Viracopos International Airport

Viracopos International Airport (VCP), officially Aeroporto Internacional de Viracopos/Campinas, is Brazil's fifth busiest airport by passenger traffic and the largest cargo hub in Latin America. Located 18 km southwest of Campinas and approximately 100 km northwest of central São Paulo, VCP serves as the primary hub for Azul Brazilian Airlines, which operates over 90% of the passenger traffic.

The airport has a single passenger terminal (Terminal 1) that handles both domestic and international flights. The modern terminal opened in 2014 with capacity for 25 million passengers annually. The layout is straightforward and compact, making connections relatively easy.

Key characteristics:

• Azul Airlines hub: Over 65 domestic and international routes, with flights departing every few minutes during peak hours
• Cargo powerhouse: Handles approximately 40% of all air cargo imported into Brazil
• Award-winning: Named Cargo Airport of the Year at the 2024 Air Cargo Week World Air Cargo Awards
• Alternative to GRU: Often has cheaper fares and shorter security lines than São Paulo-Guarulhos

São Paulo Area Airports

Viracopos is one of three major airports serving the greater São Paulo region:

São Paulo-Guarulhos (GRU) — 98 km east

• Primary international gateway for São Paulo
• LATAM Brasil hub
• More international long-haul options
• Best for: International connections, Star Alliance/oneworld flights

São Paulo-Congonhas (CGH) — 90 km southeast

• Domestic-focused airport in the city center
• Business shuttle flights to Rio de Janeiro
• Best for: Domestic flights, city center access

When to choose VCP:

• Flying Azul domestically (best network and prices)
• Connecting through Azul's extensive hub
• Visiting Campinas or the surrounding tech corridor
• Finding cheaper fares than GRU

Connecting between VCP and other São Paulo airports:

Destination	Distance	Time	Options
GRU (Guarulhos)	98 km	1.5-2.5 hours	Azul shuttle, taxi/Uber
CGH (Congonhas)	90 km	1.5-2 hours	Azul shuttle, taxi/Uber

Minimum connection time between airports: Allow 4-5 hours minimum when connecting between VCP and other São Paulo airports on separate tickets.

Pro tip: Azul offers free shuttle buses between VCP and Congonhas, Barra Funda, and other locations for passengers with Azul boarding passes.

VCP is located 18 km (11 miles) southwest of downtown Campinas and 100 km (62 miles) northwest of central São Paulo.

Destination	Off-Peak	Peak Hours
Campinas downtown	20-30 min	40-60 min
São Paulo (Paulista)	75-100 min	2-3 hours
Guarulhos Airport (GRU)	90-120 min	2-3 hours
Congonhas Airport (CGH)	80-100 min	2-2.5 hours

Traffic warning: The road between VCP and São Paulo can experience significant congestion, especially during rush hours. Friday evenings and Sunday evenings are particularly busy.

Uber and 99 (a popular Brazilian rideshare app) operate at VCP. Both are generally cheaper than official taxis.

Pickup location: Floor 0 (Arrivals Level), outer curb—follow signs for "Aplicativos" or "Rideshare."

Typical Fares

Destination	Uber/99	Taxi	Notes
Campinas downtown	R$40-60 (~$8-12 USD)	R$50-70 (~$10-14 USD)	20-30 min
São Paulo (Paulista)	R$250-350 (~$50-70 USD)	R$350-450 (~$70-90 USD)	Traffic-dependent
Guarulhos Airport	R$300-400 (~$60-80 USD)	R$400-500 (~$80-100 USD)	1.5-2.5 hours

Official Taxis (Aerocoop cooperative):

• Available 24 hours on Floor 0 (Arrivals)
• Fleet of 65 registered vehicles
• Credit cards accepted at the service counter
• Safer and more reliable than street taxis

Tip: Download the 99 app before arrival—it often has better availability and lower prices than Uber in Brazil.

Azul Free Shuttle (Best Option for Azul Passengers)

Azul Airlines provides free shuttle bus service to VCP for passengers with valid Azul boarding passes (departing from or arriving at VCP).

Pickup locations in São Paulo:

• Congonhas Airport (CGH)
• Shopping Eldorado
• Shopping Tamboré
• Barra Funda Bus Station

Requirements: Must present Azul boarding pass to use the service.

Tip: Check schedules on Azul's website or app. This is the most convenient and cost-effective way to reach VCP from São Paulo.

Lirabus / VB Transportes

Regular and executive buses connect VCP to São Paulo and the region.

To São Paulo (Tietê Bus Terminal):

• Fare: R$17-25 (~$3-5 USD)
• Duration: 1.5-2 hours (traffic-dependent)
• Frequency: Multiple departures daily
• Pickup: Outside Arrivals level

To Campinas (Central Bus Station):

• Fare: R$9-15 (~$2-3 USD)
• Duration: 30-45 minutes
• Frequency: Every 30-60 minutes

Local Bus (Budget Option)

Bus 601 connects VCP to Campinas Central Bus Station.

• Fare: R$4.50 (~$1 USD)
• Duration: 40-50 minutes
• Hours: 5 AM to 10 PM
• Note: Not recommended for travelers with heavy luggage

VCP's parking facilities include covered and uncovered options near the terminal.

Terminal Parking (Garage Building)

Duration	Rate
First hour	R$15 (~$3 USD)
Additional hours	R$8/hr (~$1.60 USD)
Daily maximum	R$45/day (~$9 USD)
Weekly rate	R$200/week (~$40 USD)

Features:

• 1,200+ vehicle capacity
• Covered parking available
• Covered walkway to Terminal 1
• 24-hour security

Cell phone lot: Free waiting area available for drivers picking up passengers.

Tip: Book online through the official Viracopos website for potential discounts.

VCP has a solid food court with options available 24 hours in some areas.

Landside (before security):

• Romana Café: Coffee and snacks (24 hours)
• Fran's Café: Brazilian café chain (24 hours)
• McDonald's: Fast food (24 hours)
• Umrry Restaurante E Bar: Full meals (24 hours)

Airside (after security):

• Starbucks: Coffee and pastries
• Burger King: Fast food
• Frango Assado: Brazilian rotisserie chicken
• Food court: Various quick-service options

Must-try local foods:

• Coxinha: Fried chicken croquette (Brazilian specialty)
• Pão de queijo: Cheese bread
• Açaí bowls: Amazonian superfood
• Guaraná Antarctica: Brazilian soft drink

Tip: Terminal 1 has one of the better airport food courts in Brazil, but prices are typical airport premium. For cheaper options, eat before clearing security.

Free WiFi is available throughout Terminal 1.

Network name: "VCP-Free-WiFi" (or similar)

How to connect:

1. Select the airport network
2. Open browser and accept terms
3. No registration required for basic access

Quality: Adequate for browsing, email, and messaging. Streaming may be inconsistent during peak hours.

Alternatives: Lounge WiFi is faster and more reliable for heavy usage.

SIM cards are available in the terminal, though selection is more limited than at GRU.

Where to buy:

• Vivo and Tim presence in the terminal
• Convenience stores may carry prepaid SIMs

Major carriers:

• Vivo: Best nationwide coverage
• Claro: Good urban coverage
• TIM: Popular prepaid plans

Typical costs:

• Prepaid SIM with 10GB data: R$50-80 (~$10-16 USD)
• Tourist packages available (30 days validity)

Requirements: Passport required. Some carriers may ask for CPF (Brazilian tax ID), but tourist SIMs are often available without one.

Tip: Consider ordering an eSIM (Airalo, Holafly) before departure to avoid any registration issues.

ATMs are available on Floor 0 (Arrivals) and Floor 1 (Check-in).

Banks with ATMs at VCP:

• Banco24Horas (best for international cards)
• Bradesco
• Santander

Tips:

• Banco24Horas ATMs reliably accept Visa, Mastercard, and Cirrus
• Typical withdrawal limit: R$1,000-1,500 per transaction
• ATM fees: R$15-25 plus your bank's foreign transaction fee
• Always choose to be charged in Brazilian Reais (BRL) for better rates

Currency Exchange:

• Global Exchange offices available with extended hours
• Rates are poor (8-15% markup typical)
• Better to use ATMs or exchange minimal amounts

Credit cards: Visa and Mastercard widely accepted in Brazil. Amex has more limited acceptance.

VCP offers duty-free shopping for international travelers and general retail.

Duty-Free (International departures):

• Located after immigration
• Brazilian cachaça, coffee, and Havaianas popular purchases
• Standard international brands available

Terminal Stores:

• Convenience stores: Travel essentials, snacks
• Souvenir shops: Brazilian gifts
• Pharmacy (Drogaria Iguatemi): Medications and toiletries

Brazilian specialties to buy:

• Cachaça: Brazilian sugarcane spirit
• Brazilian coffee: High-quality beans
• Havaianas: Iconic flip-flops
• Brigadeiros: Chocolate truffles

Tip: Duty-free selection is smaller than at GRU, but prices on Brazilian products are competitive.

VCP has several lounge options, primarily serving Azul passengers and Priority Pass members.

Priority Pass Lounges

The Lounge Viracopos (Domestic)

• Location: Airside domestic boarding area, 1st Floor (take lift after security)
• Hours: 24 hours
• Amenities: Snack buffet, drinks, WiFi, showers, TV, kids' area, workstations
• Access: Priority Pass, LoungeKey, Diners Club, select Bradesco credit cards

Airline Lounges

Lounge Azul (International)

• Location: Terminal 1, mezzanine level after immigration, opposite duty-free
• Hours: Opens for international departures
• Amenities: Complimentary snacks, bar with wine and beverages, family room, WiFi
• Access:
  • Azul Business Class passengers
  • TudoAzul Diamond members (+1 guest)
  • Cartão Azul Itaú cardholders
  • United MileagePlus elite members on Azul flights
  • Day pass: R$200 (adults), R$100 (children)

Ambaar Club Lounge (International)

• Location: International departures, after immigration near Gate 4
• Hours: 6:00 AM – 12:00 AM
• Amenities: Showers available, food and drinks
• Access: Day pass from R$200 (4 hours) or R$300 (6 hours), various lounge programs

Day Passes

Walk-in day passes available at lounges when capacity permits:

• The Lounge Viracopos: Variable pricing
• Lounge Azul: R$200 adults, R$100 children
• Ambaar Club: R$200-300 depending on duration

VCP does not have an on-site hotel within the terminal. The closest hotels are a short drive away.

Closest to Airport:

• Golden Park Hotel Viracopos: 2.8 km from terminal, 3-star, pet-friendly. Free airport shuttle available.

• Ramada Campinas Viracopos: 3-star hotel with bar, free WiFi, private parking. Good value for early departures.

Near Airport (5-10 km):

• Vitória Hotel Convention Indaiatuba: 10 km from VCP, swimming pool, fitness center, free WiFi.

• Hotel Alji: Budget-friendly option in Indaiatuba with free parking.

In Campinas (for layovers with time to explore):

• Hotels in Cambuí neighborhood: Upscale area with restaurants and shops, 20-30 minutes from VCP.

Tip: For very early morning departures, stay at Golden Park or Ramada Viracopos and use their airport shuttle service.

Campinas is Brazil's third-largest metropolitan area and a major technology and education hub, home to the University of Campinas (Unicamp), one of Latin America's top universities.

Getting around Campinas:

• Uber/99: Most convenient option
• Local buses: Extensive network but challenging for tourists
• Walking: Practical in downtown and Cambuí neighborhood

Top attractions (with time from airport):

• Lagoa do Taquaral (Parque Portugal) (30-40 min): Beautiful lake park with paddleboats, walking trails, and the Campinas Planetarium

• Bosque dos Jequitibás (35-45 min): Urban forest with century-old trees, small zoo, and nature trails

• Hopi Hari (20-30 min): One of Brazil's largest amusement parks, featuring South America's biggest wooden roller coaster

• Municipal Market (30-40 min): Historic market in downtown Campinas

• Shopping Iguatemi Campinas (25-35 min): Major shopping mall with international brands

Neighborhoods to explore:

• Cambuí: Upscale district with restaurants, bars, and boutique shopping
• Centro: Historic downtown with colonial architecture
• Barão Geraldo: University district with cafés and cultural venues

Day trips from Campinas:

• São Paulo (1.5-2 hours): South America's largest city
• Holambra (45 min): Dutch-influenced town famous for flowers
• Circuito das Águas (1-2 hours): Spa towns with natural mineral springs

Local food to try:

• Coxinha: Campinas claims to have the best coxinhas in Brazil—try at Estação Barão Bar
• Café Colonial: European-style afternoon tea spreads
• Churrasco: Brazilian steakhouse experience

Weather: Campinas has a subtropical climate. Summers (Dec-Feb) are warm and rainy with temperatures reaching 30°C (86°F). Winters (Jun-Aug) are mild and dry with temperatures around 15-22°C (59-72°F).

Currency: Brazilian Real (R$). As of 2025, approximately R$5 = $1 USD.

Safety tips:

• Campinas is generally safer than São Paulo but standard precautions apply
• Use rideshare apps rather than hailing taxis on the street
• Keep valuables secure, especially electronics
• Tourist areas and shopping malls are generally safe