Short answer: in Maresias, where you stay decides how well you sleep and how much you spend on top of the nightly rate. Right on the sand is for those who want the ocean at their door; near the village center, for those who want to go out at night on foot; on a quiet street a few minutes from the beach, for those who want peace and quiet and their car parked in its space.
How is Maresias laid out?
Maresias is a district on the south coast of São Sebastião, between Boiçucanga and Paúba. According to São Sebastião's Tourism Department, the beach is about 5 km long and shelves steeply: strong waves and water that gets deep quickly.
The Rio-Santos highway (SP-055) runs along almost the entire beach. In the built-up stretch, it becomes the district's main avenue, Av. Dr. Francisco Loup, where most of the shops and traffic are. From the avenue, numbered lanes known as "entradas" (entrances) lead down to the sand. On the other side of the highway, toward the mountains, the streets are more residential, in the area known as Sertão de Maresias.
The village center, with shops, restaurants, cafés and bars, is clustered around Praça do Surf, a square with a skate park, a playground and the tourist information center.
What changes from one end of the beach to the other?
Facing the ocean:
- Canto da Barra, on the left (toward Paúba). This is where the Rio Maresias flows into the sea. The water tends to be calmer, which draws families and beginner surfers. It's the village center side.
- The middle of the beach. This is where surfers go looking for waves. On days with big surf, the water is packed with boards.
- Canto do Moreira, on the right (toward Boiçucanga). It's the classic surf spot, with the strongest waves. Upscale gated communities are concentrated here, and the avenue runs far from the sand: it's about a 500 m walk to the beach.
Even on the calmest stretch, the beach drops off steeply. With kids, pick days when the sea is calm and keep an eye on the depth. There are more tips in Maresias with kids.
Right on the sand, near the village center or on a quiet street: which should you choose?
Right on the sand. You step out of your room and you're on the beach, with nothing to carry. Compare the price with a place on a street a few minutes away: the difference is what you pay for having the sand at your door. On the village center beachfront, your neighbor may be a bar or a beach club, and there are ticketed beachfront parties at Carnival and New Year's Eve. At Canto do Moreira, the beachfront is more secluded, but the surf is strong.
Near the village center. Restaurants, shops, cafés and bars are just steps away, and you can do everything without a car. In return, you live with the traffic on the avenue, which is the Rio-Santos highway itself, and with the nighttime crowds in summer and on holidays. See how the nightlife works in our guide to nightlife in Maresias.
A quiet street a few minutes away. Nights are quiet and the car stays parked. The trade-off is the walk to the sand, carrying a chair and umbrella. On the mountain side, the route crosses the avenue: with young children, take care when crossing.
| Option |
Upside |
Downside |
Best for |
| Right on the sand |
The ocean at your door |
Near the village center, bars and parties next door |
Those who put the beach above all else |
| Near the village center |
Dinner and nights out on foot |
Rio-Santos traffic and noise in high season |
Groups and those who want some action |
| Quiet street |
Peace and quiet, car stays parked |
A walk to the sand |
Couples and families who want to rest |
What costs don't show up in the listing?
Three expenses only show up once you're there.
Parking. São Sebastião has no Zona Azul (paid street parking) in operation yet, and the system regulated in September 2026 will start in downtown São Sebastião. In Maresias, a travel guide updated in April 2026 found paid parking lots on the main avenue charging R$ 30 to R$ 50 for the whole day on weekends. Over a three-day holiday weekend, that's R$ 90 to R$ 150.
Chairs and umbrellas. A municipal law prohibits renting out tables and chairs on the sand. Even so, in January 2026, Folhapress (the news agency of the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper) found beach kiosks charging a minimum spend at popular spots such as Maresias and Boiçucanga. It's not a universal practice, but the setup is similar to the one in Ubatuba, where the minimum ranged from R$ 130 to R$ 200 per couple. Requiring a minimum spend to use the tables and umbrellas is tied selling, which is banned under Brazil's Consumer Protection Code.
Breakfast. If it isn't included in every rate, it becomes a daily expense, per person.
Parking and breakfast included, plus a chair and umbrella packed in your luggage or on loan, take all three expenses off the bill.
What should you ask before booking?
- How many minutes on foot to the sand, and to which stretch? Canto da Barra, the middle or Canto do Moreira: each one means a different sea.
- Does the route cross the avenue? It's the Rio-Santos highway. With young children, that matters.
- Is there a bar, kiosk or beach club next door? Ask how late the music goes on summer weekends and on holidays.
- Does the room face the avenue or the inside of the property?
- How many minutes on foot to the village center? That decides whether you'll walk or drive to dinner.
- What's included in the rate? Ask about on-site parking, breakfast in every rate and whether chairs and umbrellas are lent.
Where does Villa Blu fit in?
It's the third option. Pousada Villa Blu is at Av. Guanabara, 196, on a quiet street a 10-minute walk from the beach (700 m). It's not right on the sand, and that's the caveat guests mention most. If having the sand at your door is a must, the beachfront is the right choice for you.
If you don't mind the walk, the numbers add up. Parking is included in the rate (1 space per room), breakfast is included in every rate, and the front desk lends chairs, umbrellas and towels. Your car stays parked and the nights are quiet: sleep quality is rated 4.8 on Tripadvisor. Nightly rates start at R$ 223, in the Economy Suite.
Couples will find suites with king beds on our couples page. Small families have the Apartment, with a kitchen and a balcony with a hammock, on our families page. Compare everything on our rooms page. And if you're still choosing between inns, our guide how to choose your inn in Maresias shows what to check at each one.
