Plan on about 4 h 38 min of driving for the 165-mile (265 km) trip from Vila Velha to Itaúnas, before any 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Distance | 165 mi (265 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 4 h 38 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → ES-422 → ES-010 |
| States on the route | Espírito Santo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
What the drive from Vila Velha to Itaúnas is like
BR-101 (125 mi) and ES-422 (12 mi) carry about 83% of the 165 miles. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Vila Velha to Itaúnas: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–8 | 8 | Espírito Santo |
| connecting roads | 8–10 | 2 | Espírito Santo |
| BR-101 | 10–135 | 125 | Espírito Santo |
| connecting roads | 135–140 | 5 | Espírito Santo |
| ES-422 | 140–152 | 12 | Espírito Santo |
| ES-010 | 152–164 | 12 | Espírito Santo |
| local roads | 164–165 | 1 | Espírito Santo |
Breaking up the drive: stops between Vila Velha and Itaúnas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Serra Historical Museum (mile 19), Casa da Cultura de Fundão (mile 35), St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (mile 136), Museu Eclesiástico de Arte Sacra (mile 136)
- Nature and outdoors: Vale Botanical Park (mile 9)
- Museums and history: Church of Saint John the Baptist of Carapina (mile 11), Serra Historical Museum (mile 19), Casa da Cultura de Fundão (mile 35), St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (mile 136), Museu Eclesiástico de Arte Sacra (mile 136)
Vale Botanical Park
Inside the Vale green belt at the Tubarão port complex in Vitória, Vale Botanical Park (Parque Botânico Vale) showcases Atlantic Forest restoration and preservation; it opened in May 2004.
Church of Saint John the Baptist of Carapina
Founded in 1584 at the request of Jesuit priest Brás Lourenço, this colonial church in Carapina, a district of Serra, is part of the Carapina Historic Site.
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
- Guarapari to Itaúnas
- Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Itaúnas
- Ipatinga to Itaúnas
From Vila Velha to other places in Brazil
- Vila Velha to Governador Valadares
- Vila Velha to Ipatinga
- Vila Velha to Itabira
- Vila Velha to Conselheiro Lafaiete
- Vila Velha to Itaguaí
- Vila Velha to Divinópolis
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Vila Velha to Itaúnas?
About 4 h 38 min of driving without stops, over 165 miles.
How far is Itaúnas from Vila Velha by car?
About 165 miles (265 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 Vila Velha to Itaúnas drive?
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 Vila Velha to Itaúnas use?
In order: BR-101, ES-422 and ES-010. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Vila Velha and Itaúnas?
Closest to the road: Serra Historical Museum (museum, mile 19, 0.4 mi from the route); Casa da Cultura de Fundão (museum, mile 35, 0.1 mi from the route); St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (cathedral, mile 136, 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.