The best Brazilian beaches you've probably never heard of

A little-known stretch of Brazil’s Atlantic coast near São Paulo highlights beaches and natural areas that remain largely off the international radar. The article describes roughly 370 miles of mountainous coastline in São Paulo state beneath the Atlantic Forest, or Mata Atlântica, and notes the region’s scale and biodiversity. It says that despite the Greater São Paulo metro area’s population of more than 21 million (with sprawl past 30 million), a two- to three-hour drive can bring waterfalls and deserted beaches, often with limited crowds outside major holiday periods. It outlines three coastal segments: Litoral Norte (through Ubatuba, Caraguatatuba, São Sebastião, Maresias and Ilhabela), the more urbanized Baixada Santista anchored by Santos, and the quieter Litoral Sul covering Iguape, Cananéia and Ilha Comprida within protected estuarine and mangrove areas. The piece also cites seasonal visitation patterns like weekenders and birders.