116 → SPI 117/070 → SP-099 |
| States on the route | Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
On the road from Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Caraguatatuba
BR-116 (176 mi) and RJ-180 (152 mi) carry about 65% of the 503 miles. It runs through 3 states: Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Caraguatatuba: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Espírito Santo |
| BR-482 | 1–7 | 6 | Espírito Santo |
| BR-101 | 7–72 | 65 | Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 72–73 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 73–78 | 5 | Rio de Janeiro |
| CA-M-197 | 78–81 | 3 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-238 | 81–85 | 4 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-180 | 85–237 | 152 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 237–247 | 10 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 247–255 | 8 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 255–258 | 3 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 258–434 | 176 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 434–435 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SPI 117/070 | 435–455 | 20 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 455–456 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-099 | 456–501 | 45 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 501–503 | 2 | São Paulo |
- Mile 35 of this route: Espírito Santo → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
- Mile 362 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Cachoeiro de Itapemirim and Caraguatatuba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Niterói (mile 239), Museu da Maré (mile 250), Itatiaia National Park (mile 352), Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (mile 401)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra das Torres Natural Monument (mile 21), Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 210), Itatiaia National Park (mile 352)
- Museums and history: Serra das Torres Natural Monument (mile 21), Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Niterói (mile 239), Museu de Arte do Rio (mile 244), Museu da Maré (mile 250), Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (mile 401)
Serra das Torres Natural Monument
Covering about 10,459 hectares of Atlantic Forest in Atílio Vivácqua, Mimoso do Sul and Muqui, the Serra das Torres Natural Monument was created in 2010 to protect the peaks of a mountain range in southern Espírito Santo.
Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park
Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park is a protected area in Rio de Janeiro state, set aside by the municipality to safeguard a stretch of Atlantic Forest.
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 de Itapuca
Between Icaraí and Flechas beaches in Niterói, Pedra de Itapuca is a rock formation considered one of the symbols of the city.
Teatro João Caetano
Teatro João Caetano stands on Tiradentes Square in Rio de Janeiro and seats 1,139 people across its main floor, noble balcony and upper balcony.
Museu de Arte do Rio
Opened on March 1, 2013, Museu de Arte do Rio is an art museum maintained through a partnership of municipal institutions and private initiatives.
Museu da Maré
Recording the history of the Maré communities in Rio de Janeiro, Museu da Maré centers on a permanent exhibition and also runs oral history research, storytelling and traveling exhibitions.
Itatiaia National Park
Created in 1937, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia holds the distinction of being Brazil's first national park. It sits on the border of two states, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais.
Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves
Francisco de Paula Rodrigues Alves, who lived in Guaratinguetá and served as Brazil's president from 1902 to 1906, is honored at the town's history museum.
Once you reach Caraguatatuba
Prainha (Caraguatatuba)
Prainha is a beach in Caraguatatuba between Martim de Sá and Pedra da Freira; a trail along the hillside leads to the Pedra do Jacaré rock.
Martim de Sá Beach
About 2.5 km from downtown Caraguatatuba, Martim de Sá Beach sits between Prainha to the south and Praia Brava to the north.
Brava Beach (Caraguatatuba)
Close to Martim de Sá in Caraguatatuba, Praia Brava sees few visitors because of its isolated access, and nudism is permitted on the beach.
More drives to Caraguatatuba
- Pindamonhangaba to Caraguatatuba
- Guarujá to Caraguatatuba
- São Paulo to Caraguatatuba
- Jundiaí to Caraguatatuba
- Sorocaba to Caraguatatuba
- Itu to Caraguatatuba
From Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to other places in Brazil
- Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Rio das Ostras
- Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Teresópolis
- Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Conselheiro Lafaiete
- Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Barra do Piraí
- Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Itaguaí
- Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Barra Mansa
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Caraguatatuba?
About 11 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 503 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Caraguatatuba?
About 503 miles (809 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 Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Caraguatatuba?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Caraguatatuba?
In order: BR-482, BR-101, CA-M-197, RJ-238, RJ-180, BR-040, BR-116, SPI 117/070 and SP-099. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Caraguatatuba?
Closest to the road: Museu da Maré (museum, mile 250, 0.4 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 352, 0.3 mi from the route); Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (museum, mile 401, 0.4 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.