Cubatão
South America · Brazil
Did you know?
- Azul Marinho pairs fish and green banana in a Caiçara moqueca.
- The Arts Station occupies a former railway station.
- The Itutinga-Pilões nucleus offers trails in Serra do Mar State Park.
See also
Santos
Brazil23.94°S 46.33°W · 2 m
Guarujá
Brazil23.99°S 46.26°W · 4 m
São Bernardo do Campo
Brazil23.70°S 46.55°W · 762 m
Overview
Cubatão sits below the Serra do Mar in an industrial stretch of São Paulo state. Atlantic Forest trails, waterfalls and ecological parks provide its outdoor appeal.
Languages: Portuguese
Why go?
Cubatão transformed from the world's most polluted city in the 1980s to a UN symbol of environmental recovery, with 98% of air pollutants now controlled. The city sits at the foot of Serra do Mar, offering access to Atlantic Forest waterfalls, hiking trails, and ecological parks—making it a surprising nature destination amid São Paulo state's industrial corridor.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Understand
Cubatão has always been a place of passage between Brazil's coast and plateau. First via waterways, then along the Perequê River Valley—the "Caminho do Padre"—and finally the "Calçada do Lorena." The Porto Geral de Cubatão dates to the first half of the 18th century. The village became a municipality in 1833, was annexed to Santos in 1841, and achieved political emancipation in 1949. Industrial development came with Via Anchieta, Rodovia dos Imigrantes, the Presidente Bernardes Refinery, and COSIPA (now USIMINAS) steelworks, creating one of Latin America's largest petrochemical complexes.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Getting in
Cubatão is connected to Santos via SP-150 (Anchieta Highway) and to São Vicente and Praia Grande via SP-160 (Rodovia dos Imigrantes). The SP-055 (Rodovia Pe. Manoel da Nóbrega) links to Bertioga and Praia Grande. For maritime arrivals, the Concais Maritime Passenger Terminal in nearby Santos port handles national and international cruises.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Get around
Cubatão's neighborhoods are separated by highways. The main thoroughfares include: SP-150 (Anchieta Highway) accessing the Henry Borden Power Plant, downtown, Cotia-Pará Park, and Jardim Casqueiro; SP-160 (Rodovia dos Imigrantes) connecting to São Vicente and Praia Grande; and SP-055 (Rodovia Pe. Manoel da Nóbrega) serving the industrial pole, Perequê Ecological Park, city center, and Pilões/Vale Verde neighborhoods with natural springs.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
When to go
The Banana Festival showcases the local "Azul Marinho" dish. Visits to the Henry Borden Hydroelectric Power Plant and Carbocloro Factory require prior appointment. Parks like Perequê Ecological Park operate daily 08:00-17:00, while Cotia-Pará Ecological Park opens Tuesday to Sunday 08:00-17:00.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Where to stay
Hotels cluster along Avenida Nove de Abril in the city center. Hotel Lopes (Av. Embaixador Pedro de Toledo 477, Vila Paulista, +55 13 3372-6204) offers full board including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Hotel Rainha do Mar (Av. Nove de Abril 1821, +55 13 3361-4422) has 60 rooms and 150 beds with breakfast. Hotel Crisbel (Av. Nove de Abril 2580, +55 13 3361-2575) and Hotel do Farol (Av. Joaquim Miguel Couto 315, +55 13 3361-9617) also offer breakfast-included stays.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Food and drink
Cubatão's cuisine blends three traditions: bananas (the city's pre-industrial mainstay), seafood from regional mangroves, and northeastern Brazilian flavors from mid-20th century migration. The signature dish is the Caiçara "Azul Marinho," a moqueca with fish and green banana served at the Banana Festival. Regional specialties include crab and dried meat. Restaurante Primor (Av. Joaquim Miguel Couto 600, near city hall, M-Sa 10:30-15:00) offers local dining. Avenida Nove de Abril concentrates most restaurants and snack bars.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Things to do
The Perequê Ecological Park (Rod. Cônego Domenico Rangoni, km 4, daily 08:00-17:00, free) spans 40,000 m² with trails, waterfalls, and a 60-meter cascade. The Serra do Mar State Park (Itutinga-Pilões Nucleus, Estrada Elias Zarzur, km 8, daily) offers Atlantic Forest hiking. Cotia-Pará Ecological Park (Anchieta Highway km 56.5, Tu-Su 08:00-17:00, free) covers 500,000 m² with gardens, aviaries, and lakes. The Padrão do Lorena historic trail (Caminho do Mar Road, km 42, R$10 weekday/R$15 weekend) provides a 9.2 km ecocultural walk through the forest.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
See
Historical sites include the Cruzeiro Quinhentista (16th-century crossing with Jesuit builders' names), the City Library (Av. Nove de Abril 1977, housed in the 1936 former city hall building), Largo do Sapo (Praça Coronel Joaquim Montenegro, where D. Pedro I's entourage stopped in 1822), and Our Lady of Lapa Parish Church (Av. Nove de Abril 1975). The Aniline Municipal Park is an Atlantic Forest fragment in the city center with a cinema, food court, and cable car. The Arts Station (Av. Nove de Abril 1208) is a converted former train station.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Go next
Santos—Brazil's largest port city—is immediately north via SP-150. São Vicente and Praia Grande lie to the east via Rodovia dos Imigrantes. To the south along BR-101 are Peruíbe and Ubatuba. Bertioga, accessible via SP-055, offers beaches and the Atlantic Forest. São Paulo city is reachable via the Anchieta or Imigrantes highways heading inland.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Field guide adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0. Text has been adapted and organized for this guide. About our sources.
Places to know
A few starting points from the guide. Check current hours and prices before you go.
- sleep
Hotel Crisbel
Downtown hotel on the main commercial avenue with breakfast
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Hotel Lopes
Industrial-era hotel in Vila Paulista offering full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Hotel Rainha do Mar
Center-city hotel with 60 rooms and 150 beds, breakfast included
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Hotel do Farol
Center-city hotel in the old town area
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Restaurante Primor
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- see
Aniline Municipal Park
It's a piece of the Atlantic Forest right in the center of the city. It underwent a major renovation and received a cinema, food court and cable car, thus becoming one of the most important leisure and entertainment complexes in the region.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- see
Arts Station
Former train station in the city, it was deactivated and turned into an artistic centre.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- see
CEPEMA USP
A place for graduate studies focused on the environment. Created through an agreement between USP, FUSP, CETESB, PETROBRÁS and the Public Ministry.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
Before you go
Connectivity
Area code for Cubatão and Baixada Santista is (13). Post office: AC Cubatão at Avenida Nove de Abril 3488, Vila Nova (+55 13 3361-4760).
Culture
Cubatão celebrates its recovery story and Caiçara heritage. The Banana Festival features the local "Azul Marinho" dish combining fish, green banana, and coastal traditions.
Health
Cubatão has a health block in the city center with Municipal Hospital Dr. Luiz Camargo (+55 13 3362-5400, daily 07:00-19:00), Children's Polyclinic, Women's Health Center, and Guiomar F. Roebellen Emergency Room. Ana Costa Hospital (Av. Nove de Abril 1601, +55 13 3367-3430) has emergency and ambulatory services.
Money
Brazilian Real (R$) is the local currency. Major credit cards accepted at hotels and larger establishments; cash preferred at smaller restaurants and local shops.
Transport
Cubatão is a highway city. SP-150 (Anchieta) connects to Santos; SP-160 (Imigrantes) to São Vicente and Praia Grande; SP-055 to Bertioga and the industrial areas. A car is helpful for visiting parks and waterfalls.