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Paraty ToursParaty tours allow you to explore a beautiful colonial city, considered a National Historical Monument, which 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, where walking has to be done in a leisurely pace due to the irregular rounded cobblestone pavement of its streets. The construction of its old housing and churches reflect a certain style of that time and the mysterious masonry symbols which decorate its walls, lead our imagination back to the old times of Brazil.
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The village was founded in 1667 around the Church of "Nossa Senhora dos Remedios", its patron saint. Paraty had a significant economic importance due to its sugar cane mills (it used to have over 250 distilleries), and 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 especially after the opening of the Rio-Santos Highway in the seventies, Paraty became an attraction for Brazilian and international tourism, due to its good state of preservation and thanks to its natural beauties.
Its area comprises the National Park of Bocaina, the Environmental Protection Area of Cairuçu, where the village of Trindade is located , a place of rare beauty, the Park Reserve of Joatinga; it also has limits with the State Park of Serra do Mar. So, Paraty is surrounded everywhere by the Mata Atlantica, the luscious Atlantic Forest. It is about 4 hours from Rio and about 5 hours from Sao Paulo. Can also do transfers to and from the Rio and Sao Paulo international airports. We offer affordable group shuttle services or private transfers. |
New UNESCO World Heritage Site! Paraty and Ilha Grande – Culture and Biodiversity Brazil UNESCO says: Located between the Serra da Bocaina mountain range and the Atlantic Ocean, this cultural landscape includes the historic centre of Paraty, one of Brazil's best-preserved coastal towns, as well as four protected natural areas of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, one of the world’s five key biodiversity hotspots. Paraty is home to an impressive diversity of species, some of which are threatened, such as the jaguar (Panthera onca), the white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) and several primate species, including the woolly spider monkey (Brachyteles arachnoides), which are emblematic of the site. In the late 17thcentury, Paraty was the end-point of the Caminho do Ouro (Gold Route), along which gold was shipped to Europe. Its port also served as an entry point for tools and African slaves, sent to work in the mines. A defence system was built to protect the wealth of the port and the town. The historic centre of Paraty has retained its 18th century plan and much of its colonial architecture dating from the 18th and early 19th centuries. |
Sample Basic Itinerary
Day 1 - transfer from Rio to Paraty, check into hotel. Free afternoon
Day 2 - breakfast, then free day or optional tour
Day 3 - breakfast, free time till transfer back to Rio
Day 1 - transfer from Rio to Paraty, check into hotel. Free afternoon
Day 2 - breakfast, then free day or optional tour
Day 3 - breakfast, free time till transfer back to Rio
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2024 Price per person in US$ including roundtrip group transfers from Rio and 2 night hotel (standard rooms) with breakfasts (prices valid for most of year, but not holidays). Extra nights and/or more tours tours can be added. Rates can change for holidays and special dates and changes due to the exchange rate,)
Note: can also quote with transfers from/to Sao Paulo. |
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Optional add-on Tours:
Walking tour of city: Different from other Brazilian colonial cities, the Paraty architecture has character, originality and definition forming a harmonious architectural set of the XVIII century. Paraty today is a Historic National Monument and Historic Patrimony worldwide declared by UNESCO, and much more, natural patrimony for 65% of the area of the town is inside the National Park of Serra da Bocaina. This guided tour through the old part of town tells you all about its history and legends. Perfect tour for filming and photography.
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Schooner Cruise - Paraty has 65 islands and many beaches of uncommon beauty. It is surrounded by exuberant vegetation that makes it a quiet and unbelievable place to stay. The waters are perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Traditional tour with different routes for each day of week, it has four stops with about 40 minutes in each place, being one of them for lunch (la carte) aboard (optional). At these stops it is possible to dive with mask and snorkel for this we can do in clear and warm water. Among these 4 stops we have one that has become essential, due to tourist wishes, the Ilha Comprida which is known as a natural aquarium of fishes, which surround the boat and the people dive in, it is perfect to take pictures. All the boats offer security and comfort; beyond that, they have a good restaurant with option of fish or chicken, to make your tour more enjoyable. The tour includes tropical fruits, mask and snorkel. As with all of our other tours they come highly recommended by the "Lonely Planet" Guide to Brazil.
Departs 10, 10:30 and 11am. 5 hour tour |
Waterfalls and Distilleries Tour - This six hour tour leaves at 11:00am and goes into the beautiful surroundings of the National Florest of Serra da Bocaina. The first stop is at the old distillery at Cachaca where you can see the production of, and sample, the tradicional Brazilian spirit, Cachaca. Afterwards you are driven the 5km to another clear waterfall - Tobogan - and for those of you who are more daring, you may take the opportunity to slide down the exciting natural "waterslide" which is formed by a smooth 30m rock face. (At your own risk!) After this you travel to an old farm at Murycana and take a twenty minute trek to another beautiful waterfall - Poço Ingles - set in the best preserved part of this charming rainforest, literally a haven for flora and fauna, and then onto another waterfall, Pedra branca. Depending on the time we either eat lunch here or slightly later at the Pereque river at a picturesque restaurant. The Tour returns to Jabaquara beach before stopping at the four hundred year old fort, and then returning to Paraty. You'll find each of these locations mentioned in the "Lonely Planet" Guide To Brazil.
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The "Trindade" minibus 6 hour tour which takes you to the charming little fishing village. On the trip it visits four beaches and a natural swimming pool - "Caixa d'Aço". Firstly we travel to the beach near the village "Ranchos" and take a guided trek before arriving at the swimming pool. This trip takes forty minutes and on it we pass through beautiful natural mountain forests and glades. At Caixa d'Aço you can snorkel and swim in the crystal clear water if you wish. After this we travel to the main village of Trindade where we eat lunch (not included in the price). Included in the price are diving masks.
Departs at 10am GOLD TRAIL (Half Day) - Step back in time on the Gold Trail, the paved road built by African slaves in the 18th Century to bring gold and precious stones out of the Brazilian interior and onto ships bound for Portugal. After walking on the trail through the rainforest we stop at waterfalls for swimming and finish up at a cachaça distillery where the rum is still made the traditional way. Morning departure: 08.30 Tour duration: 3 hours. Level of Difficulty: easy/ moderate. Total walking time: up to 1½ hours (plenty of breaks) Transport: regular bus. Bilingual guide (English/Portuguese)
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MAMANGUÁ SUGARLOAF PEAK HIKE - Located on the nearby Juatinga Peninsular Eco-reserve, Brazil’s only tropical fjord, the Saco do Mamanguá, is a unique marine ecosystem and tropical paradise. On this day trip we set out from Paraty by bus to Paraty Mirim where we catch a boat into the fjord. We hike up Mamanguá Sugarloaf Peak (500m) for incredible views of the whole region (walking time 2½ to 3 hours with breaks – level of difficulty medium). On the way back we stop for lunch and a swim on the beach before taking a boat back to Paraty Mirim to catch the bus. There is no better tour in Paraty! Bilingual guide (English/Portuguese). Departs: Daily 09.15 Returns 17.30
Level of Difficulty: medium Total walking time: 2 to 3 hours 
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GREEN COAST BEACHES TOUR - A day of contrasts, on this guided walk through the Atlantic Rainforest we take in a local fishing village, some of the most beautiful beaches in the region and finish up at a gated community for the super-rich. Stop for optional lunch; Departs 09.15 Returns 17hs. Includes Regular bus roundtrip transport from Paraty, Bilingual guide (English/Portuguese)
STAND UP PADDLE (SUP) PADDLE TRIP - Guided SUP trip on flat waters of the bay of Paraty. After paddling and safety instruction on the beach we paddle to a mangrove stopping for a swim along the way.
This trip is suitable for inexperienced paddlers but it is an active trip and participants need to be reasonably fit.Includes Bilingual guide (English/Portuguese), Stand Up Paddle board, paddle and Safety equipment rental, Paddling and Safety Instruction, Water and fruit. Departs 09hs Returns 13hs |
