cities

Cotia

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Beyond the commuter belt

While Cotia is often reduced to a suburb of São Paulo, its surrounding woodlands hide a surprisingly cohesive network of trails that link small farms, historic chapels and the remnants of Atlantic Forest. Mid‑week mornings are the quietest time to join a local hiking club that meets at the base of the Serra do Japi, where you can hear the echo of howler monkeys far beyond the city’s noise. The routes are unmarked on commercial maps but are charted on community boards at the municipal cultural centre, offering a glimpse into the region’s rural rhythms that most tourists miss.

A taste of Cantareira in the city

Cotia’s markets showcase a microcosm of the Cantareira mountain range’s agricultural heritage. Vendors sell fresh pão de queijo stuffed with locally sourced queijo de coalho, a cheese made from the milk of goats that graze on the highland pastures. Pair the snack with a cold cachaça infused with jabuticaba berries, a fruit that grows wild along the riverbanks. These flavour pairings reveal how the city’s cuisine is rooted in its surrounding ecosystems rather than the street food stalls of the megacity, giving visitors a tangible sense of place through every bite.

When the festivals quiet down

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The summer calendar in Cotia is punctuated by vibrant street festivals, yet the period after Carnival offers a different texture: neighbourhoods open their community centres for workshops on traditional woodcraft and embroidery. These sessions are often led by elderly artisans who learned their skills from generations of families linked to the former districts now independent municipalities. Attending a Saturday afternoon workshop provides a hands‑on appreciation of the craft traditions that survived the administrative splits, and it’s an opportunity to acquire a small, locally made souvenir that carries a story beyond the usual souvenir shop fare.

Introduction

For the river, see Cotia River. For the Roman family, see Cotia gens. Place in Southeast, BrazilCotiaView of the historic center of Cotia FlagCoat of armsLocation in the state of São Paulo and BrazilCotiaCoordinates: 23°36′15″S 46°55′10″W / 23.60417°S 46.91944°W / -23.60417; -46.91944CountryBrazilRegionSoutheastStateSão PauloFoundedApril 2, 1856Government • MayorWelington Aparecido Alfredo (PDT)Area • Total323.99 km2 (125.09 sq mi)Elevation853 m (2,799 ft)Population (2022) • Total274,413 • Estimate (2025)289,493 • Density846.98/km2 (2,193.7/sq mi)Time zoneUTC-3 (UTC-3) • Summer (DST)UTC-2 (UTC-2)WebsitePrefeitura Municipal de Cotia Cotia is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. It is part of the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo. The population is 274.413 (2022 est.) in an area of 323.99 km2. The city is at an elevation of 853 m. Cotia is linked with the Rodovia Raposo Tavares highway. The municipality is made up of the headquarters and the district of Caucaia do Alto, with its former districts of Jandira, Itapevi and Vargem Grande Paulista (originally called Raposo Tavares) having been split off to form new municipalities.

History

[edit] Cotia was founded in 1580, and was an active village during the "bandeiras" expeditions. In 1626, Raposo Tavares and his companions arrived in the city. The "Sítio do Mandú" and "Sítio do Padre Inácio" (Mandu's Ranch and Priest Inácio's Ranch) were some of the first rural houses to be built there. Nowadays, they are preserved by the "Instituto Brasileiro de Patrimônio Cultural. Cotia was declared an independent municipality on April 2, 1856. According to the 1980 demographic census, the city had a population of over 62 thousand people.

Geography

[edit] The city is located west of São Paulo, and has a terrain made of valleys and mountains, reaching a maximum elevation of 1,074 meters above sea level The city has the Cotia River as its main river. The city has a densely populated urban area, but the less developed areas to the west attract people interested in ecotourism. The only naturally occurring case of Brazilian hemorrhagic fever took place here.

Economy

[edit] The city's economy is quite diverse, with the industrial and agricultural sectors standing out. In the industrial sector located along the Raposo Tavares Highway and its surroundings, the most important products are electrical materials, chemicals, ceramics, toys, textiles, explosives, food, wine, brandy and agricultural machinery. In agriculture, the most notable are potatoes, tomatoes, corn, beans, garlic and various fruits, most of which come from Caucaia do Alto. Poultry farming is also developed in the municipality. In 2014, the municipality had 1,200 licensed companies (micro, small, medium and service providers) and, by the first quarter of 2015, it had 6,186 individual microentrepreneurs.

Media

[edit] In telecommunications, the city was served by Telecomunicações de São Paulo. In July 1998, this company was acquired by Telefónica, which adopted the Vivo brand in 2012. The company is currently an operator of cell phones, fixed lines, internet (fiber optics/4G) and television (satellite and cable).

Religion

[edit] See also: Religion in Brazil, Protestantism in Brazil, and Roman Catholic Church in Brazil Christianity is present in the city as follows: Catholic Church[edit] The Catholic church in the municipality is part of the Diocese of Osasco. Protestant Church[edit] The most diverse evangelical beliefs are present in the city, mainly Pentecostal, including the Assemblies of God in Brazil (the largest evangelical church in the country), Christian Congregation in Brazil, among others. These denominations are growing more and more throughout Brazil.