What to do in Paraty, South shore of Rio

Find out what to do in Paraty, in the South shore of Rio de Janeiro. From visiting the old historic town to enjoying beautiful beaches, there´s plenty to do there!

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Carriage ride through the historic center

To hire the carriage ride, just go to the main square of the historic center. In front of the main church, the tour guides awaits the tourists. For 20 Reais per person they take visitors for a ride that lasts about 40 minutes through all the alleys of uneven rocks. The carriage follows in a slow pace giving tourists an excellent chance to slowly admire the beautiful colonial facades. The guide explains the origin of the town, its historical importance, the symbols of the Portuguese Crown, and also shows the main houses. It’s an interesting ride even for those who already know Paraty. It is even possible to stop as many times as you want to take pictures. A chance to go back in time!

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Visit to a “cachaça” (rum) distillery

The distilleries of Paraty are famous and numerous. Some are in large properties, or in farms, and some include even a restaurant and a museum. They show the entire process of manufacturing the “cachaça” and they also have shops where we can taste and buy some bottles. We visited the one called Paratiana, located at Estrada da Pedra Branca km 1, n ° 1100. No need to pay to enter (some charge entrance). Once inside, we are guided by the distillery where we learn how rum is made, until you reach the area where numerous bottles are ready to taste. It is interesting to see the amount of fruit flavors mixed with rum liqueurs, which makes it smoother. Visitors can buy many types of cachaça, such as Paratiana Silver or Gold version, or Mulatinha, another type of this drink produced there that does not undergo aging, it is purer. Cachaça is what they use to make the worldly famous Brazilian drink “Caipirinha”. This rum tasting should not be missed!

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Lunch in front of a private waterfall

To reach the small paradise that is Villa Verde restaurant, take the road Paraty-Cunha until km 7. There are signs on the road indicating the location. It is a bit hidden as to reach the property, after parking the car in front of the land by the roadside, you have to cross a wooden bridge that passes over the river Perequê. It is possible to feel the pleasant atmosphere on arrival. After the bridge, the green of the Serra da Bocaina takes care of the place where the beautiful house where the restaurant is installed integrates well with nature. Right in front of it sits the waterfall of the property, with large natural pools where guests can swim before lunch to freshen up, or after eating. A fantastic scenery and great gastronomy.

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Kayak and stand up paddle in Jabaquara Beach

As you leave the center of Paraty, go to Jabaquara Beach which is very close, about 2 km. It has an extensive waterfront with several kiosks and a boardwalk, a real beachy vibe. There you will find a great structure for activities such as kayaking or stand up paddle. The beach here is very calm, the flat sea is perfect for these sports. We went quietly to one of the beaches around which is farther and easier to reach by boat or kayak. A delight to stay for a while there in its small strip of sand. We also went round the Ilha dos Pássaros, which is opposite to Jabaquara Beach, a beautiful place to admire. We recommend the agency Paraty Explorer, which promotes paddle boarding, kayaking and trekking through the region.

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Boat ride

There are many boat tour options in Paraty. You can hire a last minute tour of the main islands there, just go to the pier from where the boats depart and negotiate on the spot. Or book in advance, after researching more closely the best company, the safest, and the ride with higher quality. In the city center (the center of Paraty, not the old town), there are agencies with a choice of tours beyond boats, such as jeep tours. We hired Paraty Tours, which included four stops at two beaches and two islands. Depending on the day, the itinerary attractions can be the Lagoa Azul, Ilha Comprida, Saco da Velha, among others, each stop is 40 minutes long. The tour takes about 3 hours to 4 hours, usually done in the morning or afternoon. There are stops for diving and there´s a bar and restaurant service on board. As the entire region has a rich marine life, you can see lots of fishes and practice snorkel.

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Hotel Tip:
One of the most beautiful and charming hotels in town is the Pousada Literária de Paraty, which is part of the Circuito Elegante association. It was voted by Condé Nast Johanses as the Best Urban Inn of 2015. Check out their website for details and learn about the benefits of the Circuito Elegante bonus program in the best hotels of Brazil.