Vitória, Vila Velha and Guarapari: An Itinerary to Find Yourself on the Espírito Santo Coast
Whales, mangroves, the Convento da Penha, congo music and more than 50 beaches in Guarapari: what to experience in three neighboring coastal destinations.
Itinerary · Coast · November 3, 2026 · 6 min read
With a compact territory, Espírito Santo packs in a variety of scenery that elsewhere would take days of travel to see. It has more than 400 kilometers of coastline and around 200 beaches — and, just a few kilometers from the sea, mountains with a pleasant climate, Atlantic Forest, coffee farms and centuries-old traditions.
This itinerary covers three neighbors in the metropolitan region that show this diversity well: Vitória, Vila Velha and Guarapari. Together, they bring nature, food, adventure, culture and history into a single trip.
Vitória: a capital surrounded by the sea
Made up of a main island and several smaller ones, Vitória charms visitors with its balance between development and quality of life. Beaches, green areas, historic sites and good food are all close together — in a few minutes you can go from the beach to a park, visit the historic center, have lunch by the sea and end the day watching the sunset.
Praia de Camburi, the capital's largest beach, right by the airportRenato Carbini
Don't miss
Praia de Camburi: almost six kilometers long, the capital's largest beach has a promenade, bike path, kiosks and beach tennis and volleyball courts.
Curva da Jurema: calm water that is great for families, plus beachfront bars and restaurants open from breakfast until late at night.
Ilha do Boi and Ilha do Frade: small, calm beaches such as Grande and Pequena on Ilha do Boi, and coves with clear water.
Goiabeiras clay-pot makers: at the artisans' workshop, you can watch them shape by hand the clay pots used for moqueca, a craft recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Brazil.
Mangroves and Ilha das Caieiras: Vitória has one of the largest urban mangroves in Latin America, which you can explore by kayak. On Ilha das Caieiras, women who pick crab meat keep a sea-based culture alive.
Historic Center and Parque da Fonte Grande: the Metropolitan Cathedral, Palácio Anchieta and Theatro Carlos Gomes tell more than four centuries of history; in the park, trails lead to lookouts over the capital and the bay.
At sunrise or sunset, kayak and outrigger canoe tours show the city from a different angle — sometimes with sea turtles and dolphins tagging along.
Vila Velha: where Espírito Santo was born
It was in Vila Velha, on May 23, 1535, that the Portuguese landed to begin colonizing what was then the Captaincy of Espírito Santo. Almost five centuries later, the city combines history, beaches, nature, culture and some of the best tourism infrastructure on the Brazilian coast.
Convento da Penha: built on a cliff 154 meters high, it is one of the oldest Marian shrines in Brazil — and one of the best lookouts in the region.
Prainha: the park holds the Colonization Landmark (Marco Zero), with gardens, an interactive fountain and the Forte São Francisco Xavier da Barra, which has a lookout and café.
Beaches: there are about twenty, from busy Praia da Costa to tiny Praia Secreta. Itaparica is the surfing spot; from Itapuã, boats head to Ilha Pituã, known for its crystal-clear water.
Morro do Moreno: a roughly 30-minute trail leads to the 184-meter summit and one of the most impressive views in the region.
Farol Santa Luzia: opened in 1871, this lighthouse still guides ships into Vitória Bay.
Barra do Jucu, Vila Velha, home of congo musicVitor Jubini
Barra do Jucu is home to one of the strongest expressions of local identity: congo, a tradition that brings together music, dance and faith, born from the blend of Black and Indigenous cultures and recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage. The casaca, a carved wooden instrument used in performances, is a classic souvenir. Nearby, the Jacarenema Municipal Natural Park invites you to walk and cycle through the Atlantic Forest.
Guarapari: from sea to mountains
About 60 kilometers from the capital, Guarapari is famous for its more than 50 beaches and recognized as Brazil's Capital of Marine Biodiversity. And the trip doesn't end on the sand: within minutes, you can trade the sea for highland waterfalls.
Praia do Morro, GuarapariTurismo Espírito Santo
Beaches for every style
Praia do Morro: the largest in town, with about four kilometers of waterfront, a bike path, bars and kiosks.
Areia Preta: its monazite sands earned Guarapari its reputation as the "Health City".
Castanheiras: natural pools at low tide, great for families.
Bacutia and Peracanga: in Enseada Azul, emerald-green water and a calm sea with almost no waves.
Meaípe: a fishing-village feel, with moquecas cooked in clay pots and famous stuffed cassava fritters.
Setiba: the gateway to Paulo César Vinha State Park, with coastal scrub, dunes and the reddish waters of Lagoa de Caraís.
Diving in Guarapari, Brazil's Capital of Marine BiodiversityAtlantes Viagens e Mergulho
The "Buenos Aires" of Espírito Santo
In Guarapari's highlands, one community is called Buenos Aires. The story goes that in 1878, Italian immigrants heading to the Argentine capital landed in Guarapari during an unexpected stop. Charmed by the climate and the sea view, they stayed — and named the place after the destination they never reached. There you'll find Pedra do Elefante, the Painel dos Namorados mural and the Barbudo and Pernambuco waterfalls.
How long to stay
Vitória: 2 to 4 days, as a base for exploring nearby destinations.
Vila Velha: 2 to 3 days, combined with Vitória, Serra, Guarapari and the mountains.
Guarapari: 4 to 6 days, to see urban and unspoiled beaches, take boat trips and head up into the hills.
All three destinations welcome visitors year-round. From April to October the weather is usually drier and better for outdoor activities; in summer, the beaches are livelier and the cultural calendar picks up.
To keep exploring the southern coast
About 80 kilometers from Vitória, Anchieta continues the journey with blue-water beaches, spectacular scenery, history, faith, handicrafts and great food — a natural next stop for anyone who fell for Guarapari.
Little-known beaches, family-run restaurants, traditions passed down through generations: in Espírito Santo, every kilometer is an invitation to find yourself.
Itinerary · Vitória · Vila Velha · Guarapari · Beaches · Local Culture