Petrópolis to Caraguatatuba is about 270 road miles (435 km): roughly 6 h 2 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
| Distance by road | 270 mi (435 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 2 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-040 → BR-493 → BR-116 → SPI 117/070 → SP-099 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Petrópolis to Caraguatatuba is like
BR-116 (152 mi) and SP-099 (44 mi) carry about 73% of the 270 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Petrópolis and Caraguatatuba
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 4–19 | 15 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 19–21 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-493 | 21–50 | 29 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 50–202 | 152 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| SPI 117/070 | 202–223 | 21 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 223–224 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-099 | 224–268 | 44 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 268–270 | 2 | São Paulo |
- Mile 130 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Stops between Petrópolis and Caraguatatuba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Itatiaia National Park (mile 120), Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (mile 169), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 173), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 173)
- Nature and outdoors: Taquara Municipal Nature Park (mile 15), Itatiaia National Park (mile 120)
- Museums and history: Valongo Wharf (mile 21), Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (mile 169), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 173), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 173), Museu Mazzaropi (mile 197), Museu Monteiro Lobato (mile 198), Museu da Imigração Italiana de Quiririm "José Indiani" (mile 202)
Taquara Municipal Nature Park
Taquara Municipal Nature Park is a municipal nature park in Rio de Janeiro state that protects an area of Atlantic Forest.
Valongo Wharf
Built in 1811 in Rio's old port, the Valongo Wharf was where up to 900,000 enslaved Africans landed. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017, its excavated stone paving is left open to view.
Itatiaia National Park
Brazil's national park system started here: Itatiaia National Park (Parque Nacional do Itatiaia) was created in 1937 as the country's first. The protected area lies on the border between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states.
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.
Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida
Construction of the current basilica at Aparecida started in 1955, and Pope John Paul II consecrated it in 1980. As Brazil's National Shrine, it keeps the image of Our Lady Aparecida found by fishermen in 1717.
Our Lady of Aparecida Museum
Archaeological pieces and sacred objects from the region fill the Our Lady of Aparecida Museum, within the Aparecida basilica complex. The museum opened in 1956.
Museu Mazzaropi
On the grounds of Amácio Mazzaropi's former studio in Taubaté, a museum honors the comedian and filmmaker with photos, furniture, props and equipment his PAM Filmes used from 1950 to 1980.
Museu Monteiro Lobato
Plays featuring characters from Monteiro Lobato's stories, exhibitions, a historic main house and green areas make up the Museu Monteiro Lobato in Taubaté, a tribute to the children's author.
Museu da Imigração Italiana de Quiririm "José Indiani"
In Quiririm, a district of Taubaté, the Italian Immigration Museum fills the brick Casa Indiani, built between 1897 and 1903 by a family from Cremona, with photos, furniture, machinery and a period classroom recalling immigrant life.
Arriving in 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 Petrópolis to other places in Brazil
- Petrópolis to Guaratinguetá
- Petrópolis to Pindamonhangaba
- Petrópolis to Jacareí
- Petrópolis to Bragança Paulista
- Petrópolis to Paranapiacaba
- Petrópolis to Cubatão
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Petrópolis to Caraguatatuba?
About 6 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 270 miles.
What is the driving distance from Petrópolis to Caraguatatuba?
About 270 miles (435 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 Petrópolis to Caraguatatuba drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Petrópolis to Caraguatatuba?
In order: BR-040, BR-493, 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 Petrópolis to Caraguatatuba?
Closest to the road: Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 120, 0.4 mi from the route); Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (basilica, mile 173, 0.4 mi from the route); Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (museum, mile 173, 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.