São Francisco Xavier is the quiet mountain district of São José dos Campos, well north of the main city. Its small village centre sits around Praça Cônego Antônio Manzi, with cafes, services, and the slower pace you expect before heading into the hills.
Come here for waterfalls, cooler air, and trailheads into the Serra da Mantiqueira. It feels far removed from the industrial city, though it belongs to the same municipality.