Paraty

Paraty, a dazzling colonial jewel on Brazil's Costa Verde, is where cobblestone streets meet emerald-green mountains and the South Atlantic. This impeccably preserved 17th-century port town, backed by the Serra da Bocaina range, offers a heady mix of gold-rush history, cachaça distilleries, and island-studded bays that beg to be explored by schooner. Whether you're sipping caipirinhas in a lantern-lit praça or hiking to a hidden waterfall, Paraty feels like a living museum—with a vibrant, bohemian pulse.

Highlights & What to See

• Historic Centre (Centro Histórico) – Wander the tide-washed cobblestone streets lined with whitewashed colonial buildings, baroque churches, and art galleries. Don't miss the Igreja de Santa Rita, with its striking façade.
• Schooner Tours to the Bay Islands – Set sail across the Baía da Ilha Grande to visit palm-fringed islets like Ilha do Catimbau and Saco do Mamanguá, a tropical fjord perfect for swimming and snorkelling.
• Cachaça Distilleries (Alambiques) – Take a tasting tour of the region's artisanal cachaça producers, such as Engenho do Ouro or Coqueiro, to understand why Paraty is the spiritual home of Brazil’s national spirit.
• Trekking in Serra da Bocaina National Park – Follow the Caminho do Ouro (Gold Trail), a UNESCO-listed path once used by slaves to transport gold, through lush Atlantic Forest to waterfalls and panoramic viewpoints.
• Cruise the Costa Verde by Road – The scenic BR-101 hugs the coast, offering jaw-dropping views of jungle-clad mountains plunging into turquoise coves—one of Brazil's great road trips.

Suggested Time to Spend

Give Paraty at least three full days. Spend day one exploring the historic centre and a nearby cachaça distillery. Dedicate day two to a full-day schooner trip around the bay islands. On day three, choose between a hike into the Serra da Bocaina or a lazy afternoon on the sands of Praia do Sono. If you have a fourth day, consider a jeep tour to the remote Saco do Mamanguá. Paraty is small enough to feel intimate but rich enough to reward a slow pace; avoid rushing through in a single afternoon.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Ilha Grande – An island paradise with no cars, only hiking trails and postcard-perfect beaches like Lopes Mendes; a two-hour boat ride from Paraty.
• Trindade – A laid-back surfing village with dramatic rock formations and tide pools, just 30 minutes south by road.
• Ubatuba – A stretch of the Costa Verde with dozens of beaches and excellent surf, an hour's drive south.
• Rio de Janeiro – About four hours east by road, the Marvelous City makes a natural start or end point for a Costa Verde road trip.
• São Paulo – Five hours west, Brazil's cultural and culinary powerhouse offers a striking contrast to Paraty's colonial calm.

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