South of Rio de Janeiro and east of Sao Paulo, the Green Coast has a unique combination of mountains, lush rainforest, crystalline lagoons and virgin tropical islands. And in the middle of it all, we find Paraty.
Paraty, Green Coast
Different from other colonial villages by its coastal charm, Paraty has a small but well-conserved historic downtown, where we can find artisan shops, high-quality restaurants and a cozy and romantic atmosphere.
From Paraty, it is easy to reach the impressive Serra da Bocaina or stroll around the equally spectacular Paraty Bay.
Mortadella sandwiches and ice cold beer at the famous Mercadao (market) in Sao Paulo
My family just came to Brazil for the first time and we opted to visit the bustling historic center and internationally renowned street art of Sao Paulo, the hidden pirate coves and quaint historic town of Paraty and end in the rhythmic metropolis of Rio on the beach!
A few of our favorite experiences were:
Paraty Boat Tour:
In Paraty, the most beautiful beaches and islands can only be visited by boat. We set off on a comfortable traditional wooden boat from Paraty’s colorful port and made several stops at beaches and islands in the Bay of Paraty. Great for swimming, snorkeling and sunbathing, we even stopped for lunch at one of the excellent hidden restaurants located on one of the little islands’ beaches!
Stopping at hidden beaches and tiny local island restaurants
Sao Paulo City Tour:
On our half day tour of Sao Paulo we visited three of the emblematic neighborhoods that help paint the face of this extraordinarily diverse city: first, we visited the enormous Ibirapuera Park, next, the historic downtown and finally the vibrant and bohemian, Vila Madalena!
Famous street art by Cobra in Ibirapuera Park
Guides:
We LOVED our guides. Santiago in Sao Paulo was extremely knowledgeable, flexible and had a great read on everyone and their individual interests. The city tour really captured the different faces and complexities of Sao Paulo and demonstrated how amazing the city is. My brother literally said that he wanted to move to Sao Paulo after the tour was over. Santiago also gave us many recommendations and suggestions of what else to see and visit while we were in the city and they were fantastic recommendations (drinks on the Unique hotel terrace was a huge hit!).
Harry, our guide for the city tour of Paraty, was a wealth of knowledge! He was explaining the history of Paraty with such vividness and obvious love for history.
Sitting down to our first of 5 courses, homemade by us!
The cooking class was wonderful- the hosts were great (they were definitely characters) and Brazil’s gastronomic history is fascinating- it was awesome to get a “taste” of it and experience cooking the dishes ourselves in a local house and kitchen. Also, the cooking school’s flexibility to accommodate my brother’s lactose allergy and my vegetarianism was greatly appreciated!
Finally, Sergio in Rio was fantastic! It is very apparent that he loves his city. He was extremely animated and excited to show and tell us about many intricate details regarding history, architecture, and culture.
Ending our trip visiting Christ the Redeemer in Rio!
Want to plan your next getaway to Brazil? Check out some of these exciting itineraries:
- 4-Day Rio de Janeiro Essentials Adventure
- 6-Day Trekking Reserva da Joatinga: Wonders of the Green Coast
- 7-Day In the Footsteps of the Elusive Jaguar
- 4-Day River Snorkel and Waterfall Walks
- 3-Day Iguazu Falls Discovery
Don’t see what you want? See all of our Brazil options HERE or…contact us- we are happy to help plan a custom trip for you!
Your friendly Brazil expert,
Gretchen
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