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Which is better: Campos do Jordão or São Sebastião?

Short answer

Campos do Jordão is in the Serra da Mantiqueira (SP), while São Sebastião is on the North Coast of São Paulo (SP): different regions of Brazil. Campos do Jordão: Brazil's highest town, at 1,628 m in the Serra da Mantiqueira; São Sebastião: the town that gives its name to the north coast of São Paulo state. For this month's weather, São Sebastião has the edge.

Sources: INMET (updated 2026) · ANP · OpenStreetMap
Most reviewed activity in Campos do JordãoCampos do Jordão Sightseeing Tour★ 9.1 · 72 reviews · from US$ 20 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Most reviewed activity in São SebastiãoSão Sebastião Whale Watching★ 8 · 1 review · from US$ 102 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Campos do Jordão São Sebastião
Best time to visit Jun → Sep May → Aug
Weather this month 21° · 12 days of rain 26° · 15 days of rain
By car R$ 94 + tolls · from São Paulo R$ 107 + tolls · from São Paulo
Ideal stay 3–4 days 4–5 days
Best for Romantic, Food, Family, Relax Adventure, Relax, Family, Romantic
Choose Campos do Jordão if

you want a trip for couples and food lovers: the "Brazilian Switzerland" of cold weather, pine nuts and the Winter Festival.

See guide
Choose São Sebastião if

you want a trip for adventure seekers and relaxation: almost 100 km of coastline, from the surf of Maresias to family beaches and a 17th-century historic center that almost nobody visits.

See guide
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Where to stay

Where to stay: Campos do Jordão or São Sebastião

The average nightly rate is around R$ 197 in Campos do Jordão and R$ 412 in São Sebastião; what changes in practice is each place's season. Check current prices for your dates before deciding.

Compare hotels and places to stay in Campos do Jordão on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

Hotel Dan Inn Campos do Jordao in Campos do Jordão 8.5 ★★★ · 85 reviews Hotel Dan Inn Campos do Jordao See on Booking → Hotel Castelo Nacional Inn Campos do Jordao in Campos do Jordão 8.6 ★★★★ · 35 reviews Hotel Castelo Nacional Inn Campos do Jordao See on Booking →
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Compare hotels and places to stay in São Sebastião on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

Amora Hotel Maresias in São Sebastião 9.3 ★★★★ · 65 reviews Amora Hotel Maresias See on Booking → Suítes Las Flores Maresias in São Sebastião 9 ★★★ · 118 reviews Suítes Las Flores Maresias See on Booking →
See all hotels in São Sebastião

Rates change with the dates: confirm the price on Booking.com.

Frequently asked questions

Campos do Jordão or São Sebastião: which is better?
Campos do Jordão is in the Serra da Mantiqueira (SP), while São Sebastião is on the North Coast of São Paulo (SP): different regions of Brazil. Campos do Jordão: Brazil's highest town, at 1,628 m in the Serra da Mantiqueira; São Sebastião: the town that gives its name to the north coast of São Paulo state. For this month's weather, São Sebastião has the edge.
What is the best time to visit Campos do Jordão and São Sebastião?
The best time to visit Campos do Jordão is from June to September; for São Sebastião, it is from May to August, based on INMET's climate normals (temperature and rainfall for each month). If your trip already has a date, check each destination's page for your month.
Which of the two is cheaper to get to?
By car, leaving from São Paulo, Campos do Jordão is 170 km (106 mi) and costs about R$ 94 each way (fuel only, tolls not included); leaving from São Paulo, São Sebastião is 196 km (122 mi) and costs about R$ 107 each way (fuel only, tolls not included). The calculation assumes a car that gets 11 km/L. Lodging and activities vary with each place's season.
Where does it rain less, Campos do Jordão or São Sebastião?
Averaged over the year, Campos do Jordão has 11 rainy days a month and São Sebastião has 13. Campos do Jordão is the drier of the two over the year as a whole, but what decides the trip is the month: the rainiest month in Campos do Jordão is January and in São Sebastião, January. For temperature, São Sebastião is the warmer one (average high of 27° versus 21°).
How many days should you spend in Campos do Jordão and in São Sebastião?
To see the main sights without rushing, Campos do Jordão calls for 3–4 days and São Sebastião, 4–5 days. These are distant regions: with a week or less, it is usually better to pick one of the two and make the most of it.
Campos do Jordão or São Sebastião with kids?
Both work with kids: Campos do Jordão (Brazil's highest town, mountain cold, and Winter Festival) and São Sebastião (dozens of beaches, surf, and ferry to Ilhabela). The choice usually comes down to getting there, not to infrastructure. With small children, weather matters: Campos do Jordão has fewer rainy days over the year.
What should you not miss in each?
In Campos do Jordão: Campos do Jordão State Park (Horto Florestal), Morro do Elefante, Pico do Itapeva. In São Sebastião: Praia de Maresias, Praia de Camburi, Praia de Boiçucanga. These are the sights that show up most in first-trip itineraries for each destination; the full guide to each has the whole list.