Paraty Historic Center Walking Tour with Cachaca Tasting
A guided stroll through the cobbled colonial core of Paraty, with the story of the gold port, the churches built by different communities, and a tasting of the town's famous cachaca.
Rio de Janeiro State (Brazil)
Paraty
Paraty is a colonial port on Brazil's Costa Verde, a town of whitewashed houses, cobbled car-free streets and lantern-lit churches that grew rich on the gold route from Minas Gerais and now sits inside a UNESCO World Heritage area with the forested coast around it.
Visitors come for the historic center, for schooner and snorkel days among the islands of the bay, for jeep rides to waterfalls and cachaca estates, for forest walks on the old Gold Trail and for remote beaches reached by boat or trail. This guide covers 20 experiences, 8 pousadas and hotels and 6 travel guides, with honest notes on tides, rain and getting around.
Don't miss
Paraty Historic Center Walking Tour with Cachaca Tasting
A guided stroll through the cobbled colonial core of Paraty, with the story of the gold port, the churches built by different communities, and a tasting of the town's famous cachaca.
Paraty Schooner Cruise and Snorkeling Tour
A half-day on a traditional wooden schooner around the warm, calm islands and beaches of Paraty Bay, with swimming and snorkeling stops in clear green water.
Paraty Waterfalls and Cachaca Jeep Tour
A bumpy open-sided ride into the forested hills behind Paraty to swim in waterfall pools and visit a working cachaca distillery.
Gold Trail Atlantic Forest Walk
A guided walk on a surviving stretch of the colonial road that carried Minas Gerais gold to Paraty, through Atlantic forest, over stones laid by enslaved hands.
Things to do in Paraty
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Paraty Schooner Cruise and Snorkeling Tour
A half-day on a traditional wooden schooner around the warm, calm islands and beaches of Paraty Bay, with swimming and snorkeling stops in clear green water.
Paraty Boat Tour with Snorkel Mask Included
A lively, good-value boat trip across Paraty Bay with snorkel masks provided, swimming stops and a chance to see the islands from the water.
Paraty Waterfalls and Cachaca Jeep Tour
A bumpy open-sided ride into the forested hills behind Paraty to swim in waterfall pools and visit a working cachaca distillery.
Engenho D'Ouro Jeep Tour: Waterfalls and Cachaca
A jeep tour that pairs forest waterfalls with a visit to a traditional cachaca estate in the hills behind Paraty, where the spirit is made much as it was centuries ago.
Gold Trail Atlantic Forest Walk
A guided walk on a surviving stretch of the colonial road that carried Minas Gerais gold to Paraty, through Atlantic forest, over stones laid by enslaved hands.
Trindade Fishing Village, Beach Trek and Snorkeling
A day trip south of Paraty to the fishing village of Trindade, with a coastal trek between beaches, rock pools and a snorkeling stop in clear water.
Paraty Rainforest Trek and Secluded Sono Beach
A rainforest walk to Sono, a long, wild beach in a protected coastal reserve, where a small caicara community lives without roads.
Saco do Mamangua Speedboat Tour
A fast boat ride into a long, narrow, forest-wrapped inlet south of Paraty, often described as Brazil's only tropical fjord, with swimming and quiet water.
Paraty Bay and Mangrove Kayaking Tour
A paddle through the calm mangroves and shoreline of Paraty Bay, with birdlife, quiet channels and views of the colonial town from the water.
Small Group Hike to Saco Bravo Waterfall
A small-group hike through the Atlantic forest of the Paraty coast to a waterfall with a cool plunge pool, for walkers who want a proper day out.
Food Paraty Experience
A guided taste of Paraty: local dishes, snacks and drinks sampled at a handful of spots in the historic center, with the story behind the town's cooking.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$$Pousada do Sandi
Caboré
A characterful pousada on the edge of Paraty's cobbled center, in a colonial-style house with quiet rooms, a garden feel and the old town a short walk away.
Check rates →Pousada do Ouro
Historic Center
A well-regarded pousada in the heart of Paraty's historic center, named for the gold that built the town, with colonial character and a position among the churches and galleries.
Check rates →
$$Pousada Porto Imperial
Caboré
A mid-range pousada in the Caboré area just outside Paraty's cobbled center, a practical base for walking to the old town with quieter streets around.
Check rates →A Casa de Paulo Autran
Historic Center
A small guesthouse in the historic center named for the celebrated Brazilian stage actor, offering an intimate, homely stay among the old streets.
Check rates →Pousada Aconchego
Historic Center
A friendly, budget-conscious pousada in the historic center area, with simple rooms and a location that lets you walk to the churches, harbour and restaurants.
Check rates →Pousada Mare Cheia
Pontal
A simple, good-value pousada in the Pontal area, a short walk across the river from Paraty's historic center, with calm surroundings and easy access.
Check rates →Boutique Hotel Carpe Diem
Pontal
A boutique-style hotel in the Pontal area, a stroll from Paraty's historic center, aimed at travellers who want a more stylish, relaxed stay.
Check rates →Pousada Vila do Porto
Pontal
A comfortable mid-range pousada in the Pontal area, close to the harbour and the historic center, with easy access for drivers and bus travellers.
Check rates →Tour + stay
Ready-made pairings: a top sight and a hotel that suits it. Add both to your trip and book each when you are ready.
Paraty guides
Paraty for First-Timers: What to Know Before You Go
A practical primer for a first trip to Paraty: how to get there, what the historic center is like, tides and cobbles, money, tours to book and how many days to allow.
Where to Stay in Paraty: Historic Center, Caboré and Pontal Compared
Choosing between the cobbled historic center, the quieter Caboré area and Pontal, with notes on noise, parking, luggage, walkability and the pousadas we like in each.
Paraty in Three Days: A Practical Itinerary
A three-day plan for Paraty that mixes the historic center, a bay cruise, a jeep tour with a cachaca estate and a quieter beach or forest day, with notes on pacing and rain.
Eating and Drinking in Paraty: Caicara Dishes and Cachaca
What to eat and drink in Paraty: fish and banana stew, fresh seafood, cassava and sweets, how cachaca is made and tasted, and where tours and classes help you learn.
The Best Time to Visit Paraty: Seasons, Tides and Festivals
When to go to Paraty: summer heat and showers, drier winter days, shoulder seasons, how tides affect the streets, and the festivals that fill the historic center.
Paraty Beaches and Boat Days: Islands, Inlets and Remote Sand
How to choose between a schooner, a snorkel boat, a speedboat, a kayak and a hiking day to a remote beach around Paraty, with tips on safety, sun and what to pack.
