The Wayro route from Niterói to Itaúnas is 467 miles (752 km), about 12 h 3 min of driving without 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.”
| Distance | 467 mi (752 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 12 h 3 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → RJ-228 → ES-422 → ES-010 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Niterói to Itaúnas is like
BR-101 (393 mi) and RJ-228 (44 mi) carry about 94% of the 467 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Niterói and Itaúnas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 1–187 | 186 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-228 | 187–231 | 44 | Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo |
| BR-101 | 231–438 | 207 | Espírito Santo |
| connecting roads | 438–443 | 5 | Espírito Santo |
| ES-422 | 443–454 | 11 | Espírito Santo |
| ES-010 | 454–467 | 13 | Espírito Santo |
- Mile 202 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Espírito Santo (state line)
What to see on the way from Niterói to Itaúnas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Casa da Cultura de Fundão (mile 337), St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (mile 439), Museu Eclesiástico de Arte Sacra (mile 439)
- Nature and outdoors: Praia do Buraco (mile 7), Frade e a Freira Natural Monument (mile 239), Morro do Penedo Natural Monument (mile 306)
- Museums and history: Museu Histórico da Ilha das Caieiras (mile 311), Serra Historical Museum (mile 322), Casa da Cultura de Fundão (mile 337), St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (mile 439), Museu Eclesiástico de Arte Sacra (mile 439)
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.
Frade e a Freira Natural Monument
Created by state decree in 2007, the Frade e a Freira Natural Monument is a state-run protected area in Espírito Santo spanning parts of Itapemirim, Cachoeiro de Itapemirim and Vargem Alta.
Morro do Penedo Natural Monument
Morro do Penedo Natural Monument protects a small sugarloaf-shaped hill on the shore of the bay south of Vitória, the capital of Espírito Santo state.
Museu Histórico da Ilha das Caieiras
On Ilha das Caieiras in Vitória, Espírito Santo, this history museum is named for Manoel Passos Lyrio; an expansion begun in 2022 adds a section devoted to local fishermen.
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.
Museu Eclesiástico de Arte Sacra
Set in a former seminary chapel in São Mateus, Espírito Santo, this museum of sacred art was founded by Bishop Dom Aldo Gerna.
In Itaúnas itself
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
- Cariacica to Itaúnas
- Vitória to Itaúnas
- Vila Velha to Itaúnas
- Guarapari to Itaúnas
- Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Itaúnas
From Niterói to other places in Brazil
- Niterói to Petrópolis
- Niterói to Itaguaí
- Niterói to Barra do Piraí
- Niterói to Penedo
- Niterói to Guaratinguetá
- Niterói to Pindamonhangaba
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Niterói to Itaúnas?
About 12 h 3 min of driving without stops, over 467 miles.
What is the driving distance from Niterói to Itaúnas?
About 467 miles (752 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 Niterói 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 Niterói to Itaúnas use?
In order: BR-101, RJ-228, ES-422 and ES-010. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Niterói to Itaúnas?
Closest to the road: Casa da Cultura de Fundão (museum, mile 337, 0.2 mi from the route); St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (cathedral, mile 439, 0.5 mi from the route); Museu Eclesiástico de Arte Sacra (museum, mile 439, 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.