Guarujá

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Guarujá is a coastal city in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. It sits on Santo Amaro Island, on the Atlantic coast, facing São Vicente Island. It’s part of the Baixada Santista metropolitan area and is known as the Pearl of the Atlantic. The population is about 295,000 people and the area is roughly 144 square kilometers. The city is very urbanized and lies at a low elevation of around 4 meters.

Toponym and background
The name Guarujá comes from the Tupi language and is linked to an old word for a type of crab. It’s common to say “Guarujá” without the definite article in daily speech.

Geography and people
Guarujá has 27 beaches, including Astúrias, Pitangueiras, Enseada, Tombo, Guaiúba, Perequê, São Pedro, Tijucopava, Iporanga, Praia Branca and Praia Preta. The main borough is Vicente de Carvalho. It’s a popular weekend destination for people from São Paulo, who can reach it in under an hour by car via the Imigrantes highway.

Economy
Tourism is the city’s main economic activity, especially in the summer, when many visitors come to enjoy the beaches. The nearby port activities and transportation also contribute, helped by Guarujá’s proximity to the Santos industrial area (Cubatão). In 2006, the region’s services produced about US$1.82 billion in wealth.

Twin towns and sister cities
- Cascais, Portugal (since 2000)
- Brotas, São Paulo, Brazil (since 2001)
- Lobito, Angola (since 2013)

Tourist attractions
- Andradas Fort
- Acqua Mundo aquarium
- Teatro Municipal Procópio Ferreira

Media, infrastructure and services
Guarujá’s telecoms history includes service by Companhia Telefônica Brasileira until 1973, then Telecomunicações de São Paulo, which was acquired by Telefónica and rebranded as Vivo in 2012. Today the city offers telephone, internet and television services.

Sports
The Estádio Municipal Antônio Fernandes hosts local football (soccer) matches. Associação Desportiva Guarujá is based there, and the city was used as a training base by Bosnia and Herzegovina for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Airport and transport
Santos Air Force Base (BAST) is located in Guarujá. A planned Guarujá Civil Metropolitano Aerodrome would be built nearby to serve air traffic needs.

Notable people
Guarujá is home to several well-known figures, including Kelvin Hoefler (skater and Olympic medalist) and Charles Oliveira (UFC lightweight champion), who grew up in the city. The area has produced other athletes and cultural figures as well.