Costa Verde, Rio de Janeiro State · Brazil
A perfectly preserved colonial port of whitewashed houses and cobbled streets, and a car-free island of rainforest and beaches, on a green coast between Rio and São Paulo.
Photo: Alfredo J G A Borba · CC BY-SA 4.0
Paraty, on Brazil's Costa Verde, or Green Coast, was founded in the 17th century, and it became a major port for shipping gold from Minas Gerais to Portugal along the Estrada Real. When the gold route moved to Rio, Paraty faded, and its centre was left nearly untouched, a perfectly preserved colonial town of whitewashed houses with brightly painted doors, cobbled streets and old churches. UNESCO inscribed it in 2019, together with Ilha Grande, for its culture and biodiversity.
The streets of the centre are closed to cars, and were designed with a slope and stones that allow the sea to flush them at high tide. Restaurants, galleries and pousadas fill the old houses, and the waterfront is busy with boats. The surrounding hills produce cachaça, the sugarcane spirit, and Paraty is famous for its distilleries.
Offshore, the bay is dotted with islands, and schooner trips are a highlight. Just to the east, Ilha Grande, a large island with no cars, has rainforest trails, empty beaches and a former prison. Together, they make an ideal escape from Rio and São Paulo, and are best visited from March to October, avoiding the busy summer weeks.
Why visit
Paraty and Ilha Grande combine colonial charm with tropical scenery, a short trip from Rio.
Walk through streets, churches and squares that look much as they did in the 18th century.
Schooners take you to islands and beaches in the bay.
A car-free island of jungle, trails and beaches.
Distilleries, seafood and Brazilian cooking.
Literary festival, music and art galleries.
Main attractions
Give Paraty a day, and Ilha Grande a night or two.
A grid of cobbled streets with whitewashed colonial houses, brightly painted doors, churches such as Santa Rita and Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, and small museums.
Tip Explore in the morning, before the crowds and the heat.
Traditional wooden boats take you to islands and beaches, with swimming, snorkelling and lunch on board.
Tip Book a half- or full-day trip.
Small distilleries around Paraty produce artisanal cachaça, and offer tours and tastings.
Tip Book a tour with tastings.
A fishing village and beaches about 30 km south of Paraty, with a natural rock pool, Cachadaço, and a relaxed atmosphere.
Tip Take a bus or taxi.
A car-free island with a village, Abraão, and beaches including Lopes Mendes, a 3-km stretch of pale sand often ranked among the best in Brazil, reached by a trail or boat.
Tip Spend at least a night on the island.
A hike on Ilha Grande to a peak with views across the island and the sea.
Tip Go with a guide.
Things to do
Paraty and Ilha Grande are for slow days by the sea and on trails.
Swim, snorkel and enjoy a seafood lunch on board.
Tip Book the morning trip.
Try different aged and flavoured spirits.
Tip Buy a bottle to take home.
Trails lead through Atlantic rainforest to beaches.
Tip Wear repellent.
A calm lagoon with clear water and fish.
Tip Go in the morning.
The Paraty International Literary Festival, held in the town in the middle of the year, attracts writers and readers from around the world.
Tip Book accommodation far ahead.
Paddle through mangroves and quiet coves.
Tip Go with a guide.
Local food
Paraty's food is coastal Brazilian, with fish, shrimp and local specialities.
Fish and shrimp stews in coconut milk.
Where to try it Waterfront restaurants.
A local dish of fish stewed with unripe banana, giving a bluish tint.
Where to try it Traditional restaurants.
Aged and flavoured spirits, including cachaça with honey and cinnamon (gabriela).
Where to try it Distilleries and bars.
Cassava pancakes and cornmeal dishes.
Where to try it Cafés.
Bananas, jackfruit and pineapple.
Where to try it Markets.
Accommodation
Stay in a pousada in the historic centre, or on Ilha Grande.
Transport
Paraty is on the coast road between Rio and São Paulo.
The centre is on foot, and the coast is by bus and boat.
When to go
Paraty has a humid tropical climate, with rain all year and a wetter summer.
Hot, humid, rainy and crowded, with high prices.
Warm, less crowded and often clear.
Mild and drier, with clear days.
Warming, with some showers.
Worth planning around: Christmas to Carnival, when the town is crowded and expensive.
Itinerary
The old town, the bay and the island.
Colonial streets.
By boat.
Trails and sand.
Travel tips
A few tips make the trip easier.
FAQ
Two to three days, and more if you include Ilha Grande.
It is a long day. A night or two is better.
April to October.
Yes, for beaches, hiking and a relaxed atmosphere. Allow at least one night.
Generally, yes. It is a small, relaxed town.
No, the historic centre is closed to cars.
Keep exploring
Places that pair well with Paraty, whether you have a few spare days or are building a longer route.
Rio de Janeiro State, south-east Brazil, Brazil
Brazil's most famous city: Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, the Tijuca rainforest, Santa Teresa, samba and Carnival.
Don't miss Sunset from the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, as the city lights come on around the bay.
Explore Destination — Rio de JaneiroSão Paulo State, south-east Brazil, Brazil
Brazil's financial and cultural capital: Avenida Paulista and MASP, Ibirapuera Park, the Municipal Market, Beco do Batman, Liberdade and a spectacular food and nightlife scene.
Don't miss A mortadella sandwich in the Mercado Municipal, followed by an evening among the murals of Vila Madalena.
Explore Destination — São PauloMinas Gerais, south-east Brazil, Brazil
One of Brazil's first UNESCO sites: a colonial mining town with baroque churches, museums, cobbled hills and mineiro food, with historic Mariana and other colonial towns nearby.
Don't miss The interior of the Church of São Francisco de Assis, with its ceiling by Ataíde and sculptures by Aleijadinho.
Explore Destination — Ouro Preto and Minas GeraisRead next
Where to go
The Mediterranean coasts in this guide are not interchangeable. Some have sand and some have rock; some are glamorous and some are cheap; two of them are effectively closed for half the year. This is a comparison by the things that decide whether a coastal week works — swimming, crowds, cost, transport and what there is to do when you get out of the water.
Heritage
A UNESCO listing tells you a place matters; it does not tell you whether it is worth two days and a detour. This is how to read the list usefully — and which sites reward building a trip around them.
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