Paraty is nestled on the east coast of Brazil, half way between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, making it the perfect stop between the two cities. The old town is a UNESCO heritage site and the cobbled streets, colourful facades and kind locals make this a perfect stay for 2-3 days. Outside of the town there are many activities too, so make sure to keep reading our complete Paraty guide to the most colourful town in Brazil!
Where is Paraty & Why is it Famous?
Paraty is slap bang in the middle between Rio de Janeiro & São Paulo, so it’s a must visit really, and a nice way to break up a long bus!
The town is located on the Costa Verde on the east coast of Brazil by the Atlantic Forest, but also surrounded by beautiful beaches and the sea. This alongside the cobbled streets of the old town make it one of Brazil’s most picturesque destinations.
Paraty flourished in the time of the gold rush as it was perfectly positioned by the coast where there were Portuguese ships. The town is one of the best preserved examples of colonial architecture in Brazil and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019 combined with the Island of Ilha Grande.
Best Time to Visit Paraty
You can visit Paraty all year round because it has a tropical climate with warm temperatures year round.
🌵Dry Season: May – September
Expect: sunny days, cooler nights, less humidity, perfect for walking, hiking & boat tours
☔️Wet Season: October – April
Expect: higher temps, occasional heavy showers, greener rainforest, fuller waterfalls, great for photography
We visited in late October and had a few days of rain but also days of sun. That being said a lot of the fun of Paraty is enjoyed outside, so dry season might be best.
How to get to Paraty
Paraty is very accessible but still remote enough to feel like an escape from Brazil’s big cities. Here’s how to get there using public transport (and for all the tips on using buses in Brazil, check out our article: How to get around using Buses in Brazil)
From Rio de Janeiro
Take the bus from the Rodoviária do Rio bus terminal in Rio de Janeiro and the bus typically takes around 4h 40m.
The bus costs around R$ 112 pp (£15 / US $21).
You can check out the bus timetable for Rio to Paraty here on busbud.
Planning a trip to Rio? Check out all our Rio de Janeiro guides from the best things to do to safety tips and where to stay: See all Rio de Janeiro Guides
From Ilha Grande
The ferry leaves Ilha Grande from the town of Abraão to Angra dos Reis on the mainland at 10am daily from Pier da Barca and costs R$ 20.50 per person (£3 / US $3.80). It takes around 1h 40 to arrive at Terminal CCR Barcas on the mainland.
Once in Angra dos Reis you can easily take the bus to Paraty.
Buses depart from Angra dos Reis to Paraty throughout the day. The following times are correct as of early 2026:
Monday – Friday: 05:00, 05:40, 06:40, 08:00, 09:40, 11:20, 12:40, 14:00, 16:00, 17:20, 19:40
Saturday: 05:40, 06:40, 08:00, 09:40, 11:20, 12:40, 15:00, 17:20, 19:40
Sunday & holidays: 05:40, 08:00, 09:40, 11:20, 12:40, 15:00, 17:20, 19:40
The bus takes around 2 hours from Angra dos Reis to Paraty and it costs R$ 25 per person (£3.5 / US $4.75). You have to pay in cash.
The bus line between Angra dos Reis and Paraty is the L101
You can board the bus at Ponto de Ônibus Colitur. This is a small bus stop on the road, but there is a sign with the bus times so you know you are in the right place.
You can get the bus from the bus terminal in Angra dos Reis, but this is the next stop after Ponto de Onibus Colitur. When we arrived at the bus terminal after boarding at Ponto de Ônibus Colitur there were no seats left.
Planning a trip to Ilha Grande? Check out all our Rio de Janeiro guides from the best things to do to safety tips and where to stay: See all Ilha Grande Guides
From São Paulo
Take the bus from the Terminal Tietê bus terminal in São Paulo. The bus typically takes around 6 hours.
The bus costs around R$ 80 pp (£11 / US $15).
You can check out the bus timetable for São Paulo to Paraty here on busbud.
Planning a trip to São Paulo? Check out São Paulo Guide for First Timers
Getting Around Paraty
- Historic Centre: This area is completely walkable and closed to cars (Wear comfortable shoes due to the uneven cobblestones!)
- Other Areas: Buses & taxis
- By Bike: Great for getting to beaches like Jabaquara or Pontal.
- By Boat: Essential for exploring islands and secluded beaches, boat taxis and tours are available everywhere.
Where to stay in Paraty
Centro Histórico: you will be right in the middle of the action, surrounded by colonial architecture, restaurants & shops. Everything in the old town is completely walkable
Pontal: Just around the river from the historic centre, this area is quieter but very convenient, with quick access to the beach
Jabaquara: relaxed beachfront area only a 30min walk from the historic centre
Trindade/ Praia do Sono: technically not in Paraty, but this area is only a 40min drive from the down and perfect for a more remote experience with beaches & trails. You can get a bus from Paraty to Trindade if you don’t have a car
What to do in Paraty
There is enough to do in Paraty to fill about 3 days, I would say this amount of time is perfect, 1 day to spend in the historic centre, 1 day on the beach/a boat tour and 1 day doing something more adventurous 🙂
Walking Tour
If you have read any of our other guides, you will know that a walking tour is a MUST for us on our first day visiting a new place. In most places you will find the concept of a free walking tour, where you tip the guide at the end depending on how much you think the tour is worth.
We went with the Free Walker Tour Paraty (we also recommend their Rio tours) and our guide was great! We spent a few hours walking through the cobbled streets, learning a lot and getting all the best recommendations.
They offer tours every day at 10:30am & 5pm in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Explore the historic centre
You should dedicate a couple of hours at least to wandering slowly through the streets of the old town. You will get lost but it’s ok! Each street is so charming and colourful and with so many different shops, cafes, bars, restaurants, churches and more to discover, you could probably spend more than a few hours really exploring every nook & cranny.
The historic centre is pedestrian friendly, so no cars are permitted, making it a great (and safe) place to explore on foot. The cobble stones are a little annoying – but add to the charm of course! Just look where you are going and expect to trip a few times!
Beaches near Paraty
Unfortunately we didn’t have the weather to go to the beach but here are the ones we would have tried to get to, if we’d had another sunny day!
🏝️Praia do Jabaquara (walkable from Paraty)
🏝️Praia do Pontal (walkable from Paraty)
🏝️Trindade beaches (Praia do Meio, Cachadaço) (take the bus from Paraty to Trindade)
🏝️Praia do Sono (take the bus to Vila Oratorio and hike for 1 hour or take a boat)
🏝️Praia de Antigos and Praia de Antiguinhos (take the bus to Vila Oratorio and take a boat)
Boat Tours
Paraty’s bay is one of the calmest in Brazil and it is ideal for a day of hidden beaches & snorkelling.
If you book directly with a boat yourself you can design your own route or go where the captain suggests. You might stop at places like Ilha Comprida, Lula, Praia Vermelha, and areas with natural pools perfect for snorkelling.
There are boats everywhere but the best place to find a boat for the day is on the river north of old town, or on the jetty off the coast to the west of old town.
Instead of booking directly, you can go to a tourism office in Paraty or you can book online. This one looks great, has really good reviews, includes snorkelling and is reasonably cheap too! You can pay a little more for a standup paddleboard & kayaks.
The best time to go is mid-morning to early afternoon when the seas are calmest
Waterfalls & Nature
Paraty is surrounded by the Atlantic Forest with so many trails that lead to waterfalls and pools!
Cachoeira da Pedra Branca: Tall, powerful waterfall with deep pools
Cachoeira do Tobogã: Famous ‘slippery rock slide’ where you can slide down the waterfall
Sete Quedas: The waterfall of Seven Falls! This place is peaceful, less visited & surrounded by dense forest
Take water shoes if you have them as the rocks can be smooth and slippery
How to get to these waterfalls
The easiest way to get to these stops is either with a jeep tour or by car.
A jeep tour has the added bonus of being with someone who can help to keep you safe and give you information along the way. A car is good if you want to take your time.
This tour includes 2 of the above waterfalls as well as a distillery tour:
Make sure to check the language options of tours before you book them. English is less common here.
Gold Trail (Caminho do Ouro)
This is another tour we wanted to do but the weather was not in our favour at all! Apparently the nature here is amazing (birds!!!). The Caminho do Ouro ‘Gold Trail’ is a preserved 17th century gold route which runs through the Atlantic Flores, alongside waterfalls, streams and old stone bridges.
It is a requirement to have a guide to do this hike – so you should either book this online or at a tourism office in town.
The hike is moderate and takes around 2-3 hours including stops at waterfalls. Bring a camera as the photography here is amazing.
You should go after a dry day, as the stones get really slippy (hence why we didn’t do it)
Cachaça Experience
We were recommended this Cachaça Tour Paraty by our walking tour guide.
What’s included:
– Walking tour of the historic center
– Visitation of 5 cachaçarias in the historic center
– History of cachaça, sugarcane cycle in Brazil, birth of cachaça and Paraty as a reference, trip to Minas Gerais, production and aging, relationship with Africa and the present day, as well as other curiosities
-Tastings of approximately 8 cachaças, 6 liqueurs and 2 different Gabriela
-Discount on the 5 cachaçarias visited and in the drink Jorge Amado
-Tips on the best restaurants in the historic center
You can schedule your tour at 4pm / 6pm / 8pm and the tours come in both Portuguese and English.
– Tour in Portuguese R$75.00 per person (£10 / US $14)
– Tour in English R$100.00 per person (£13 / US $18)
The tour lasts between 1h20 and 2h depending on group size and the meeting point is in front of the Igreja da Matriz (Our Lady of Medicines).
For more information you can check out their website: https://www.cachacatourparaty.com.br/ or whatsapp Rafael on +55 24 99936-3135.
Puppet Show
For something a bit different you should visit the Puppet Show at the Teatro Espaço.
On Wednesdays and Saturdays at 9am the theatre turns off the lights and actors in black clothing move the puppets around to depict different stories. Its really clever and you soon forget the people are operating the dolls at all.
The show we saw was called Em Concerto.
Warning: it is a bit weird in places, especially if you don’t know what to expect. There are a few scenes which probably aren’t suitable for children.
The tickets cost R$ 55 per person (£6.50 / US $9) each and you can buy your tickets at the theatre on the day of the show.
Museu Forte Defensor Perpétuo
You can find the Museu Forte Defensor Perpetuo across the footbridge from the old town and up the hill. We were recommended to check this out by our walking tour guide, but he told us that the opening times are very inconsistent. When we arrived the museum was closed but it was still nice to walk around the outside and explore a little. The walk up to the fort also has some great views of Paraty.
You will probably see some good animals on the walk up too, like monkeys and birds.
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