Baixada Santista

Baixada Santista is a metropolitan region on the coast of São Paulo state that brings together nine municipalities along a coastal strip between the Atlantic and Serra do Mar. The area runs from Bertioga in the north to Peruíbe in the south and includes well-known places like Santos, Guarujá and São Vicente.

The region was formally established as a metropolitan area in 1996 and became the first in Brazil not organized around a state capital. Santos had been an important port since the 16th century and shaped the economic development of the entire coastal strip.

The name comes from the low-lying coastal plain that sits between ocean and mountains. Visitors today experience a mix of port life, beach cultures and tropical atmosphere that varies across the nine municipalities.

The municipalities are connected by coastal roads and local bus routes that run along the entire region. Those planning to visit several places should note that distances and travel times can increase significantly on weekends due to heavier traffic.

Cubatão houses an industrial complex that ranks among Brazil's largest manufacturing sites and includes refineries, steel mills and chemical plants. The contrast between industrial area and the surrounding beach towns is immediately noticeable to travelers.