Sao Mateus

Introduction

São Mateus is one of the oldest municipalities in Brazil, founded in the sixteenth century and later renamed by Father Joseph of Anchieta after its original designation as Povoado do Cricaré. It holds a recognised place in the colonisation of Espírito Santo's territory, and its long history is the main reason to linger rather than pass through.

Getting around

First, be clear about which São Mateus you are in: the name is shared by several places, and the transport notes here relate to the São Mateus area of São Paulo, the one with documented transit infrastructure. In that area, getting around means buses rather than trains or trams. The backbone is a segregated trolleybus corridor running between São Mateus and Jabaquara, built as a dedicated busway rather than a rail or metro line. Because it is separated from general traffic, buses on it avoid the congestion that slows ordinary services, so choosing a route that uses the corridor is the sensible way to make a journey faster and more predictable.

• Board a bus or trolleybus on the corridor, not a train; you may encounter trolleybuses drawing power from overhead wiring.
• Expect integration terminals, which are the points where you can change between services.
• The mix of vehicles can vary, since replacement of diesel buses by trolleybuses has at times been delayed by unfinished overhead wiring and roadway rehabilitation.
• Informal door-to-door van services compete with the formal bus system; they are not part of the regulated network, so use them with the usual caution.
• Some journeys will involve walking between stops and terminals, but the quality and safety of those walking routes is not documented.
• Ticket, fare and taxi details are not covered by the sources; verify them locally on arrival.

Three days in Sao Mateus

Day one: Start in São Mateus, the town in Espírito Santo that gives the area its name, and get your bearings on foot before heading out to the Povoado. Expect an informal atmosphere, and board a boat to Cricar if you want to see the water up close. Keep the first day loose, because the pace here rewards wandering rather than rushing.

• São Mateus town centre
• Povoado
• Cricar by boat

Day two: Follow the story of Father Joseph and Anchieta, whose names run through the region's history, and take time to understand how the settlement took shape. It is worth asking locally about the connections to São Paulo and the Jabaquara area, since some of the threads lead back there. In the evening, return to São Mateus and eat simply.

• Father Joseph and Anchieta sites
• Local history of the settlement
• Evening back in São Mateus

Day three: Use your last day for the water and the edges of town. Board a boat again if the weather is fine, or stay close to the Povoado and Cricar and let the morning pass slowly. Buy a ticket for whatever transport you need and leave the afternoon open, because the best of São Mateus is often the unplanned part.

• Boat trip from the Povoado
• Cricar
• Flexible afternoon in São Mateus