Sao Paulo advice

[bPeteb]

We're looking for some Sao Paulo advice from all of our South America experts.

Two weeks in Brasil in June. Flying QF Y+ return to Sao Paulo. J upgrades requested in both directions. All internal flights Y with LATAM.

We're staying at Mercure Jardins for four nights. Arriving on a Friday afternoon. What to do? Walking tours? Must sees? Must avoids?

From Sao Paulo we fly to Cuiaba for a 5d/3n Pantanal tour with Pantanal Nature. We have a night in Cuiaba at the end of the tour. Stay in town or at airport?

Very early flight to Brasilia where we've booked with Tours by Locals for a one day architecture tour. Staying at Royal Tulip on the lake.

Another early flight to Sao Luis where we're being met by Aventura do Brasil for 5d/4n Sao Luis and Lencois Maranhenses tour.

Last night is back in Sao Paulo where we think we'll stay at the airport due to earlyish morning flight to SCL in the morning.

Sao Paulo hints and tips gladly accepted

 

[Danger]

I can offer little on Sao Paulo other than to say the travel time from the airport to downtown is very long. On my return journey from the Grand Hyatt it took me just shy of two hours, leaving with my literally seven minutes until check-in closed.

 

[bPeteb]

Eek! I'll make sure to remember that although I think for our flight to Cuiaba we're flying out of the 'closer' airport

 

[Danger]

Eek! I'll make sure to remember that agog I think for our flight to Cuiaba were flying out of the 'closer' airport

Good point. I should have been more specific. This was GRU which is indeed further out.

 

[bPeteb]

Good point. I should have been more specific. This was GRU which is indeed further out.

Reading this Danger I think for our flight out of Sao Paulo to Santiago we'll def stay near/at the airport.

 

[Mattg]

Sounds like a great trip! I think four nights in São Paulo is a good amount - it should be enough to see all the main sights.

I see that your hotel is near Consolação metro station. That's a good thing as it means you can use the metro to get around. The traffic in SP is horrendous, so I recommend using the metro as much as possible. It's safe, inexpensive and trains are frequent.

To get from GRU to your hotel, I suggest taking the Airport Bus Service to Tiete, then a metro from there. It saves sitting in traffic for hours.

You're staying near Paulista Avenue, which is worth seeing. Plenty of museums, shops, good restaurants and a bit of nightlife around that area, and I've found it pretty safe. I've stayed near Paulista Avenue on all 3 visits to SP.

I'd perhaps recommend doing one of the free walking tours. There are English-speaking tours available and you'll get to see many of the sights. On my first visit I did a bike tour, which was great as we managed to see most of the main sights in around 4 hours. I see the company I used is now out of business, but there may be other tours available.

You may consider taking a day trip to a nearby city on one of your days in SP. On Sundays there's a tourist train from Sao Paulo to Paranapiacaba (you have to book in advance). Or you could go to Santos on the coast, or even do a day tour to a coffee plantation.

I definitely recommend staying close to the airport on your last night in SP before your flight back to SCL!

 

[bPeteb]

Thanks for the excellent response Matt! We're looking at free waking tour and I'll chat to Al about the other suggestions on the weekend.

 

[Boca68]

Great trip Pete.

I'd take matts advice about Sao Paulo and the Metro. Its very easy and convenient to most areas you'll want to see.

Sao Luis is one of my favourite places in Brazil. The Old city is quite beautiful. Has a slightly 'hippy' feel about it. The Laguna area is pretty as well. Head out of the city if you have time to some of the great little towns along the coast to the south. Sao Joao Ribiero is a lovely town with some nicer beaches close by.

The Lencois (prononced Len-soy-s) is beautiful. If the rainy season has been good, its astonishingly beautiful. Been a few years since I was there, but its a bumpy ride over the sand to get there. It might have improved since then as its now a World Heritage area. I've never been in June, only November and August, but its at the end of the rainy season, it should be amazing.

Enjoy!

Enjoy.

 

[bPeteb]

Thanks Boca. Getting goosebumps thinking about this holiday now!

 

[travelislife]

Sunday in the city is awesome. They close down the main thoroughfare. Great markets, entertainment and just relaxed city park atmosphere.