Cruise port guideBRSSZ

Santos

Santos, the port for São Paulo, is Brazil's main cruise port, with summer sailings along the Brazilian coast.

4 things to do1 airport connections5 ships

Your day ashore, at a glance

Find something worth your time Plan the airport transfer Read the safety guidance

Peak season: Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar

Make the most of your stop

Things to do in Santos

4 recommendations

Choose an easy wander, a local highlight or a bigger day out. Compare practical details before you head ashore.

Explore ashore
Recommended ashore
Coffee Museum
In Santos's old coffee exchange.
Distance from port
Not assessed
Cost
Not assessed
Tourist-trap risk
Not assessed
Physical effort
Not assessed
Accessibility
Not assessed
Explore activity
Explore ashore
Recommended ashore
Santos beach gardens
Five kilometres of gardens along the beachfront.
Distance from port
Not assessed
Cost
Not assessed
Tourist-trap risk
Not assessed
Physical effort
Not assessed
Accessibility
Not assessed
Explore activity
Explore ashore
Recommended ashore
São Paulo
Museums, Paulista Avenue and Ibirapuera Park, an hour inland.
Distance from port
Not assessed
Cost
Not assessed
Tourist-trap risk
Not assessed
Physical effort
Not assessed
Accessibility
Not assessed
Explore activity
Photo: Governo do Estado de São Paulo; CC BY 2.0; cropped · License
Recommended ashore
Guarujá
Beaches across the estuary by ferry.
Distance from port
Not assessed
Cost
Not assessed
Tourist-trap risk
Not assessed
Physical effort
Not assessed
Accessibility
Not assessed
Explore activity

Getting to your ship

Airport to cruise port

Santos is about 120 km from São Paulo-Guarulhos, 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on São Paulo traffic. Lines and private firms run coaches; private transfers are common. Congonhas, São Paulo's domestic airport, is a little closer.

GRU

São Paulo/Guarulhos International

To Santos · one way

Airport lounges

Verified transfer prices from GRU have not been published yet. Check the transport operator before booking.

Rental cars: Available, but the drive down the Serra do Mar and São Paulo traffic make a transfer the better choice.

Getting around Santos

Booking options load automatically here.

Know before you go

Safety ashore

Women travelers

Extra caution advised

The advisory reports sexual assaults against foreign women and advises against isolated nighttime walks, including on beaches. Arrange reliable transport. Assessment uses country-level government advice; port-specific conditions may differ.

Reviewed 2026-10-25

Government of Canada travel advice

LGBTQ+ travelers

Extra caution advised

Government advice reports serious anti-LGBTQ+ violence despite same-sex relationships being legal. Acceptance varies substantially by area. Assessment uses country-level government advice; port-specific conditions may differ.

Reviewed 2026-10-25

Government of Canada travel advice

Editorial guidance reflects the cited advice and review date. Laws, attitudes and conditions can differ within a destination. No rating guarantees personal safety.

Pick your moment

When to go

Jan: High season
Feb: High season
Mar: High season
Apr: Shoulder season
May: Low season
Jun: Low season
Jul: Low season
Aug: Low season
Sep: Low season
Oct: Shoulder season
Nov: Shoulder season
Dec: High season

● High season○ Shoulder season◌ Low season

The cruise season follows the southern summer, from November to April.

Who else is in port?

Port crowding index

100 is average. 150 means 50% more ship passenger capacity than this port’s observed hourly average over the past 30 days; 50 means half the average.

Checking ships in port…

Estimate for tracked catalog ships, based on published passenger capacity, not actual passengers ashore. Port areas are approximate circles around published port coordinates. Only positions reported within an hour at 1 knot or less are counted; ships at anchor may be included. Missing AIS reports and untracked ships can understate crowding. Quiet observed hours count toward the average; collection outages do not.

Set sail