Before you go
Your trip to Paraty.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Paraty – RJ Destination Costa Verde about 249 km from Rio de Janeiro
How to get there
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Aeroporto Internacional do Galeão (GIG) Rio de Janeiro · 252 km
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Aeroporto Santos Dumont (SDU) Rio de Janeiro
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Rodoviária de Paraty
Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.
Paraty is 249 km from Rio de Janeiro, about four hours on the Rio-Santos. Buses leave from Rodoviária Novo Rio and, from São Paulo, from the Tietê Terminal; there's a local line from Angra. The bus station is a few minutes' walk from the historic center. The nearest airport is Galeão.
How many days
Two days cover the historic center, a boat trip or the waterfalls. Three or four, if you want to include Trindade and Saco do Mamanguá.
When to go
April, May, September and October have less rain and fewer people. From November to March it rains a lot, and summer is high season. The town has Carnival with the Bloco da Lama (mud parade), the Festa do Divino in May or June (it follows Pentecost), the Cachaça Festival in August and the patron saint's festival in September. Flip changes dates every year and fills the town: check before booking.
Do you need a car?
Not in the historic center: the streets are closed to cars and everything is done on foot. There are buses to Trindade from the bus station. For Cachoeira do Tobogã, on the Paraty-Cunha road, and for Paraty-Mirim, where boats leave for Mamanguá, take a car, taxi or booked tour.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Paraty
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Morning
Centro Histórico de Paraty
Start early, while the streets are empty. The paving is made of large, uneven stones: wear sneakers.
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Morning
Igreja de Santa Rita
By the pier, it houses the Museu de Arte Sacra (sacred art museum). The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
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Afternoon
Cachoeira do Tobogã
About seven kilometers from downtown, on the road to Cunha. Slide down sitting: going down standing has caused accidents.
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Late afternoon
Centro Histórico de Paraty
Come back downtown at the end of the day, when the facades catch the evening light and the restaurants open.
2 days in Paraty
Day 1
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Morning
Centro Histórico de Paraty
Take your time, street by street. At some high tides the water flows into the streets near the pier.
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Morning
Igreja de Santa Rita
The town's most photographed church, with the sacred art museum.
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Afternoon
Cachoeira do Tobogã
The smooth rock slab that ends at Poço do Tarzan. Along the way there are distilleries open to visitors.
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Evening
Centro Histórico de Paraty
Dinner downtown, on foot.
Day 2
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Morning
Saco do Mamanguá
By car to Paraty-Mirim, partly on a dirt road, and by boat to the cove. When it rains, the road gets worse: choose a boat trip from Paraty instead.
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Afternoon
Vila de Trindade
The caiçara village is sixteen kilometers from downtown, on the same side of town as Paraty-Mirim. The Cachadaço natural pool is a short trail from the beaches.
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Evening
Centro Histórico de Paraty
Back downtown for dinner.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive into the historic center?
No. The streets of the historic center are closed off with chains. Park on the surrounding streets or at your pousada and walk: the center is small.
What can I do in Paraty when it rains?
It rains a lot between November and March. When it rains, stay downtown: churches, the sacred art museum, shops, restaurants and the distilleries on the road to Cunha. Postpone the dirt road to Paraty-Mirim and the trails.
Can I get to Trindade without a car?
Yes. There's a regular bus from the Paraty bus station. Tour buses and vans are not allowed into the village.
Can I go from Paraty to Ilha Grande?
Yes, via Angra dos Reis, where ferries and speedboats leave for Vila do Abraão. There are buses between Paraty and Angra along the Rio-Santos.