Paraty, a beautiful & romantic colonial town. It sits on Brazil's coast.

Street located in Historical Center, Paraty.

Paraty is a beautiful and romantic colonial town. It sits on Brazil’s southeastern coast, 125 miles south of Rio, with the Bocaino Mountains at its back. The streets are paved with rough cobblestones. Houses are all white with a few vividly colored strikes around doors and windows. It preserves until today its countless natural and architectural charms. Explore on foot the historical Center of Paraty, free of cars , and you will travel back in time. Mysterious masonry symbols decorate its walls and lead our imagination back to the old times of Brazil.

The area surrounding Paraty is a nature-lover’s paradise, offering some of southeastern Brazil’s prettiest coastal and mountain scenery. Dozens of pristine beaches are easily accessible by boat or bus.

History

Paraty (sometimes spelled “parati”) had a significant economic importance due to its sugar cane mills (it used to have over 250 distilleries). The name “paraty” was at a certain time synonym of a very good sugar cane rum. In the 18th century, the port of Paraty was an important outlet for the gold and precious stones brought on horseback from Minas Gerais State to be shipped to Portugal. However, constant pirate assaults who took refuge in beaches such as Trindade , led to abandoning the gold route, resulting in a great economic isolation. After the opening of the Paraty-Cunha road, and Rio-Santos Highway in the seventies, Paraty became an attraction for Brazilian and international tourism. It was, due to its good state of preservation and thanks to its natural beauties.

Paraty, a colonial town located some hours from Río de Janeiro.

How to get to this beautiful destination?

Paraty is easily accessible from Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro.

Also, there are five buses daily from Sao Paulo to Paraty. Bus ride takes six to seven hours. The connection to and from Rio de Janeiro is much more common, approximately 12 buses a day. It takes five hours.

Accommodation

Options are many, most range from affordable to quite expensive. The places that are not in the historical center tend to be cheaper. Most likely, they can approached by bus. We recommend booking in advance. Official holidays and late December until late February are high season and prices are higher.

Gastronomy

Paraty was an important crossroads, which brought together indigenous, Portuguese and African cultures, a diversity reflected in traditional recipes such as paçoca-de-banana and farofa-de-feijão. Paraty is also celebrated for its know-how in cachaça making, Brazil’s famous sugarcane spirit; a talent highlighted during the Cachaça, Culture and Flavors Festival. It is estimated that 20% of the city’s labour force works in agro-alimentary and gastronomy-related sectors.

You should also try feijoada, farofa, Camarão Casadinho, etc. Desserts are based on fruits like coconut and passion fruit, as well as condensed milk and chocolate. Among desserts you can try, cocada, Pé de Moleque e bolo de fubá.

FFeijoada, one of the most emblematic dishes of Brazil.

Places you shouldn’t miss!

Paraty is a charming little town in the southern tip of the Rio de Janeiro state. Once a thriving gold port, it is now a popular artist refuge and tourist hotspot, with its Portuguese colonial architect and outstanding natural wonders undoubtedly its key appeals. The region is rich in activities and attractions:

1.- Santa Rita church:

Built by emancipated slaves in 1722. It is the oldest church in the city. The robust bell tower of the Igreja de Santa Rita is a stone’s throw from the port. Now deconsecrated, the church houses a small museum – the Museu de Arte Sacra – which exhibits the statues paraded in processions held in honour of the saint.

2.- Forte Defensor Perpétuo:

First built in 1703 and rebuilt in 1822, its original purpose was to defend the gold passing through Paraty’s port from pirate raids. The fort’s small museum has rotating exhibits on local history and culture. It’s 20 minutes’ walk north of town on Morro da Vila Velha.

3.- Paraty House of Culture:

Colonial mansion that houses Casa da Cultura, dates back to the middle of the 18th Century. It is an ideal place to explore the rich history and traditions of this colorful community.

4.- Capoeira workshop:

Capoeira, the foremost Afro-Brazilian cultural expression, was recognized as UNESCO’s world heritage. This workshop will give you the opportunity to understand Capoeira as a symbol of resistance, freedom and community not only in Brazil, but the world over, while having fun with other fellow travelers.

5.- Cachaça stores:

Brazil holds its own national drink cachaça and internationally loved cocktail, the caipirinha. This Brazilian spirit is a result of the fermentation and distillation of fresh sugarcane juice, and is either aged for a dark golden colour that’s meant to be drunk neat, or unaged for a clear liquor that’s ideal for cocktails.

Don’t forget to try and buy some Cachaça. You will love it!

6.- Waterfalls in Paraty:

Besides the beaches, Paraty has amazing waterfalls. A lot of tourism agencies offer the Jeep Tour. It’s a full day tour that you going to visit the waterfalls. Among the most famous we have Pozo dos Ingleses, Cachoeira do Tobogá, Pozo de Tarzán, Cachoeira do Saco Bravo. Muchas caracterizadas por sus piscinas naturales.

7.- Trindade beach:

Located almost on the border to the state of São Paulo Trindade is truly a magnificent place, paradise beaches and rainforest pouring down the hills. It is a very small village with a strong community that has made sure to preserve both nature and the tranquil atmosphere.

8.- Jabaquara beach:

Jabaquara is a longer and more secluded beach. It is closest to the historical center. And it is one of the cleanest one.

Cachoeira da Pedra Branca – Paraty.

There are unmissable beaches that you should go to. We can name Saco do Mamanguá, Paraty-Mirim, Praia do Engenho d’Água, Praia Do Puntal, etc. You can take a boat ride around the gorgeous Paraty Bay.

A few days in Paraty will immerse you in some of the most beautiful landscapes in Brazil, along with some of the most varied excursions you can find in just one destination. This colonial Portuguese town is set on the aptly-named Costa Verde (Green Coast) in a stretch of Atlantic rainforest along turquoise waters dotted with over 300 sub-tropical islands.

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