Travelling from Sao Paulo to Santa Maria Airport (RIA): What you need to know
Start your journey at one of Sao Paulo's main airports, Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) or Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH). Explore your options for booking a flight from Sao Paulo to Santa Maria Airport (RIA) departing from either of these.
Sao Paulo and Santa Maria (where Santa Maria Airport is located) share the UTC-3 timezone. That means you won't have to change your watch once you arrive.
For stress-free travel, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This way, you can comfortably board your flight from Sao Paulo to RIA.
In high season, expect longer queues and get there earlier. Aim for at least two hours ahead for domestic flights and as much as four hours for international journeys.
Airports in Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)
Travelling from central Sao Paulo to GRU takes around 1 hour 20 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or grab a cab, you'll cover the 26 kilometres in 30 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Planning to catch an early flight from Sao Paulo to Santa Maria Airport? Avoid rushing to the terminal (and get a little more snooze time) by staying at one of these stays near Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport:
Of all flights departing from Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport, 75.54% arrive on time at their destination.
Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH)
On public transport, you can travel from central Sao Paulo to CGH in around 35 minutes. The terminal is roughly 10 kilometres away, and making the journey by car will take approximately 15 minutes.
Got an early start? You might like to check in to one of these hotels near Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport the day before your Sao Paulo to RIA flight:
73.8% of flights leaving Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport arrive according to schedule.
Viracopos Airport (VCP)
One takeoff, one touchdown. You can book a direct flight from Sao Paulo to Santa Maria Airport leaving from Viracopos Airport (VCP).
Get set for takeoff with Azul. It offers direct Sao Paulo to RIA flight tickets from VCP.
The majority of travellers prefer to book seats with Azul from VCP to RIA.
Azul leads the way as the most punctual carrier on this route, with 84.62% of its services reaching their destination on schedule.
VCP is roughly 97 kilometres from central Sao Paulo. Driving from the city centre to the terminal takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. If you're planning to take public transport, expect a journey of around 3 hours 25 minutes.
Skip the rush on your departure day — stay close to Viracopos Airport and know you'll be at your boarding gate with time to spare. Check in to one of these hotels the day before if you have an early Sao Paulo to Santa Maria Airport flight:
The on-time performance rating of VCP is 75.02%. To put it simply, that's how often flights departing this airport arrive within the expected time frame.
About Santa Maria Airport (RIA)
Have a late flight from Sao Paulo to Santa Maria Airport? Don't let it leave you bleary-eyed. Check in to one of these hotels near RIA and give yourself a well-earned lights-out:
Go wherever you want, whenever you want with a Santa Maria Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Localiza, Alamo or National and experience more of Santa Maria and beyond.
Booking your ride around four weeks in advance of your Sao Paulo to Santa Maria Airport flight can help you score a better rate.
How to find the cheapest flights from Sao Paulo to Santa Maria Airport (RIA)
At the moment, $189 is the best price we've found for a one-way ticket from Sao Paulo to Santa Maria Airport. The cheapest price for a return flight is $396. Remember fares may change due to demand at the time of booking.
To find cheap flights from Sao Paulo to RIA, book in advance. Airlines tend to offer lower prices when flights are first released.
If you have some flexibility with your travel plans, use the 'Whole month' tool. It'll give you the lowest price in every month when searching for your Sao Paulo to Santa Maria Airport ticket.
Spend less time searching for cheap flight tickets from Sao Paulo to RIA by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or notification through the app when fares go down.
Find an affordable flight from Sao Paulo to Santa Maria Airport by using filters. Select your preferred departure time, duration and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
The best time to fly from Sao Paulo to Santa Maria Airport (RIA)
Think about the kind of experience you want when deciding when to fly. August is the quietest month to visit Santa Maria. June is when most people book flights from Sao Paulo to Santa Maria Airport (RIA), which may be perfect if you're chasing more excitement.
Lock in a Sao Paulo to RIA flight ticket departing in January if you're eager to explore the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Santa Maria to range from 16ºC to 35ºC.
Look for cheap tickets from Sao Paulo to Santa Maria Airport in July if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 5ºC and 22ºC.
More about Santa Maria
When it comes to looking for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the best places to stay in Santa Maria right here. Explore these options once you've locked in your flight from Sao Paulo to Santa Maria Airport:
There are loads of terrific things to do in Santa Maria when you're ready to sightsee. Start exploring at Memorial of Japanese Immigration and Culture followed by Municipal Park Hills and Calçadão Salvador Isaia.
Explore more of Brazil
You've done Santa Maria, now it's time to discover other parts of Brazil. Travel around 241 kilometres east to Porto Alegre to check off its leading sights. From Botanical Gardens to Centro Historico Cultural Santa Casa and Pinacoteca, your itinerary will be busy.
Around 241 kilometres east of Santa Maria, Canoas is another favourite stop in Brazil. No visit is complete without checking out Ponte Estaiada Lupicinio Rodriigues, Lake Garden and Praça Santa Maria.
