By road, Rio das Ostras and Caraíva are about 548 miles (882 km) apart, or roughly 14 h 55 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Total distance | 548 mi (882 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 14 h 55 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-106 → BR-101 → RJ-228 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Bahia |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Rio das Ostras–Caraíva drive in a few lines
BR-101 (444 mi) and RJ-228 (43 mi) carry about 89% of the 548 miles. It runs through 3 states: Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Bahia. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Rio das Ostras to Caraíva, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-106 | 4–12 | 8 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 12–25 | 13 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-106 | 25–32 | 7 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 32–108 | 76 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-228 | 108–151 | 43 | Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo |
| BR-101 | 151–519 | 368 | Espírito Santo, Bahia |
| local roads | 519–548 | 29 | Bahia |
- Mile 122 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Espírito Santo (state line)
- Mile 401 of this route: Espírito Santo → Bahia (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Caraíva
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (mile 360), Museu Eclesiástico de Arte Sacra (mile 360)
- Nature and outdoors: Itabira Natural Monument (mile 155), Morro do Penedo Natural Monument (mile 226), Fonte Grande State Park (mile 229), Monte Pascoal National Park (mile 539)
- Museums and history: Forte Marechal Hermes (mile 16), Palácio dos Urubus (mile 17), Itabira Natural Monument (mile 155), St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (mile 360), Museu Eclesiástico de Arte Sacra (mile 360)
Forte Marechal Hermes
Forte Marechal Hermes stands just south of the Macaé River mouth in Macaé, on the point of land between Imbetiba and Conchas beaches, facing the Sant'Anna archipelago.
Palácio dos Urubus
Palácio dos Urubus is a historic building on Rua Doutor Télio Barreto in the center of Macaé, in Rio de Janeiro state.
Itabira Natural Monument
Itabira Natural Monument is a protected area in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, listed in the natural monument category.
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.
Fonte Grande State Park
Fonte Grande State Park is a state-protected park in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo.
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.
Monte Pascoal National Park
Set in the Brazilian state of Bahia, Monte Pascoal National Park is a national park and protected natural area.
More drives to Caraíva
- Linhares to Caraíva
- Aracruz to Caraíva
- Serra to Caraíva
- Cariacica to Caraíva
- Itabira to Caraíva
- Itaperuna to Caraíva
From Rio das Ostras to other places in Brazil
- Rio das Ostras to Itaguaí
- Rio das Ostras to Barra do Piraí
- Rio das Ostras to Resende
- Rio das Ostras to Penedo
- Rio das Ostras to Fumaça
- Rio das Ostras to Historic Village of Mambucaba
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Rio das Ostras to Caraíva?
About 14 h 55 min of driving without stops, over 548 miles.
How far is Caraíva from Rio das Ostras by car?
About 548 miles (882 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 Rio das Ostras to Caraíva drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Rio das Ostras to Caraíva?
In order: RJ-106, BR-101 and RJ-228. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Rio das Ostras and Caraíva?
Closest to the road: Palácio dos Urubus (historic palace, mile 17, 1 mi from the route); St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (cathedral, mile 360, 0.4 mi from the route); Museu Eclesiástico de Arte Sacra (museum, mile 360, 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.