By road, Cariacica and Itaúnas are about 160 miles (257 km) apart, or roughly 4 h 23 min of driving.
- 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Distance | 160 mi (257 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 4 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → ES-422 → ES-010 |
| States on the route | Espírito Santo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
How the Cariacica to Itaúnas drive plays out
BR-101 (128 mi) and ES-010 (13 mi) carry about 88% of the 160 miles. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Cariacica to Itaúnas: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Espírito Santo |
| BR-101 | 2–130 | 128 | Espírito Santo |
| connecting roads | 130–135 | 5 | Espírito Santo |
| ES-422 | 135–147 | 12 | Espírito Santo |
| ES-010 | 147–160 | 13 | Espírito Santo |
What to see on the way from Cariacica to Itaúnas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Casa da Cultura de Fundão (mile 30), St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (mile 131)
- Museums and history: Ruins of the Church of São José do Queimado (mile 12), Serra Historical Museum (mile 15), Casa da Cultura de Fundão (mile 30), St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (mile 131)
Ruins of the Church of São José do Queimado
In the Queimado district of Serra, Espírito Santo, these church ruins stand as a historic reminder of the Queimado Insurrection, an 1849 slave uprising.
Serra Historical Museum
Founded in 2007, the Serra Historical Museum (Museu Histórico da Serra) in the municipality of Serra, Espírito Santo, keeps a collection of documents, period objects and other historical items.
Casa da Cultura de Fundão
Once the Agostini family residence, this two-story house in Fundão is protected as cultural heritage by Espírito Santo state and now works as a museum.
Buddha of Ibiraçu
Beside the BR-101 highway in Ibiraçu, a 35-meter Buddha statue rises at the Morro da Vargem Zen monastery. The giant figure, part of the monastery grounds, was officially inaugurated in August 2021.
St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus
St. Matthew Cathedral in the municipality of São Mateus is a Catholic church regarded as a reference for modern religious art in Brazil.
Once you reach Itaúnas
Itaúnas State Park
In northern Espírito Santo, Itaúnas State Park protects the lower Itaúnas River along with a strip of marshes, dunes and Atlantic beaches.
More drives to Itaúnas
- Serra to Itaúnas
- Vitória to Itaúnas
- Vila Velha to Itaúnas
- Guarapari to Itaúnas
- Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Itaúnas
- Ipatinga to Itaúnas
From Cariacica to other places in Brazil
- Cariacica to Governador Valadares
- Cariacica to Conselheiro Lafaiete
- Cariacica to Sete Lagoas
- Cariacica to Itaguaí
- Cariacica to Barra Mansa
- Cariacica to Angra dos Reis
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cariacica to Itaúnas?
About 4 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 160 miles.
How far is Itaúnas from Cariacica by car?
About 160 miles (257 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 Cariacica to Itaúnas?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Cariacica to Itaúnas use?
In order: BR-101, ES-422 and ES-010. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Cariacica and Itaúnas?
Closest to the road: Casa da Cultura de Fundão (museum, mile 30, 0.1 mi from the route); Buddha of Ibiraçu (statue, mile 37, 2 mi from the route); St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (cathedral, mile 131, 0.5 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.