First settled by the Portuguese in 1667, Paraty grew strategically when it started serving as an important port for exporting the gold mined in the nearby state of Minas Gerais, at the end of the 17th century. At the time, Paraty lived its glory days: the population grew, important structures were built, and the wealthy built majestic houses.

Nowadays, despite being far from playing the same role in the country’s economy as in the colonial times, Paraty has become a prime tourist destination, mostly due to its preserved historic city center. Here, no cars are allowed, and the colorful houses’ facades will make you feel like you are traveling back in time!

2. You’ll try some of the best Cachaças in the country here!

Some years before its golden days, Paraty was already recognized worldwide for its sugarcane mills and the production of Brazil’s most popular spirit, cachaça, the main component of Caipirinha, our beloved national drink!

Cachaça is part of the country’s history and in Paraty you can learn more about the drink, visit local distilleries – like Maria Izabel, a small operation located in a beautiful setting – and, of course, taste some exotic cachaças. And if you happen to be in the city in August, you might get a chance to enjoy the Cachaça Festival, that happens in Paraty annually, since 1983.

3. It’s a paradise for art and culture lovers

Paraty features a number of art galleries and museums, exhibiting all kinds of arts, from paintings and sculptures to traditional handicrafts created by local artists. Walking around the city, you’ll see many musicians playing different tunes, people painting pictures, and much more.

Important festivals also take place in Paraty, like the Bourbon Festival Paraty (May), an international jazz and blues event; FLIP, an international literary festival held every July since 2003; and Paraty em Foco (September), one of the most important photography festivals in Brazil.

4. Paraty is surrounded by pristine nature and beautiful landscapes

The natural beauty of the beaches, waterfalls, and mountains of Paraty, makes it the perfect destination for those who want to find paradisiacal views and an untouched part of the Atlantic Forest. In Paraty, you can start your day by walking through a beautiful bamboo forest that leads to an incredible series of secluded waterfalls and then end it watching the sunset on the beach while sipping a caipirinha.

One of the places you can’t miss there is Trindade, a quaint beach village on the border of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, 30km away from Paraty. In Trindade, there are beaches for all kinds of travelers, including almost-private beaches accessed only by trails.

Another place we highly recommend is Praia do Sono. To get to this amazing and quiet beach, you have to walk for about 1 hour through the forest and, once there, you can enjoy the crystalline sea and taste fresh seafood from restaurants run by local fishermen. For those who aren’t hikers, there’s also an option to arrive by boat.

How to get to Paraty, and when to go?

Paraty is connected by road to Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo (via highway BR-101). There are busses leaving from Rio to Paraty and Paraty to Rio, the trip takes around 4,5 hours. The trip to and from São Paulo takes about 6-7 hours.

Getting there by bus is the cheapest way (also very safe and comfortable!), but there are also shuttle services and private transfers provided by local agencies. If you need help booking transfers services, tours or purchasing bus tickets, get in touch with us!

Weather-wise, there’s no wrong time to go to Paraty. But, no matter when you go, make sure to pack rain-proof clothes just to be safe because since you’re in the middle of a tropical forest region, it also rains quite a bit there (a lot!), especially between November and March. If possible, we also recommend you visit Paraty during one of the festivals we mentioned above!

Have you ever been to Paraty? If so, what was your favorite experience there? Let us know in the comments 🙂