Santos Beach Culture & History Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Santos' historic center
- Visit the Coffee Museum
- Relax on Santos' beautiful beaches
- Discover the city's rich history
- Enjoy a private guided experience
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Private round-trip transportation from São Paulo
- Guided tour of Santos' historic center
- Visit to the Coffee Museum
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
Have a breakfast at the stylish coffee shop of the coffee museum in Santos, and visit it to learn about the importance of the coffee for Brazilian socio-economic development. The coffee shop offers the opportunity to try out all the types and aromas of coffees grounded right before drinking. Built in the richest times of the city, the imposing Coffee Museum is an eclectic style building opened in 1922 to be the Santos Stock Exchange. It has a luxury finish with imported materials such as marble Carrara and Bohemian crystal chandeliers.
Ride on a trem upwards Monte Serrat which is a peak that has a superb panoramic viewpoint from the former old casino on the top of it. The access to the hill is made by a funicular system (called the cable car of Monte Serrat) that connects the top hill to the center of the city and departs every half hour. From its viewpoint, it is possible to have a complete view of the port, the urban part of Santos and surroundings, Bertioga Canal, Estuary and Barnabé and Santo Amaro Islands. At the top of peak lays a 17-century Chapel of Our Lady of Monte Serrat, patron saint of the city and one of the historical attractions of it, dating from 1603.
Admire the marvelous view of the shoreline of Santos and the city of "Saint Vincent" (First permanent Portuguese settlement in Brazil) from Niemeyer’s monument on the top of Porchat Island hill. You'll be able to see the whole shore, ships on the horizon, waves being formed, people like ants and paragliders flying around! The belvedere was projected by the famous Oscar Niemeyer Architect, and inaugurated in 2002 due to 500th year of Brazil's "Discovery". It purely makes this place even more special! In addition, you can enjoy a good lunch at a nice restaurant beside the Niemeyer’s monument. It is an obligatory stop while you are in Santos.
Spend some time at the well-maintained beach with the world's largest beachfront garden according to Guinness Book of Records. The beach has a variety of trees, plants and flowers spread between the street and the edge of the sidewalk by the sand. Several exercises stations and cycle tracks if you are in a mood to exercise, or benches to sit down and relaxing sipping on a cold coconut water directly from the fruit, long white sandy beaches for recreation and sunbathing, a variety of options to eat from, and very colorful vendors all over its extension.
The Pelé museum presents the history of the word's most famous and genius football player, Pelé. Pelé played for Santos, which is why there is a museum dedicated to him in this city. The 5-story building museum has a very comprehensive collection of prizes and highlights about the 2 football World cups won by Pelé, photos and video footage, interesting facts about special matches, timeline of his life, and much more. The museum is English speaking friendly and doesn’t cost much to go in. A good way to spend a couple of hours in Santos.
It’s is an ecological park aimed to preserve different species of plants and to cultivate the seedlings that supply the gardens of the beach and streets of the city. It has a fountain and a wooden deck over a lake, and yet, a living collection of more than 300 vegetal species, divided into 20 collections. It emphasizes species of the Atlantic and Amazon forests, besides a grove of the so-call Brazil-wood tree that gave the name for our country.
Pass by: A cathedral is Gothic mixed style architecture, its construction began in 1909, but it was not until 1951 that it was fully completed. It has frescoes by Benedito Calixto and images of the Sacred Heart in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. It’s something to not be missed!
Important information
Know before you book
- This tour is conducted in Portuguese; ensure you are comfortable with the language.
- The tour duration is approximately 8 hours; plan your day accordingly.
- Meals and beverages are not included; bring cash or cards for personal expenses.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable clothing and footwear suitable for walking and beach activities.
- Bring swimwear, sunscreen, and a hat for sun protection.
- Consider carrying a light jacket or sweater for cooler evenings.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Infant Seats Available
Traveler reviews
A+Tour
We had a wonderful day with Danilo on a private tour from São Paulo to Santos! I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in touring the area. He was very informative, very kind, and funny! We learned quite a bit, and his English was perfection!
Great tour company…efficient tour + airport transfer from cruise terminal São Paulo
We booked a last-minute tour and transfer for a group of six from the São Paulo cruise terminal, and the experience exceeded our expectations. From the start, communication with Osvaldo via WhatsApp was prompt and efficient. He quickly responded to my inquiry with a well-thought-out itinerary that took our flight times into careful consideration. Osvaldo arranged an English-speaking tour guide and a spacious van, and he provided detailed information including names, contact details, the license plate, and clear step-by-step instructions for the meeting point at the busy terminal. This made everything seamless and stress-free. Our driver, Bruno, and greeting agent, Bianca, were wonderful—professional, friendly, and organized. Our tour guide, Ronaldo, was truly exceptional. He was with us from pickup through the tour and all the way to the airport drop-off. Ronaldo was knowledgeable, professional, kind, patient, and had a great sense of humor. Despite our limited time, he ensured we saw several key highlights of São Paulo and kept everything running smoothly. This was the perfect and most efficient way to make the most of a long layover while managing a transfer. I would absolutely recommend this tour company to anyone looking for a well-organized and enjoyable experience.
Fun day
This was a fun day and tailo d to what we wanted to see and do. Carlos was a great tour guide, and Alex a great driver.
Absolutely Brilliant
My private tour was absolutely first-rate and genuinely exceeded all my expectations. The itinerary was spot on, including essential visits to Santos, São Vicente, and the splendid Coffee Museum. A particularly valuable addition was the inclusion of the Pelé Museum. Thanks to Danilo’s profound historical knowledge, this visit provided a truly fascinating and engaging glimpse into the region’s footballing heritage. I must take a moment to single out the work of my guide, Danilo. Not only did he conduct the tour in an extraordinarily interesting and engaging manner, but his mastery of history and local culture made every single location spring to life. Furthermore, he is a great photographer who helped me capture some splendid memories of the day. I highly recommend this tour, and, in particular, the services of Danilo. It was a day brimming with knowledge and fantastic experiences - a proper treat, indeed.
A spectacular finale to end the trip in Sao Paulo.
I wanted to share my amazing experience with the recent tour in São Paulo. Honestly, it was the highlight of my entire trip to Brazil. The itinerary was excellent, including visits to Santos, San Vicente, the Coffee Museum, and especially the Orchidarium, where we saw the macaw from the movie Rio. In addition to the originally planned stops, Danilo added some very interesting ones, like the Orchidarium, which I mentioned earlier. I want to highlight the work of the guide, Danilo Valisserra. He was not only an exceptional tour guide but also a great photographer. I highly recommend this tour and, in particular, Danilo Valisserra's service.