By road, Itajaí and Poços de Caldas are about 521 miles (839 km) apart, or roughly 11 h 9 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
| Distance by road | 521 mi (839 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → BR-376 → BR-116 → SP-021 → SP-348 → SP-083 → SP-340 → SP-344 → SP-342 → BR-267 |
| States on the route | Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
On the road from Itajaí to Poços de Caldas
BR-116 (236 mi) and BR-101 (74 mi) carry about 60% of the 521 miles. It runs through 4 states: Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, Minas Gerais. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Roads you'll take from Itajaí to Poços de Caldas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Santa Catarina |
| BR-101 | 4–78 | 74 | Santa Catarina |
| BR-376 | 78–121 | 43 | Santa Catarina, Paraná |
| BR-116 | 121–357 | 236 | Paraná, São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 357–358 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-021 | 358–373 | 15 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 373–375 | 2 | São Paulo |
| SP-348 | 375–411 | 36 | São Paulo |
| SP-083 | 411–422 | 11 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 422–426 | 4 | São Paulo |
| SP-340 | 426–479 | 53 | São Paulo |
| SP-344 | 479–496 | 17 | São Paulo |
| SP-342 | 496–510 | 14 | São Paulo |
| BR-267 | 510–518 | 8 | São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 518–521 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 79 of this route: Santa Catarina → Paraná (state line)
- Mile 185 of this route: Paraná → São Paulo (state line)
- Mile 513 of this route: São Paulo → Minas Gerais (state line)
Stops between Itajaí and Poços de Caldas
- Nature and outdoors: Guaricana National Park (mile 90), Pico Paraná State Park (mile 153), Rio Turvo State Park (mile 211), Campina do Encantado State Park (mile 249), Museu de História Natural (mile 421)
- Museums and history: Estação da Memória (mile 52), Basilica Minor Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima (Embu das Artes) (mile 356), Museu de História Natural (mile 421), Catedral Metropolitana de São João da Boa Vista (mile 496)
Estação da Memória
Housed in Joinville's former railroad station, built in 1906, Estação da Memória showcases German-Brazilian architecture and the railway heritage that shaped the city's growth and industrialization.
Guaricana National Park
Created in 2014, Guaricana National Park protects about 49,300 hectares of the Serra do Mar in Paraná, across Guaratuba, Morretes and São José dos Pinhais.
Pico Paraná State Park
Pico Paraná State Park protects well-preserved Atlantic Forest in Paraná state and contains a massif with the highest peak in southern Brazil.
Rio Turvo State Park
Roughly 73,900 hectares of Atlantic Forest fall within Rio Turvo State Park, which reaches into Cajati, Barra do Turvo and Jacupiranga. It has trails, a waterfall, a cave and Morro do Guaraú.
Campina do Encantado State Park
Campina do Encantado State Park, in the São Paulo state town of Pariquera-Açu, protects a peat bog and a patch of wetland forest, described as a unique ecosystem of great scientific interest.
Basilica Minor Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima (Embu das Artes)
On the line between Cotia and Embu das Artes in São Paulo state, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima is a Catholic church served by the Heralds of the Gospel.
Museu de História Natural
In Campinas' Bosque dos Jequitibás, the Natural History Museum (Museu de História Natural) has displayed about 5,000 pieces since 1939, from taxidermied mammals, birds and reptiles to fossils and specimens from Brazil's biomes.
Catedral Metropolitana de São João da Boa Vista
The Cathedral of São João Batista is the seat and main church of the Diocese of São João da Boa Vista.
When you get to Poços de Caldas
Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health
Built in 1937 on the site of the original parish church, the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health (Basílica de Nossa Senhora da Saúde) is a Catholic church in Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais.
More drives to Poços de Caldas
- Limeira to Poços de Caldas
- Campinas to Poços de Caldas
- São Carlos to Poços de Caldas
- Jundiaí to Poços de Caldas
- Araraquara to Poços de Caldas
- Bragança Paulista to Poços de Caldas
From Itajaí to other places in Brazil
- Itajaí to Paranaguá
- Itajaí to Guarapuava
- Itajaí to Passo Fundo
- Itajaí to São Leopoldo
- Itajaí to Itanhaém
- Itajaí to Novo Hamburgo
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Itajaí to Poços de Caldas?
About 11 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 521 miles.
How far is Poços de Caldas from Itajaí by car?
About 521 miles (839 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Itajaí to Poços de Caldas drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Itajaí to Poços de Caldas?
In order: BR-101, BR-376, BR-116, SP-021, SP-348, SP-083, SP-340, SP-344, SP-342 and BR-267. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Itajaí to Poços de Caldas?
Closest to the road: Estação da Memória (museum, mile 52, 1 mi from the route); Museu de História Natural (museum, mile 421, 2 mi from the route); Catedral Metropolitana de São João da Boa Vista (cathedral, mile 496, 1 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.