Cruises from Santos

The city of Santos is a municipality situated in the state of São Paulo, in Brazil. Founded in 1546 it is located on São Vincente Island, but extends onto the mainland. It is the biggest seaport in Latin America, with a population of 500,000. While Santos is one of the most important tourist centres in São Paulo it is also an industrial city and exports coffee, steel, cars, oranges, bananas, cotton and oil. Santos coffee, a low acidic coffee is the premium coffee of South America.

Santos has the feel of a big city on the mainland side and quiet country life on the island side. The city is about seventy-two miles from São Paulo International Airport, which can be reached by road, using either of two expressways, in around one hour. The Port of Santos has the distinction of being the Brazilian city from whence the bubonic plague spread throughout the country in 1899, a fact the city would probably rather forget. Since 1912, Santos has been well known for consistently fielding a world champion football team.

The beautiful beach is about 6km long, including some magnificent gardens. The Sao Paulo locals like going to Guaruja, on the Ilha Santo Amaro, by ferry from Santos. This area has 19 beaches, including Pombeve and Cabras. For water-sports head off to Enseada or Tombo and for quiet waters head to Guaiuba.

While travelling on the Sao Paulo-Santos road, visitors can see many historical and cultural attractions. Of special interest is the Casa da Marquesa, believed to be the ‘love nest’ of Dom Pedro I and the Marquesa de Santos. Some historians sight this relationship as the reason for Dom Pedro’s downfall.

Among the best hotels are the Atlantico and the Avenida Palace, near the beach. Other hotels include the Phartenon Cosmopolitan Praia, Parque Balneário and Mendes Panorama. All hotels offer restaurants, bars and the usual amenities, and are priced from cheap to expensive. The Tourist Information Centre in Bandeiras Square is a good place to decide what to do in Santos. Tram, trolley and bus tours are a good way to discover why the city is among the top Brazilian tourist destinations.

Gonzaga Beach is the best and liveliest section of Santos. This is the area to find the best shopping malls, restaurants and bars. Among the favourite restaurants are Vista ao Mar, offering Spanish dishes, Cantina Vicino Al Mare, for Italian food, Zi Teresa, for pizza lovers, the Giovannino, which has an assorted menu and Degrau, for a variety of dishes. The Miramar Shopping Mall has three floors and a wide variety of stores, shops, and a restaurant. Another option is Shopping Parque Balneario, next to the Mendes Panorama Hotel.

The nightlife attracts many visitors from Sao Paula as well as the locals. You will find bars and nightclubs, especially in the Gonzaga Beach area. The Karuna after-hours club is for people who like to party from early morning to late afternoon. Dancing to psychedelic, trance, techno and hard house music, while dressed in a trendy casual style, is the way to go.

The temperature averages around 27º C to28º C and rainfall totals 200cm annually. The subtropical monsoon climate of Santos is usually quite comfortable.