Destination: Paraty
Paraty (you will also see it written Parati) is a very special place. Situated between the Atlantic rainforest and the sea, Paraty is one Brazil’s worst kept secrets.
WE LIKE THE MOST: the historic village and the state of conservation of the historical heritage; the absence of cars in the historic village; the gorgeous beaches; being able to walk on the streets at night; the relaxed atmosphere; the boat trips; the ginger ice cream from Ice Paraty ice-cream parlour; the high tide that floods the streets; dining by candlelight with live music
WE LIKE THE LEAST: expensive prices, resulting from the heavy presence of foreign tourists; the agressions against the Atlantic rainforest; the lack of sewage treatment, it is all dumped on the sea
HOW TO GET THERE: there is a regular bus service from Rio and São Paulo; you can drive to Paraty as well
CAREFUL WITH: the cobblestones, which make for a very uncomfortable walking experience if you are wearing flip-flops; the high tides during the full moon (you can find yourselves stranded depending on the part of the village where you are)
PIECE OF ADVICE:
- to go to Trindade, use the bus, the road is quite dangerous to drive
- sometimes it’s worth paying a bit more to do the boat trip on a schooner with less passengers; some leave the harbour with 8 passengers, others with 50
- avoid Paraty during the FLIP (International Book Fair) that takes place in August. Prices rocket, the place is chock-a-block, and it’s very difficult to find accommodation
- take a waterproof with you, it rains in Paraty all year round
ACCOMMODATION: full listing of Hotels and pousadas in Paraty
LINKS: Paraty, Turismo e Ecologia, Paraty.com, Paraty Trindade
WEATHER FORECAST: The weather in Paraty for the next 10 days
GOOGLE MAPS: Paraty
PHOTOS: Paraty
[Don’t forget to check out the list of other destinations already covered in this blog, here]
