Essentials
- City
- Ubatuba, São Paulo State, Brazil
- Population
- 95,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 150 Mbps (Fiber available via Starlink, Vivo, and Americanet)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 BRL ≈ 0.20 USD / 1 USD ≈ 5.00 BRL. Most places use Pix or Credit Cards.
- Tap Water
- Not recommended for drinking; use filtered water or bottled (Galão 20L for R$15-20)
- Power
- 110V/127V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type N (three-pin) sockets
- SIM Card
- Vivo or Claro; R$30-50 for 10GB-20GB monthly plans
- Banking for Expats
- Nubank, Wise, and Revolut are widely accepted; Itaú for local accounts
- Accommodation
- R$3,500 - R$7,000 per month for beachside apartments in Itaguá or Praia Grande
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, Pix is used everywhere from street vendors to high-end restaurants
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and local agencies like Ubatuba Imóveis
- Budget Accommodation
- Green Haven Hostel (Perequê-Açu) - approx. R$80/night for a dorm
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Praia Grande or Tenório for infrastructure and crowds
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Itaguá (best restaurants/wifi) or Perequê-Açu (surf vibe and cheaper rents)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Ubatuba Coworking (Itaguá) - R$70 day pass / R$800 monthly
- Best Cafe for Work
- Integrado Café (Itaguá) - Excellent coffee and reliable Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- Ubatuba Digital Nomads WhatsApp group; monthly meetups at Sullivan's Bar
- Social Events for Expats
- Surf lessons at Praia de Itamambuca; weekly 'Forró' nights at Jundu Praia Bar
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (limited) and 99App; local taxi point at Rodoviária (City Center)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Bike Point Ubatuba (Itaguá) - R$50/day; Electric scooters via Adventure Life
- Best Beach Nearby
- Praia de Itamambuca (North) or Domingas Dias (South)
- Top Regional Airline
- Azul Conecta (Seasonal flights from SDU/CGH to Ubatuba Airport - UBT)
- Top International Airline
- LATAM, KLM, United (via São Paulo-Guarulhos GRU, 4 hours away)
- Highway Access
- BR-101 (Rio-Santos) and Rodovia Oswaldo Cruz (SP-125)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Rodoviária de Ubatuba (Litorânea and Pássaro Marron bus lines)
- Public Transport Passes
- Cartão Comum (Viaçao Verde Bus) - R$5.00 flat fare per ride
- Regional Travel
- Buses to Paraty (1.5h, R$25) or São José dos Campos (2.5h, R$60)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Santa Casa de Ubatuba (Center); for private emergencies, use Unimed
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Espaço Xamânico Lotus (Itaguá) - R$40 per drop-in session
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Academia Physical (Itaguá) - R$150 monthly membership
- Laundry Services
- Lavanderia Self-Service (Itaguá) - R$30 per load wash & dry
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- iFood (widely used for all categories)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Peixe com Banana (Fish with green banana) at Terra Papagalli (Itaguá)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Pistache Gelateria e Café (Vegan options) or Ganesh (Vegetarian)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Tachão de Ubatuba - famous for 'doce de leite' and local fruit preserves
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Supermercado Semar or Tauste for bulk groceries
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Mercado Livre (1-2 day delivery), Amazon.com.br
- Grocery Delivery
- Cornershop by Uber or Semar Delivery
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Rua Guarani in Itaguá (bars like Blues on the Rocks)
- Local Brewery
- Cervejaria Maranduba (South) or Madalena Beer Garden (Center)
- Wine Bars
- Empório Frei Caneca (Itaguá) - imported labels and snacks
- Street Food Stalls
- Pastel do Trevo (Large pastéis near the main highway entrance)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Sardinha (Portuguese), Okone (Japanese/Fusion)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Project TAMAR (Sea Turtle Conservation) - R$30 entry
- Museums & Art Venues
- Ubatuba Aquarium (Itaguá); Historical Museum (City Center)
- Historical Sites
- Ruins of Lagoinha (Old sugar mill); Casarão do Porto
- Religious Sites
- Paróquia Exaltação da Santa Cruz (Historic main church)
- Annual Events
- Festa de São Pedro (June); Ubatuba Surf Open (varied dates)
- Cultural Districts
- Quilombo da Fazenda (Traditional Afro-Brazilian community and tours)
- Theater Venues
- Teatro Municipal Pedro Paulo Teixeira Pinto
- Local Markets
- Feira Municipal (Saturdays, City Center) - local produce and fish
- Music Scene
- Blues on the Rocks (Live blues/rock), Sullivan's (Live acoustic)
- Street Art
- Murals on the Itaguá waterfront wall
- Cooking Classes
- Traditional Caiçara cooking workshops at Quilombo da Fazenda
- Art Galleries
- Ateliê do Tio (Perequê-Açu) - local woodwork and sculpture
- Historic Buildings
- Antiga Câmara Municipal (City Center)
- Local Heritage
- The Caiçara Culture (descendants of indigenous and colonizers)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Trilha das Sete Praias (Trail of Seven Beaches) - Hike start at Lagoinha
- National Parks Nearby
- Serra do Mar State Park (Picinguaba Cluster)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Cycle path along the Itaguá Bay (3km scenic flat route)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Mirante do Saco da Ribeira (Boats view) or Pico do Corcovado (Hike required)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Ubatumirim Valley (Atlantic Forest bird species)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Generally prohibited, but small regulated fires at camping sites in Itamambuca
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Correios (Main branch in City Center); Jadlog
- Tech Repair Services
- Uba Tech (Cell phone and laptop repairs - Center)
- Table Tennis Spots
- SESC Taubaté (Closest professional hub) or local fitness clubs
- Language Classes
- The Language Club Ubatuba (Portuguese for foreigners)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Biblioteca Pública Municipal Ateneu Ubatubense
- Community Centers
- Gaiaspirit (Itaguá) - Community events and meditation
- Gaming Lounges
- Cyber Lan House (Center area)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Illegal in Brazil (except for lotteries and poker clubs)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. R$10,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = R$300,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. R$7,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = R$210,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. R$9,500 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = R$475,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. R$6,500 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = R$325,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. R$8,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = R$680,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. R$5,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = R$440,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 15% standard rate + possible surcharges
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% (Exempt for individuals in Brazil as of current law)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for tax residents (183+ days in country)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 27.5%
- VAT
- ICMS/ISS/PIS/COFINS (moving towards VAT-style IBS/CBS): Average 17-25%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, taxation on undistributed profits of offshore companies applies
- Property Tax
- IPTU (approx. 1% of the property's market value annually)
- Property Transaction Tax
- ITBI (approx. 2% of transaction value paid to municipality)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- 1-year Digital Nomad Visa (can be tax exempt for the first 183 days)