São Gonçalo

São Gonçalo is a municipality of the region of Grande Niterói, in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro, state of Rio de Janeiro, Southeast of Brazil. São Gonçalo is the 2nd most populous city in the state and the 16th in Brazil.

Understand
With over 1 million inhabitants, São Gonçalo has the largest population in the region of Leste Fluminense (Grande Niterói), and the second largest in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Most economic activity in the municipality is concentrated in two major nucleus: Downtown São Gonçalo (known as Rodo de São Gonçalo) - region where the administrative headquarters of the municipality is located - and the neighborhood of Alcântara. Although São Gonçalo plays an important economic role in Leste Fluminense and receives a substantial number of commuters from the municipalities of this region, it has a high economic dependence on the downtown areas of Niterói - just as the six municipalities of the Leste Fluminense region - and of Rio de Janeiro - as all 20 municipalities of the Rio's metropolitan agglomeration, having, therefore, a very large part of its population commuting to these two cities. For instance, the number of commuters between Niterói and São Gonçalo is the highest in the state, and the second highest in the country.

Get in
In the Central Zone of Rio de Janeiro, there are urban bus and van lines to São Gonçalo. Many bus lines to neighborhoods of São Gonçalo depart from the Candelária region, in downtown Rio. Van lines to the municipality depart from the Central do Brasil surrounding region.

It is about 25 km from the city of Rio de Janeiro.

The main road access to São Gonçalo for those coming from the central region of Rio de Janeiro are the BR-101 highway (Niterói-Manilha highway) and the RJ-104 highway.

By bus
From the bus terminals in Rio de Janeiro, Niterói and Itaboraí.

By car
From Rio de Janeiro, via the Rio-Niterói bridge, whose concession is with Ecoponte (Toll of R$4.90, in January 2013, only in the Rio-Niterói direction), passing through Niterói and following the Rodovia Gov. Mário Covas (BR-101) or via Alameda São Boaventura and Rodovia Amaral Peixoto (RJ-104). From the north of the state, passing through the region of Baixadas Litorâneas, and the metropolitan municipalities of Rio Bonito, Tanguá, and Itaboraí, by Rodovia Gov. Mário Covas (BR-101), and, from Itaboraí, also by RJ-104 (Rodovia Amaral Peixoto).

Departing from XV de Novembro Square, in Rio de Janeiro, you can opt for the Barcas (ferries), which cost R$4.50 or R$3.10 with the "Bilhete Único" (in January 2013). The journey takes approximately 20 minutes and is very calm. Arriving at Araribóia Station, head to João Goulart Bus Terminal, from where several bus lines depart for various districts of São Gonçalo.

By plane
Arriving from Rio de Janeiro airports:
 * From Santos Dumont Airport it is possible to walk to Estação das Barcas (1500 m) and take a ferry to Niterói (see above) or take bus number 100 to Niterói, from Viação Mauá, crossing the walkway in front of the airport, and from Niterói, take a bus to São Gonçalo.
 * From Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport - Galeão, you can take bus nº 761D (former 998), Autoviação 1001 to Niterói, and from there take another bus to São Gonçalo.

From both airports it is possible to use a taxi service, with prices varying according to the contracted service.

See

 * Santa Izabel Caves: Set of caves where you can practice diving;
 * Alto do Gaia: The highest point in São Gonçalo, where you can see Maricá and Itaboraí. Location for hiking and trails;
 * Ilha de Jurubaíba: 2nd largest island in São Gonçalo, where there are rustic bars and green waters. Area used for camping.
 * Monument to Freedom: The monument symbolizes the Law of the Free Womb.
 * São João Batista Church: built around 1646, used by the French when they came to found Antarctic France.
 * Parish of São Gonçalo do Amarante: built between 1579 and 1601, with a high altar in the Baroque style.
 * Área de Proteção Ambiental do Engenho Pequeno - APA do Engenho Pequeno (Engenho Pequeno Environmental Protection Area) - Environmental Protection Area between the neighborhoods of Engenho Pequeno, Zumbi, Morro do Castro, Novo México, Tribobó and Colubandê.
 * Praia das Pedrinhas (Pedrinhas beach) - Coastline along BR-101 highway (Niterói-Manilha) that extends through the neighborhoods of Gradim, Porto Novo, Porto da Pedra and Boa Vista.
 * Praia da Luz (Luz beach) - Located in the insular neighborhood of Itaoca.
 * Estação Ecológica da Guanabara (Guanabara Ecological Station) - An important ecological station surrounded by the APA Guapimirim.
 * Fazenda Colubandê (Colubandê Farm) - Building from the colonial period located in the neighborhood of Colubandê.
 * Fazenda Engenho Novo (Engenho Novo Farm) - Located in the rural region of Engenho Novo, in the district of Ipiíba.
 * Serra de Calaboca (Calaboca Mountain Range) - Mountain range between the municipalities of São Gonçalo, Niterói and Maricá.
 * Estação de Tratamento de Água do Laranjal (Laranjal Water Treatment Station) - A large complex for the production and supply of potable water consisting of three interconnected stations, which provides water to residents of the Leste Fluminense region. It is one of the two main water treatment station in the Rio's metropolitan area.

Do

 * G.R.E.S. Unidos do Porto da Pedra - Travessa João Silva, 84 - Porto da Pedra, São Gonçalo. - Unidos do Porto da Pedra is one of the two major samba schools of Leste Metropolitano (the region of Grande Niterói), the other being the G.R.E.S Unidos do Viradouro, in the municipality of Niterói.

Buy

 * São Gonçalo Shopping: It has several stores, restaurants, movie theaters and a unit on the Poupa Tempo River. Av. São Gonçalo, nº 100..
 * Boulevard Shopping São Gonçalo: It has several stores, a food court and a cinema. Avenida Presidente Kennedy, 425 - Mutuá..

Eat

 * Espetto Carioca - Avenida Presidente Kennedy, 425 - 118 - Centro (Partage Shopping São Gonçalo).

Sleep

 * Hotel Dom Quixote - Rua Ari Parreiras, 1381 - Paraíso.

Go next

 * Itaboraí
 * Tanguá
 * Rio Bonito
 * Cachoeiras de Macacu
 * Guapimirim
 * Magé
 * Maricá
 * Niterói
 * Rio de Janeiro