The Wayro route from Poços de Caldas to Rio das Ostras is 405 miles (651 km), about 9 h 15 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Total distance | 405 mi (651 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-459 → SP-048 → SP-060 → BR-116 → BR-101 → RJ-162 |
| States on the route | Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Driving Poços de Caldas to Rio das Ostras: the shape of the trip
BR-459 (147 mi) and BR-101 (99 mi) carry about 61% of the 405 miles. It runs through 3 states: Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Poços de Caldas to Rio das Ostras, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–5 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-459 | 5–152 | 147 | Minas Gerais, São Paulo |
| SP-048 | 152–156 | 4 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 156–157 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-060 | 157–219 | 62 | São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 219–295 | 76 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 295–394 | 99 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-162 | 394–403 | 9 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 403–405 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
- Mile 136 of this route: Minas Gerais → São Paulo (state line)
- Mile 189 of this route: São Paulo → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Poços de Caldas and Rio das Ostras
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Itatiaia National Park (mile 198)
- Nature and outdoors: Itatiaia National Park (mile 198), Praia do Buraco (mile 318)
- Museums and history: Good Jesus Cathedral, Pouso Alegre (mile 64), Sala Cecília Meireles (mile 304), Museu da Imagem e do Som do Rio de Janeiro (mile 308), Museu de História e Artes do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (mile 312)
Good Jesus Cathedral, Pouso Alegre
Good Jesus Cathedral is the Catholic seat of the Archdiocese of Pouso Alegre, in the city of the same name in Minas Gerais.
Itatiaia National Park
Created in 1937, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia holds the distinction of being Brazil's first national park. It sits on the border of two states, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais.
Sala Cecília Meireles
In Rio de Janeiro's Lapa district, Sala Cecília Meireles is a theater known for chamber music and regarded as one of the city's best venues for acoustics.
Museu da Imagem e do Som do Rio de Janeiro
Opened on September 3, 1965, for Rio's fourth centenary, the Museu da Imagem e do Som do Rio de Janeiro is a state museum dedicated to carioca culture.
Museu de História e Artes do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
Also called Museu do Ingá, this history and art museum occupies the Palácio Nilo Peçanha on Rua Presidente Pedreira in Niterói's Ingá area and is linked to the state arts foundation.
Pedra de Itapuca
Between Icaraí and Flechas beaches in Niterói, Pedra de Itapuca is a rock formation considered one of the symbols of the city.
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.
Arriving in Rio das Ostras
Iriry Lagoon
Also nicknamed Coca-Cola Lagoon, Iriry Lagoon in Rio das Ostras is ringed by a protected area with trails, kiosks, beaches, leisure spots and a lookout.
More drives to Rio das Ostras
- Teresópolis to Rio das Ostras
- Petrópolis to Rio das Ostras
- Barra Mansa to Rio das Ostras
- Angra dos Reis to Rio das Ostras
- Pindamonhangaba to Rio das Ostras
- Taubaté to Rio das Ostras
From Poços de Caldas to other places in Brazil
- Poços de Caldas to Tatuí
- Poços de Caldas to Paranapiacaba
- Poços de Caldas to Itapetininga
- Poços de Caldas to Cubatão
- Poços de Caldas to Fumaça
- Poços de Caldas to Itanhaém
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Poços de Caldas to Rio das Ostras?
About 9 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 405 miles.
How far is Rio das Ostras from Poços de Caldas by car?
About 405 miles (651 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 Poços de Caldas to Rio das Ostras?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Poços de Caldas to Rio das Ostras?
In order: BR-459, SP-048, SP-060, BR-116, BR-101 and RJ-162. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Poços de Caldas to Rio das Ostras?
Closest to the road: Good Jesus Cathedral, Pouso Alegre (cathedral, mile 64, 1 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 198, 0.4 mi from the route); Museu de História e Artes do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (history museum, mile 312, 2 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.