After the São Paulo Marathon: Santos

The Route: São Paulo → Santos → São Paulo Logistics: A coach company lists São Paulo to Santos and São Vicente services. Check the booking page for the current terminal, duration, frequency and luggage rules. Marathon Month: April Duration: 1 night

São Paulo ──(coach to the coast)──> Santos
     ▲                                  │
     └────────(coach back)──────────────┘

The São Paulo Marathon takes runners through a bridge, a university campus and two tunnels. Santos is on the coast, below the mountains, and a night there trades traffic for sea air. It suits a runner who wants something slow after a hard race.

April in Santos: Autumn, a little warmer and more humid than the highland city. Showers are possible, and the sea is not at its warmest. Pack a light waterproof and a dry change.

Coaches serve the coast from São Paulo, and the operator has published timetables in the past. A historical timetable is not a promise for April, so check the current schedule before you book. Confirm the departure terminal, the journey time and the luggage rules, and book the return coach for a time that suits your flight.

Night one: the seafront

The recovery-friendly walk is the seafront promenade. The surface is paved, the gradient is flat and the path runs for a long way, so you can walk for as long or as little as your legs allow. Sit on the benches facing the water and watch the ships. Opening hours for cafés change by day, so ask your hotel for a recommendation for dinner.

Seafood is the usual order in a port city. Choose a seated meal and eat early. Prices vary, so use any figure as a guide only.

Where to stay

Choose a small hotel near the seafront, with breakfast at a sensible hour and a quiet room. Ask about late checkout and luggage storage. Book early if your dates fall on a weekend, and check the cancellation terms before paying.

Pacing the trip

The coach ride is long enough to stiffen the legs. Walk the aisle at stops, drink water and keep your shoes loose. Pack a light layer for the evening breeze. Save your booking and your hotel address offline, since signal can drop on the mountain road. Carry some cash for small purchases.

If the weather turns wet, a covered table and a slow lunch are better than a long walk. Keep the afternoon free in case of delays on the return journey.

Eating and packing

Ask your hotel which seafood places are open on the evening you arrive, and book a table at weekends. Order water first and keep alcohol light if you have a coach in the morning. Bring comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sun cream and a charger. A small day bag is easier than a suitcase on a long promenade, and most hotels will hold larger luggage until you leave.

If the weather turns

Coastal showers can arrive quickly. Keep a light waterproof in your day bag and have a covered option in mind, such as a long seated lunch or a museum visit. Ask your hotel for a recommendation and check its opening days, since many small museums close on Mondays and Tuesdays. A slow afternoon indoors is a sensible use of a recovery day.

The next day

Take a slow breakfast and a second short walk along the seafront. Leave plenty of time for the return coach, and do not book a tight onward connection on the same day. Roads between the coast and the city can be busy on Sunday and Monday afternoons.

Getting Home

São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) is a long way across the metropolitan area from where the coach arrives. Allow a long margin, book a taxi or app car, and avoid a tight flight on the day you return.