Santos
Santos is more than a beach city. It grew into one of Brazil's most important commercial centers through its port and the coffee trade, and its historic center still reflects that history in its old streets, commercial buildings, and former coffee exchange. Along the waterfront, though, the city takes on a different character: a long urban beach, broad gardens, promenades, and the Atlantic stretching beyond it.
Today, there is no need to try to see all of Santos. Lunch is the reason to stop. A meal near the waterfront followed by a walk along the beach gives us a taste of the city without turning the afternoon into a sightseeing mission.
Praia Grande
From Santos, the final drive to Praia Grande is short. By now the character of the coast has changed completely: what began with Ilhabela's forested mountains and historic Vila has become the dense, continuous beach cities of the Baixada Santista.