Private Santos & Guarujá Island Tour from São Paulo – Coffee & Beaches

Summary

São Paulo Day Trip: Santos Coffee History & Guarujá Beach Escape

If you want to dive into Brazil’s coffee history and chill at some of São Paulo’s best beaches—all in one day—this private tour is for you. You’ll get local stories, great food tips, and plenty of time to soak up sun or culture.

What’s the experience like?

Stepping out of our van in downtown Santos, the air had that faint roasted coffee scent you only get near the old stock exchange. Our guide, Lucas, waved us over to the grand entrance of the Coffee Museum—this place used to be the beating heart of Brazil’s coffee trade. Inside, sunlight spilled through stained glass onto marble floors. There’s this old wooden bench near the trading floor; Lucas said brokers would sit there for hours, waiting for prices to jump. I could almost hear the echo of deals being made.

We took a quick stroll past the port—massive ships lined up, cranes moving containers like slow-motion dancers. The salty breeze mixed with the city’s energy. If you’re into soccer, there’s an option to swing by the Pelé Museum. I’m not a huge fan, but even I got caught up in the stories about Brazil’s football legend. We also spotted Tomie Ohtake’s sculpture—locals say it’s good luck to touch it before heading to the beach.

After grabbing a pastel from a street vendor (try the cheese one if you can), we hopped on the ferry to Guarujá. The ride’s short but gives you this cool view of both cities—lots of chatter from families heading for a beach day. On Guarujá Island, the sand felt warm underfoot and the waves were just right for a quick dip. We found a quieter spot at Praia do Tombo; surfers were out early, but there was still space to just relax and watch the world go by. The beachfront gardens in Santos are worth a look too—locals say it’s the longest in the world, and you’ll see folks jogging or sipping coconut water all afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Santos and Guarujá Highlights

• Visit Santos Coffee Museum
• Cable car to mountain top viewpoint
• See soccer player history museum
• View Tomie Othake sculpture
• Walk Santos beach area
• Relax at Guarujá charming beach
• Visit Guarujá beach option
• Explore largest beachfront garden
• Enjoy overview of Guarujá
• Visit another Guarujá beach option
• Visit additional Guarujá beach option

Top questions

Is this tour suitable for families with young children?

Yes! Just let us know in advance if you have kids under 10 so we can arrange proper seats for them.

Can we visit both Santos and Guarujá if we’re a group of more than 4?

Unfortunately, groups over 4 can only visit Santos due to local vehicle restrictions in Guarujá.

Is hotel pickup included for all hotels in São Paulo?

Pickup is available for selected hotels—let us know your location when booking and we’ll confirm.

Do we need to bring anything special for the beach?

Just your swimwear, sunscreen, and maybe a towel. Everything else is easy to find locally.

What’s included

Your private tour covers round-trip transport in a comfy vehicle, an expert local guide who knows all the hidden gems, plus hotel pickup and drop-off (for selected hotels). If you’re bringing kids under 10, let us know ahead so we can provide safe seating.