“A healthy and fresh land and good waters" is how the first Jesuit priests who crossed the Serra do Mar mountains in 1553 described the area that would become the largest and wealthiest city in South America. Explore the old and the new downtown sections, the Cathedral of São Paulo, the Oriental District, the Higienopolis District, and Pacaembu Stadium. Nearby Santos, the port-of-call, is a holiday resort with magnificent beaches and the lovely Orchid Gardens.