What to do in Paraty in 3 days
Paraty is one of those cities that many may think that in a simple “round trip” you can see everything the city has to offer. However, anyone who thinks that way is wrong.
Surrounded by beautiful beaches and waterfalls, and steeped in a rich and fantastic history, the Brazilian Venice (as many call it), has more to offer than it lets on. In this 3-day itinerary, we’ll give you tips on where to stay, where to eat, and what to do to enjoy this amazing city. Grab a drink of your choice and come join us on this journey.
A bit of Paraty’s history
Before starting with our itinerary, let’s tell you a little about the history of Paraty.
Paraty went through three important economic cycles, the Sugar Cycle, the Gold Cycle and the Coffee Cycle. At the end of the Coffee Cycle, in 1870, with the construction of the railroad between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, the city fell into a kind of oblivion (since its main use was due to the port), which allowed its colonial buildings to be preserved until today.
It was only in 1974, with the opening of the Rio-Santos highway, that Paraty entered the map again, and thanks to its preserved historic charm and its magnificent natural beauties, the city is now one of the biggest tourist centers in Rio de Janeiro. But now enough of historical curiosities and let’s get to the script!
Now to what matters most!
After leaving your bags at the hotel, or waking up (if you’re still looking for where to stay, we’ll give you accommodation tips towards the end of the text!), we recommend the following itinerary!
Day 1
On your first day in Paraty, we recommend taking our free walking tour Paraty. That way you get to know a little more about the city, its history and its importance to Brazil. In addition to being able to face the city with different eyes, realizing its details and the charms behind them. Our tour takes place every day at 10:30am (tours in Portuguese) and at 5pm (tours in Portuguese and English).
After the morning tour, nothing better than a delicious lunch at one of the city’s restaurants.
Our restaurant recommendations are:
Elected by many as one of the best restaurants in Paraty. The Banana da Terra Restaurant has an excellent and meticulously thought out menu harmonizing all the ingredients and offers dishes with local and seasonal ingredients. The menu is inspired by Brazilian cuisine, with emphasis on seafood.
Address: R. Dr. Samuel Costa, 198 – Historic Center, Paraty – RJ
Price: $$$$
This restaurant is known for its creative dishes with regional ingredients, in addition to having a cozy and relaxed atmosphere. The menu has vegetarian and vegan options.
Address: Praça do Chafariz, R. Cel. José Luiz – Historic Center, Paraty – RJ
Price: $$$
With homemade Italian food, a cozy atmosphere and a rustic terrace, this old colonial house has gained a new life full of flavors. The menu has pasta, meat and seafood options, with emphasis on desserts.
Address: R. Mal. Deodoro, 129 – Historic Center, Paraty – RJ
Price: $$
Very close to Praça Matriz and one of the busiest spots in the historic center, Restaurante Prosa has great options for food and an excellent drink menu! Try the drink called Prosa, delicious!
Address: R. da Cadeia, 267 – Historic Center, Paraty – RJ
Price: $$
Now that your stomach is full, and you already know a little more about the city. How about that long awaited beach? Praia do Pontal and Praia do Jabaquara are close to the Historic Center, in a quiet 10 to 20 minute walk.
If you want a little more history, between the two beaches is where you can find Forte Defensor Perpétuo, an old fort erected in 1793, and where today there is a museum with a very interesting collection, and a beautiful view.
To end the first day of the itinerary, with lots of walking and the beach, we recommend taking a walk around town at night and having a bite to eat at one of the restaurants we’ve already recommended above, or if you’re a fan of Thai food, go and discover the wonderful Thai Brasil, with original Thai food (if you are a fan of Brazilian food, sorry, but this restaurant is not for you), the restaurant is located at Rua do Comércio, 308 A – Centro Histórico, Paraty – RJ, price: $$$.
If you are still in doubt about where to eat, check out this article about some restaurants in Paraty. It is also worth taking a look at Rua do Comércio, as many restaurants are located there.
Day 2
For the second day of the itinerary, we recommend taking a boat trip along some of the most incredible beaches in Brazil.
Here we will give you some tips on which tour to take and how to do it, but in this article we explain better everything you need to know to choose the best boat tour in Paraty.
The first thing to say is that the boat trips have a long duration. And usually, the last departure time is around 11am. So you know, no waking up late!
How do boat trips work in Paraty?
There are three options for the boat trip in Paraty.
- The first and most traditional one is a schooner ride – a large vessel that takes up to 90 passengers. Although different companies may take different routes, the most common is to visit Praia Vermelha, Praia da Lula, Ilha Comprida and Aquário Natural. Schooner prices range from R$80.00 to R$180.00. The first departure time is at 9:30 am and the last one is at 11:00 am. The tour lasts approximately 6 hours.
- The second one, a little more expensive, is to rent a colorful wooden boat, which is next to the pier. It is cheaper than a speedboat and more expensive than a schooner. The price varies a lot and there is a lot of room for negotiation, especially in low season. Everything will depend on the number of hours you will stay on the boat and the places you want to visit. The great advantage of the wooden boat is the possibility of customizing the itinerary. If you are with a larger number of people, the price can be the same as a schooner. But the wooden boat usually has a noisy engine.
- The third, more expensive and luxurious option is to take a private speedboat. Much more comfortable than schooners or wooden boats, they are also much more expensive. The engine noise is quieter and in this option you can also choose the islands and beaches you want to stop. The value of the speedboat varies greatly according to the vessel, but a speedboat for 8 people costs approximately R$2,500.00 (R$312.50 per person)
All tours depart from the main pier in Paraty.
As most boat trips tend to last the whole day, we prefer to reserve day 2 just for this activity, so that you can enjoy it to the fullest!
Other options for the second day, if you don’t want to take the boat trip, are trails, waterfalls and other beaches.
This waterfall is on private property and you have to pay a small fee to access it, but it’s worth it. The trail takes about 30 minutes and the waterfall has a natural slide, where you can go down and have fun.
- Praia do Meio
This beach is the closest to the center of Paraty and is one of the most frequented by tourists. There are kiosks serving food and drinks and it is possible to take kayak trips.
Visit the indigenous village of Paraty-Mirim. The village is about a 20-minute drive from the center of Paraty and is an opportunity to learn about the culture and customs of the Guarani Indians. It is possible to buy handicrafts and learn about cassava cultivation and other traditions.
It is also possible to enjoy several beaches in the region, and visit Saco do Mamanguá (the only tropical fjord in the world!). There are 33 beaches in the Saco do Mamanguá region alone!
- Jeep Tours
In addition to boat trips, it is also possible to take Jeep tours, which take you to amazing waterfalls and beaches that are often difficult to access (or that require a guide or a very good physical condition to reach them by trail). Prices vary according to the itinerary and agency.
As there are many options, we will leave here articles talking about the waterfalls and beaches of Paraty.
Day 3
Starting the day with that sea bath!
- Praia do Sono
Praia do Sono is a small but beautiful beach! It takes about 45 minutes by car to reach Condomínio Laranjeiras (where the beach is located), there are parking lots that charge a daily rate to leave the car. Arriving at the condominium, you have two options to get to Praia do Sono, go by boat (many companies make this journey to the condominium by van, if you don’t have a car), in a trip that lasts about 5 minutes, or make the 3km trail (believe me this trail is so beautiful) with light to moderate difficulty.
For the third and last day in our Brazilian Venice (by that day you should have already seen the movement of the tides, the reason behind this nickname), one of the main points of interest in the city and a direct remnant of the Sugar Cycle could not be missing. . The stills!
Paraty is famous for its stills and the production of cachaça! So famous that there is even a huge event in the city about it, the “Festival da Cachaça”, which takes place annually in the city since 1983. And we highly recommend it!
With the cachaça of the same name and the most artisanal in the city, produced in oak and jequitibá barrels, since 1996.
This traditional cachaça factory in the city has been producing artisanal cachaça since 1985. There are guided tours, where you can learn about the production process and taste some of the cachaça produced. Some of its cachaças are successful even in Brussels.
- Destilaria Engenho D’Água (Cachaça Coqueiro)
The oldest (since 1803) and one of the most beloved in the city! It has been in the same family for five generations. It has many varied and high quality products!
Just choose one and enjoy it!
To end our itinerary of what to do in Paraty in 3 days, let’s leave a reminder that there is a lot to see and do in this incredible city, and that we indicate just a few of the many possibilities for tours and activities. It is definitely worth going back to Paraty more often!
Now, as promised, some hosting tips we recommend!
In addition to the accommodations that we will talk about here, in this article there are also some tips on where to stay in Paraty. With some ideas of places to look for accommodation or even camping!
Our accommodation tips
Located next to the pier, in the heart of the historical center of Paraty, Casa Turquesa offers tastefully decorated suites, close to the beaches, a variety of restaurants and local cultural events. Casa Turquesa also features an outdoor pool, hot tub, beautiful gardens and bar with wine cellar.
Pousada do Príncipe features traditional colonial-style architecture, enhanced by Paraty’s natural beauty. The accommodation is a 3-minute walk from the historic center of Paraty and Praia do Pontal. Guests can enjoy the outdoor pool, breakfast and free Wi-Fi on site.
Pousada Porto Imperial is located in the historical center of Paraty and offers free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool and a sauna. Pontal Beach is a 10-minute walk from the property, and guests will find restaurants and cafés nearby.
Located in the historic center of Paraty, Sandi Hotel features a mix of native and modern decorations. The property offers luxury accommodation, spa, gym and games room.
Pousada Solar do Algarve is ideally located just 500 meters from Paraty Pier and just 300 meters from Paraty Bus Station. It offers rooms surrounded by a beautiful garden, as well as free internet access.
Set in a colonial-style building, this guest house is located in the historic center of Paraty. The guest house is 600 meters from Cais de Paraty and offers an outdoor pool, bar, sauna and air-conditioned accommodation. For your convenience, WiFi and parking are free.
Offering direct access to Jabaquara beach in Paraty, Hostel Sereia do Mar offers accommodation in a relaxed atmosphere. It features a pizza-bar and free Wi-Fi in common areas.
The hostel has a shared kitchen and barbecue facilities. You can also rent equipment for snorkeling, canoeing and other water sports. The staff is available 24 hours a day to organize excursions and boat trips.
Vibe Hostel Paraty is located in the city of Paraty. The historic center is just a 3-minute walk from the property.
Rooms are colorfully decorated and air-conditioned. Extras include bed linen.
At Vibe Hostel you will find a terrace. Other facilities offered include a shared lounge and a tour desk.
Situated in the Pontal district in Paraty, Leo’s Clan Beach Hostel features an outdoor pool and barbecue. Boasting a garden, the hostel is close to several noted attractions, around a 6-minute walk from Paraty Historic Center and around 1.1 km from Paraty Bus Station.
Points of interest near the accommodation includes Praça da Matriz, Praia do Pontal and Chapel of Nossa Senhora das Dores.
We hope you enjoyed the itinerary and we look forward to hearing your trip reports!