2 min summary When to go Map & highlights Things to do Rio De Janeiro Iguazu Falls Pantanal Amazon Rainforest Paraty & Ilha Grande Families Advice Responsible tourism

Things to see & do in Paraty & Ilha Grande

Situated on Brazil’s gorgeous Emerald Coast, Paraty is a popular destination for a laidback getaway, and the perfect antidote to Rio. Paraty looks out onto the Bay of Ilha Grande, that immense, unspoilt island itself just a few hours away by boat and ideal for an ecotourism retreat. It’s home to over 100 beautiful beaches and waters teeming with marine life from whales to penguins.

Home\South America\Brazil

Things to see & do in
Paraty & Ilha Grande

A major port during the Brazilian Gold Rush of the 17th and 18th centuries, Paraty is now a popular and tranquil resort on Rio de Janeiro’s picturesque Emerald Coast. The town’s historic centre is pedestrianised, notable for its well preserved colonial architecture, Baroque churches and cobbled streets along which horsedrawn carriages pass. At high tide, some of these passageways flood with seawater and locals erect little wooden bridges to help people get around.

Paraty, meaning River of Fish in the indigenous Tupi language, is a regular stop on overland tours of Brazil, chosen as a place to wind down in. It’s a pleasingly restful resort and a great place to stretch your legs for a few days after some long drives, before the headrush of nearby Rio. This town is backed by mountains clad in tropical forest, and overlooks the Bay of Ilha Grande, dotted with islands. You can take day trips out on traditional schooners to explore the coast and its secluded beaches and swim spots, the waters are just perfect for snorkelling, diving, sea kayaking and paddle boarding.

Trekking in these parts is immensely fun: particularly notable is a short stretch of the 2,000km Caminho do Ouro route that follows a path through the rainforest laid by slaves to transport gold from Minas Gerais state to the coast. There is a circuit that takes around half a day to complete, which passes several idyllic spots for wild swimming in pools and waterfalls.

See all our Brazil Holidays

Give us a call

Our Brazil Holidays

An island paradise: Ilha Grande

Should Paraty somehow be not quite relaxing enough for you, then you’ll find a real life treasure island just a few hours off the coast – Ilha Grande. This huge island can be reached with ease from Rio, making it a regular weekend escape from the city for its residents, the cariocas. From Paraty it’s a short journey by boat or ferry to the island’s main port, Vila do Abraão.

Ilha Grande has an intriguing history. Legend has it the island was once a pirate lair, while it also served as a leper colony and a prison for highly dangerous inmates – Brazil’s own Alcatraz. But today Ilha Grande is better known for its incredible levels of biodiversity, with healthy populations of several endangered species including brown howler monkeys and maned sloth living in the Atlantic rainforest that swathes much of the island.

Largely untouched by development, and car free, Ilha Grande has a rugged, pristine beauty to it, boasting over 100 beaches to discover if you have the time and inclination. There are no banks here, and only one ATM, so you’ll need cash to make the most of Vila do Abraão’s famously good seafood restaurants, or to enjoy your fill of caipirinhas on the beach.

Beyond the considerate way the island’s nature has been preserved to date, what also makes Ilha Grande unusual is that the sea around it sees a remarkable convergence of tropical, subtropical and temperate zone marine life. Take a boat trip out to the Blue Lagoon, or one of the many uninhabited islets nearby, and you might see tropical fish swimming alongside sharks, sea turtles, orcas, dolphins and even penguins.

There are over 100km of marked hiking trails on the island, with the most well known including that to the magnificent Lopes Mendes beach, a long crescent of pure white sand; another to the island’s highest peak, Pico do Papagaio, or one leading you to the ruins of the now long abandoned prison.

Travel Team

If you'd like to chat about Brazil or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

Getting to Paraty & Ilha Grande

Paraty attracts a bohemian and cosmopolitan crowd, with a renowned dining scene and several galleries showcasing the artwork of local and indigenous craftspeople. It’s a popular place to visit just before or after Rio de Janeiro on small group tours of Brazil, and itineraries typically see you stay for a few days with plenty of free time for exploring Paraty’s charming whitewashed architecture, or for beach hopping or trekking. Even if your itinerary doesn’t include a jaunt to Ilha Grande, it’s an easy day trip with regular ferries that take about one and a half hours.

More about Brazil

Best time to visit Brazil

The best time to visit Brazil may well be swayed by the carnival in Rio or temperature & rainfall with the Pantanal and Manaus both experiencing varying conditions as displayed in our easy to use chart.

Brazil travel guide

Find out more about what we rate & what we don’t as you samba your way through our comprehensive Brazil travel guide, leaving no stone unturned when it comes to how to travel like a local.

Brazil highlights

Reading up on travel times in Brazil as well as classic highlights & itineraries is always a great idea before travelling and our interactive Brazil map is an equally advisable option.

Things to do in Brazil

Explore Rio de Janeiro, go wildlife crazy in the Pantanal, cruise the Amazon or get soaked at the Iguazu Falls, things to do in Brazil never cease to amaze, enthrall and inspire in equal measure.

Amazon rainforest tours in Brazil

Journey into mysterious parts of the Amazon rainforest, usually travelling by boat, to explore complex, beautiful ecosystems with naturalist guides and discover the planet’s richest store of biodiversity.

Iguazu Falls

The Iguazú Falls span the frontier between Argentina and Brazil, and what a sight it is - the largest waterfall system on Earth, a ceaseless spectacle of foaming river plunging over hundreds of cascades.

Things to see & do in the Pantanal

The open marshland of the Pantanal wildlife reserve is unquestionably the best place for wildlife-spotting in Brazil, with an astonishing variety of flora and fauna to see here, including the elusive jaguars.

Rio Carnival

The Rio Carnival, held every year in the week before Lent, is the world’s biggest party, with millions of revellers taking to the streets to watch as flamboyant dancers parade alongside floats and bands.

Things to see & do in Rio de Janeiro

Home to iconic landmarks such as the Christ the Redeemer statue, world famous beaches and a legendary nightlife scene that pulsates with rhythm, Rio de Janeiro is Brazil’s most popular visitor destination.

Travelling in Brazil with kids

Discover activities for families in Brazil and what to do with little ones from experts like Guy Marks and Anna Scrivens who have been travelling in Brazil with kids and would happily return and do it all over again.

Brazil travel advice

This page is packed full of Brazil travel advice and tips from our friends in Brazil so all you have to do is sit back and read all about it as you find out how to travel safely in Brazil.

Responsible tourism in Brazil

Responsible tourism in Brazil concerns the important issues affecting the environment, culture and the people living in the favelas within Brazil’s inner cities, and what you can do to travel better in Brazil.