Destinations
Destination deep-dives
DestinationsIlha Grande guide: the car-free island, end to end
A host's complete Ilha Grande guide: Abraão, Lopes Mendes, the Blue Lagoon, trails, how to get there from Paraty and Angra, and day trip versus overnight.
23 min read
DestinationsLuxury Brazil travel for first-timers: the complete guide
A first-timer's guide to luxury Brazil travel: Rio, the Costa Verde and Paraty, when to go, how to get here, what to eat and why a hillside villa base wins.
26 min read
DestinationsThe complete guide to Paraty, Brazil
A complete, host-written guide to Paraty, Brazil: its colonial centre, the bay and beaches, Ilha Grande, cachaça, food, festivals, when to go and how to get there.
20 min read
DestinationsAngra dos Reis: Gateway to 365 Islands
A host's honest guide to Angra dos Reis: the 365-island bay, ferries to Ilha Grande, the Blue Lagoon, day trips and how it pairs with a Paraty base.
23 min read
DestinationsLopes Mendes beach and the best beaches of Ilha Grande
A host's guide to Lopes Mendes beach and the best beaches of Ilha Grande: Aventureiro, the Blue Lagoon and Dois Rios, plus the trail versus boat, and how to reach each.
26 min read
DestinationsThe Best Day Trips from Paraty
The best Paraty day trips, ranked by how you actually spend a day: Trindade, Ilha Grande, the Cunha pottery road, Ubatuba, waterfalls and boat days.
25 min read
DestinationsTrindade Paraty: beaches, natural pools and the village
Trindade Paraty: the surf-village beaches, the Cachadaco natural pool, how to get there in about 40 minutes, and whether to visit for a day or stay.
24 min readPlan your trip
Plan the trip
Plan your tripLuxury vacation rentals in Paraty: how to choose
An honest, host-written guide to luxury vacation rentals in Paraty, Brazil — villas, chalets and pousadas, where to base yourself, what to ask before booking, and the real trade-offs.
20 min read
Plan your tripThe best time to visit Paraty, month by month
When to visit Paraty, Brazil, month by month: weather, sea temperature, rain, crowds, prices and festivals, plus honest advice on the best month for you.
22 min readPlan your tripA Paraty villa pool view: how to choose a hillside villa with an infinity pool
An honest host's guide to choosing a Paraty villa pool view: a hillside chalet with an infinity pool, the triple bay view, and altitude versus beachfront.
24 min read
Plan your tripA Paraty weekend from São Paulo: the honest Friday-to-Sunday plan
How to do a Paraty weekend from São Paulo: the two driving routes and real times, when to leave to beat the traffic, a tight Fri-Sun itinerary and a villa base.
26 min readPlan your tripA luxury long weekend in Paraty
How to spend an unhurried luxury long weekend in Paraty, Brazil: a private boat day, the old town at its best hours, food and cachaca, and real downtime.
22 min read
Plan your tripGetting here, getting around
Reaching Paraty from Rio or São Paulo by car, bus or private transfer, and how to move around once you're here: on foot, by taxi and by boat.
3 min readPlan your tripHoneymoon in Paraty: a romantic guide to the Costa Verde
A host-written honeymoon guide to Paraty, Brazil: secluded boat-only coves, the silent Mamangua ria, sunset spots, candlelit dinners and how to add a few days in Rio.
25 min read
Plan your tripHow many days do you need in Paraty?
An honest, host-written take on how many days you need in Paraty, Brazil: day trip, 2 nights, the ideal 3, a week with Ilha Grande, and slow stays.
22 min read
Plan your tripParaty for groups: the villa, the boat and the big table
How to plan a Paraty group trip villa stay: a hillside house with a pool, private boat charters, big shared dinners, and fair ways to split the costs.
27 min read
Plan your tripParaty for remote work and long stays
An honest host's guide to remote work and long stays in Paraty, Brazil: real connectivity, where to base, monthly rentals, cost of living and visa basics.
27 min read
Plan your tripParaty vs Buzios vs Ilha Grande: choosing your Costa Verde base
Paraty vs Buzios vs Ilha Grande, compared honestly by hosts in Brazil: vibe, distance from Rio, beaches, nightlife, price, families, and which suits you.
24 min readPlan your tripRomantic Paraty: the best things to do for two
Romantic Paraty, done well: sunset cruises, candlelit dinners in the colonial centre, private coves, stargazing, spa afternoons and the pool at dusk, by the hosts.
26 min readPlan your tripSeven days on the Costa Verde
A one-week route through Paraty, Ilha Grande and Angra dos Reis — the full Costa Verde, paced by people who live above it.
3 min readPlan your tripThree days in Paraty
Town, boat day and waterfalls: how to spend a long weekend in Paraty without rushing it, written by local hosts.
3 min readPlan your tripWeddings and celebrations in Paraty
A host-written guide to small weddings, vow renewals, elopements and milestone celebrations in Paraty, Brazil: venue types, best seasons, guest logistics and the legal basics.
24 min readPlan your tripWhere to Stay in Paraty
Which Paraty neighborhood to choose and the pousadas worth booking — from restored colonial mansions and boutique maisons in the car-free center to rainforest spa retreats — plus parking, seasons and how to pick your base.
6 min readOn the water
Boats, beaches and islands
On the waterThe best beaches in Paraty, and how to reach every one
A host's honest guide to the best beaches Paraty offers: town sands, bay boat-beaches, Trindade, Praia do Sono and Paraty-Mirim, and how to reach each one.
26 min read
On the waterA day on the bay from Paraty
Schooner or private speedboat? The classic five-stop Paraty bay route, what to bring, and how the swimming stops work.
4 min readOn the waterIsland hopping in Paraty: a day among the bay's islands and coves
A local host's honest guide to island hopping in Paraty: the schooner circuit versus a private charter, the best snorkel stops, and how to plan a day on the bay.
24 min read
On the waterKayak & SUP in Paraty: paddling the bay, the mangroves and the Mamanguá
A host's honest guide to kayak & SUP Paraty: sea kayaking and paddleboarding the sheltered bay, the mangroves and the Mamanguá fjord, guided vs rental, and family tips.
27 min read
On the waterParaty to Ilha Grande
Flexboat and ferry logistics for the Paraty–Ilha Grande crossing, where the boats actually leave from, and what to expect in Vila do Abraão.
3 min read
On the waterParaty-Mirim and the quiet beaches
Where to swim when the schooner crowds land: Paraty-Mirim, the Mamanguá ria, and the coves day-trippers never reach.
3 min read
On the waterSaco do Mamanguá: Brazil’s Tropical Fjord
A local host’s guide to Saco do Mamanguá, Brazil’s tropical fjord near Paraty: kayaking, the Pico do Mamanguá climb, caiçara life, and how to visit by boat.
23 min readOn the waterScuba diving Paraty and the Costa Verde
A local host's guide to scuba diving Paraty and Ilha Grande: dive sites, discover-scuba and courses, the marine life you'll see, and visibility season by season.
24 min read
On the waterSnorkeling and diving the Costa Verde
Where the clear water is: Ilha Comprida, Ilha dos Meros, reading conditions, and how snorkeling works on Paraty boat days.
2 min read
On the waterYacht charter Paraty Angra: sailing the Costa Verde bay
A yacht charter Paraty Angra guide: bareboat vs crewed, sailing Ilha Grande bay, multi-day routes, real costs by group size, and how villa groups plan a day at sea.
23 min readOn land
Trails, falls and forest
On landCaminho do Ouro Paraty: hiking the Gold Trail
A host's guide to the Caminho do Ouro Paraty: the stone-paved colonial Gold Trail, guided hikes, viewpoints, waterfalls, the visitor centre and the real difficulty.
25 min read
On landHiking around Paraty
The four hikes worth your boots: the Praia do Sono trail, the colonial Gold Trail, the Mamanguá sugarloaf and the wild Juatinga peninsula.
3 min read
On landParaty adventure: trekking, canyoning and ziplines
A Paraty adventure guide to jungle trekking, the Pico do Mamanguá climb, canyoning, waterfall rappel, ziplines and mountain biking — with honest difficulty and who guides.
23 min read
On landParaty waterfalls: the complete guide
A host-written guide to Paraty waterfalls: the Tobogao rock slide, Poco do Tarzan, Pedra Branca, the Cunha road, jeep-and-cachaca tours and how to stay safe on slick rock.
23 min read
On landParaty wildlife and birdwatching in the Atlantic Forest
A local host's guide to Paraty wildlife and birdwatching: toucans, monkeys, sloths and hummingbirds in the Mata Atlantica, plus the best trails, times and ethics.
23 min read
On landPraia do Sono and the roadless beaches of Juatinga
Praia do Sono sits roadless on the Juatinga peninsula near Paraty: the trail from Laranjeiras, the boat-taxi, the caiçara village, and the beaches beyond.
24 min read
On landThe best Paraty photography spots, on land and on the water
A host's guide to the best Paraty photography spots: the tidal cobbled centre, the churches, schooners on the bay, the Mamangua viewpoint and golden hour.
23 min read
On landTravelling lightly on the Costa Verde
The protected areas around Paraty — APA Cairuçu, the Juatinga reserve — and how to visit them: leave-no-trace habits and supporting caiçara communities.
3 min readFood & culture
Food, drink and history
Food & cultureCachaca in Paraty: distilleries, tastings and the alambiques
A host-written guide to cachaca in Paraty, Brazil: the alambiques in the hills, how a tasting works, white versus barrel-aged sipping cachaca, and how to visit.
26 min read
Food & cultureWhere and what to eat in Paraty
A host-written food guide to Paraty, Brazil: moqueca, fresh fish and prawns, caicara cooking, the fish market, acai, feijoada, cachaca and how to order well.
25 min read
Food & cultureA Paraty food tour: the market, street food and sweets
A host-written Paraty food market guide: the feira and fish market, tropical fruit, street snacks, seafood, doces, banana and cachaca, and a self-guided tasting walk.
23 min read
Food & cultureCaipirinhas and cachaça bars: a night out in Paraty
A host-written guide to caipirinhas and cachaça bars in Paraty, Brazil: the boteco ritual, live music, tasting rooms, what to order and how to get home safely.
23 min read
Food & cultureFine dining Paraty: chef’s tables, tasting menus and the great dinners of the Costa Verde
A host’s guide to fine dining Paraty: contemporary caiçara kitchens, chef’s tables and tasting menus, wine and cachaça, booking, dress and how to plan a special dinner.
28 min readFood & cultureMoqueca, Paraty seafood and how to eat well on the Costa Verde
A host guide to moqueca, Paraty seafood and caicara cooking: fresh fish, prawns and squid, the harbour fish houses, what to order and how to order it well.
24 min read
Food & cultureParaty after dark
How evenings work in Paraty's historic centre: the live-music scene, the cachaça ritual, and the rhythm of a colonial town after dark.
3 min readFood & cultureParaty café brunch: coffee, padarias and slow mornings in town
A host-written guide to Paraty café brunch culture: coffee, padarias, pão de queijo, tapioca, açaí and sweet shops, and where to start a slow morning in town.
26 min readFood & cultureParaty festivals and events: the calendar
A host's month-by-month guide to Paraty's festivals: FLIP, the Festa do Divino, the cachaca festival, Carnival, New Year and more, with honest advice on dates and crowds.
20 min read
Food & cultureParaty's colonial architecture and historic churches
How to read Paraty's colonial town in Brazil: whitewashed houses, pe-de-moleque cobblestones, the tidal streets, four historic churches and the old harbour fort.
21 min readFood & cultureShopping in Paraty
What to buy in Paraty and where: artisanal cachaça, hand-thrown ceramics on Rua da Lapa, indigenous craft, the town's real bookshops, market days and local sweets — all on foot in the car-free colonial center.
8 min readFood & cultureThe history of Paraty: gold, cachaca and the sea
How Paraty went from a Guaiana fishing coast to Brazil's great gold port, a cachaca town, and a colonial gem the railway forgot - a host-written history.
20 min readPractical
Practical planning
PracticalGetting to Paraty from Rio de Janeiro
How to get to Paraty from Rio de Janeiro: the ~4-hour BR-101 drive, the Costa Verde bus from Novo Rio, private transfers, scenery, timing and honest tips.
23 min readPracticalGetting to Paraty from São Paulo: routes, times and the honest way to plan the drive
How to get to Paraty from São Paulo: the two driving routes and times, the bus from Tietê, the fly-then-drive option, road conditions and exactly when to leave.
23 min readPracticalIs Paraty safe? An honest guide with practical travel tips
Is Paraty safe? An honest, non-alarmist guide for a small Brazilian coast town: petty-crime sense, health, water, sun, mosquitoes, driving and who to call.
23 min readPracticalParaty Costs & Budget: Money, Cards, Pix and Tipping
A clear Paraty costs and budget guide: the real, cards vs cash, Pix, ATMs, the 10% service charge, typical prices, seasonal swings and honest daily budgets.
26 min read
PracticalParaty with kids
The calm beaches, the schooner tricks, and the one waterfall warning every parent should hear before a family trip to Paraty.
3 min read
PracticalRainy days in Paraty
It rains in a rainforest. The good news: churches, the Casa da Cultura, cooking classes and cachaça tastings fill a wet day in Paraty well.
3 min readPracticalThe Paraty airport guide: how to arrive by air
Which airport for Paraty? A clear guide to the local airstrip, Rio (GIG/SDU), São Paulo (GRU/VCP), transfer times and how to pick your arrival airport.
24 min read
PracticalWhat to pack for Paraty
The honest Paraty packing list: rainforest-climate clothes, cobblestone-proof shoes, boat-day kit, and the things everyone forgets.
3 min readThe map
See it all on satellite
Every beach, trail and island from these guides, plotted on one explorer.
Open the explorer