Palhoça to Caraguatatuba is about 540 road miles (869 km): roughly 11 h 57 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- 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.”
| Total distance | 540 mi (869 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → BR-376 → BR-116 → SP-021 → SP-015 → SP-070 → SP-099 |
| States on the route | Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
On the road from Palhoça to Caraguatatuba
BR-116 (236 mi) and BR-101 (132 mi) carry about 68% of the 540 miles. It runs through 3 states: Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Palhoça to Caraguatatuba
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Santa Catarina |
| BR-101 | 1–133 | 132 | Santa Catarina |
| BR-376 | 133–175 | 42 | Santa Catarina, Paraná |
| connecting roads | 175–176 | 1 | Paraná |
| BR-116 | 176–412 | 236 | Paraná, São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 412–413 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-021 | 413–421 | 8 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 421–426 | 5 | São Paulo |
| SP-015 | 426–441 | 15 | São Paulo |
| SP-070 | 441–493 | 52 | São Paulo |
| SP-099 | 493–537 | 44 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 537–540 | 3 | São Paulo |
- Mile 134 of this route: Santa Catarina → Paraná (state line)
- Mile 240 of this route: Paraná → São Paulo (state line)
Places worth a stop between Palhoça and Caraguatatuba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Praia da Ilhota (mile 44), Memorial da Imigração Judaica (mile 434)
- Nature and outdoors: Praia da Ilhota (mile 44), Guaricana National Park (mile 145), Serra da Baitaca State Park (mile 193), Rio Turvo State Park (mile 267), Campina do Encantado State Park (mile 304)
- Museums and history: Museu Arqueológico de Sambaqui de Joinville (mile 108), Aldeia de Carapicuíba (mile 418), Memorial da Imigração Judaica (mile 434), Museu do Tribunal de Justiça (mile 434)
Praia da Ilhota
On Itapema's coast in Santa Catarina, Praia da Ilhota pairs clear water and a wide strip of coarse golden sand with a string of seafood spots, and its slightly choppy sea draws local surfers.
Museu Arqueológico de Sambaqui de Joinville
In Joinville, Santa Catarina, this archaeological museum explores the way of life and culture of the fisher-hunter-gatherer groups who were among the first peoples to spread across South America and settle what is now Brazil.
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, within the largest continuous stretch of dense Atlantic Forest in Brazil.
Serra da Baitaca State Park
Serra da Baitaca State Park, in Quatro Barras in the Curitiba metro area, has trails up Anhangava, a 1,420-meter peak considered Paraná's most important rock-climbing spot, and to Morro do Samambaia. From the summit you can see Curitiba and the Serra do Mar.
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
A peat bog and a stretch of wetland forest are protected in Campina do Encantado State Park, in Pariquera-Açu, São Paulo state. The ecosystem is described as unique and of great scientific interest.
Aldeia de Carapicuíba
Aldeia de Carapicuíba is a historic center in the municipality of Carapicuíba, part of the São Paulo metropolitan area, and also the seat of one of its districts.
Memorial da Imigração Judaica
In São Paulo's Bom Retiro neighborhood, the Memorial da Imigração Judaica holds the state's oldest synagogue, Kehilat Israel, and tells the story of Jewish immigrants to Brazil through documents, photos and objects.
Museu do Tribunal de Justiça
Run by the São Paulo State Court of Justice, this museum opened in 1995 and since 2007 has occupied the Palacete Conde de Sarzedas, a late-19th-century building near Sé metro station.
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 Palhoça to other places in Brazil
- Palhoça to Bento Gonçalves
- Palhoça to Guarapuava
- Palhoça to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Palhoça to Itanhaém
- Palhoça to Apucarana
- Palhoça to Cubatão
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Palhoça to Caraguatatuba?
About 11 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 540 miles.
How far is Caraguatatuba from Palhoça by car?
About 540 miles (869 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 Palhoça to Caraguatatuba?
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 Palhoça to Caraguatatuba use?
In order: BR-101, BR-376, BR-116, SP-021, SP-015, SP-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 Palhoça to Caraguatatuba?
Closest to the road: Praia da Ilhota (beach, mile 44, 0.4 mi from the route); Aldeia de Carapicuíba (historic site, mile 418, 2 mi from the route); Memorial da Imigração Judaica (migration museum, mile 434, 0.7 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.