Most tourists coming to Brazil, are exclusively interested in its big cities, such as Rio de Janeiro And Sao Paulo. However, truly heavenly beaches and interesting places are just the same between these two cities.
Approximately 250 km from Rio towards Sao Paulo on the Atlantic coast, in the bay Ilya Grande (Ilha Grande), there is a small, toy-like town Paraty (paraty- Brazilians pronounce it like "parachi", with the accent on the last syllable). The population of the town is only some 36 thousand people. So it will be difficult to get lost here among the crowds of people in the stone jungle, but this does not mean at all that there is nothing to do in Paraty.
open-air museum city
The amazing town has been preserved in its original form, in which it was built in the middle of the 17th century, when the colonizers from Portugal came here. Before the Portuguese, the Guaianás Indians lived in these places. In their language, the word "paraty" meant "fish river". After the colonization of this region by the Portuguese, the name of the town remained so.
When in 1695 in the state Minas Girays (Minas Gerais) found deposits of gold, Paraty, which was located near the excavations, became the second most important port of Brazil, and a gold rush began in the Portuguese colony. From here, galleons filled with gold and diamonds began to depart for Portugal. And of course, what kind of gold did without pirates then! They not once committed robbery attacks on the port Paraty trying to loot as much as possible.
Paraty was built according to all the canons of the Portuguese urban planning of that time and became the first serious architectural project in the country, because before that all the settlements in Brazil were built by the colonialists anyhow. This is how the city has survived to this day. Paraty recognized UNESCO the most important monument of colonial architecture.
Narrow streets, paved with large cobblestones, are equipped with ditches for the outflow of storm water.
It is a pity, but due to the endless attacks of pirates and Indian raids, the once prosperous Paraty port for sending important cargo, it was decided to move to a safer Rio de Janeiro. IN Paraty After that time seemed to stop. And now, centuries later, its tiled houses with brightly painted facades have been carefully restored by local residents who keep souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants, art galleries and hotels here.
Entertainment
When you reach Rua do Comércio, you will find yourself surrounded by pretty shops. IN Paraty shops are open until 9-10 pm, so you can walk along them even after sunset, when this street, all in the backlight and lights, is especially beautiful. In the evenings Paraty seems especially bright and lively, filled with tourists and locals out shopping or just for a walk. In boutiques and art galleries, you will be greeted with a smile and will be happy to tell you something interesting. Here you can also have a bite to eat along the way, either right on the street, or in a simple but cute cafe, or maybe in an expensive restaurant. IN Paraty There are places for every taste and color. Just don't wear heels! The cobblestone streets, although very beautiful, are not easy to walk along. Even the locals never wear high heels on the streets of their town.
If you haven't tried yet acai, it's time to do it in Paraty. Acai- a dark purple berry growing on a special palm tree, which has the most useful properties, including protection against cancer and other diseases, and simply gives energy and a positive mood! Try this real Brazilian delicacy - acai ice cream with banana slices, honey, oatmeal or other toppings of your choice. However, if you are on a diet, be careful acai- a very high-calorie product.
Caipirinha
Brazilian national drink is definitely caipirinha (caipirinha), the strength and taste of which is given by a special component, cachaça (cachaça). BUT Paraty, by the way, has been known since colonial times as the most important cachaça producing area in Brazil! Until the middle of the 20th century, the word " paraty” was actually a synonym for the word “cachaca”. So it would be a crime not to try cachaca here. In addition to the classic, be sure to order a caipirinha with berries or fruits: strawberries, lychee, pineapple or kiwi - everything is delicious!
How to get there
Before Paraty can be reached by bus from Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo on the BR-101 highway. Comfortable air-conditioned buses will take you from Rio to Paraty in about 4 hours, from Sao Paulo in 6 hours. This is not so long compared to the impressions of the atmosphere of the colonial Brazil of the 17th century that you will get when you come here.
And by the way, Paraty popular not only among tourists, but also among directors. The well-known Twilight Breaking Dawn, starring Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, was filmed here in 2010.
Vila de Nossa Señora dos Remedios de Paraty
(port. Villa de Nossa Senhora dos Remedios de Paraty), briefly Paraty(port. Paraty) - a small town in the east, part of the state of Rio de Janeiro (port. Rio de Janeiro) and the economic and statistical microregion of Baia da Ilha Grande (port. Microrregião da Baía da Ilha Grande), located on the Atlantic coast, in a picturesque bay (port. Ilha Grande), dotted with tropical islands.The area of the territory is almost 930 km², the population of the city (about 40 thousand people) is mainly employed in the tourism industry. The climate in this area is humid and tropical.
Nearest airports: Airport "Resende" (Rio de Janeiro), serving local and international flights, located 103 km from the center of Paraty; Sao Jose dos Campos International Airport (Sao Paulo), located 172 km. from the city center.
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History reference
Paraty was founded in the middle of the 17th century, when the colonizers from Portugal penetrated here. Before the Portuguese, the Guaianas Indians lived in these parts, in whose language the word "Paraty" means "Fish River", the name of the town has remained so since then.
Entire expeditions of the Portuguese "bandeirantes" rushed deep into the mainland in order to capture new slaves. By the way, thanks to these campaigns, the borders of Brazil expanded significantly. One of these expeditions in 1695 accidentally stumbled upon rich gold deposits in the state of Minas Gerais in the central part of the Brazilian Highlands. Paraty, located near the excavations, became the 2nd most important port in Brazil, and a "gold rush" broke out in the only Portuguese colony in South America. From here, galleons began to depart for Portugal, loaded to capacity with gold and diamonds. In the first 2 centuries of its existence, Paraty was a prosperous port city. Of course, that the gold mine could not help but attract numerous filibusters.
Due to the endless Indian raids and pirate attacks, it was decided to move the port to a safer large Rio de Janeiro. After that, Paraty lost its significance, becoming an ordinary provincial town, time here definitely stopped.
In the middle of the twentieth century. the Brazilians themselves appreciated the charm of the colonial town, the importance of Paraty as a tourist center began to grow, now it is considered an ideal place for a relaxing holiday and a bohemian resort in Brazil. Artists, writers, sculptors, artists began to gather here to enjoy the historical atmosphere and natural beauties. Very quickly, the town turned into the 2nd largest and most important port. In 1966, it was declared by UNESCO a historical monument of Portuguese colonial architecture.
Today, houses covered with bright tiles with multi-colored facades, narrow streets paved with large cobblestones and equipped with grooves for the outflow of storm water, have been carefully restored. Local residents keep souvenir shops, cute cafes, restaurants, art galleries and small hotels here.
In the evenings, Paraty becomes especially bright and lively, filled with walking tourists and locals. Late-night boutiques and art galleries always greet visitors with a smile. On the way, you can have a bite to eat either in a cozy cafe located right on the street, or in an expensive restaurant - whatever you like and can afford.
Attractions
Usually, those who find themselves in Rio de Janeiro for the first time are so amazed by this fantastic city that they forget about everything else. And in vain, because Brazil is not only Rio. Having left the metropolis 250 km to the west, you can get into a real colonial masterpiece, located in a picturesque bay on the Atlantic coast. On the west coast of the state, between high hills overgrown with lush tropical evergreen forests and clear blue-green waters of the sea with numerous islands, there is a famous town that attracts with the charm of colonial architecture.
Paraty is the smallest of the colonial cities of Brazil, which has been preserved in the same form in which it was built in the middle of the 17th century. Time seems to have frozen here, turning it into a kind of open-air museum. Its main attractions are architectural buildings. In the historical center, where vehicles are not allowed to enter, you can plunge into the atmosphere of the past, there are houses and churches built in the 17th-18th centuries.
A magical town, surrounded by green mountains on 3 sides, smoothly descends to the ocean.
To enjoy its beauty, you need to go around on foot all its streets, paved with large cobblestones and equipped with ditches for the outflow of storm water. The tiled houses with brightly painted facades have been carefully restored to house souvenir shops, cafes, art galleries and hotels.
Initially carefully planned, Paraty differs from other cities in thoughtful austerity, clear contours of buildings and straight streets.
The main temple, after which Paraty received its long official name, is Cathedral of Nossa Señora dos Remedios(port. Catedral de Nossa Senhora dos Remedios). Built at the end of the 18th century. for the urban bourgeoisie, the Cathedral is characterized by imposing forms and luxurious decoration. The square in front of the temple, paved with stone blocks, has become a favorite place for walking the townspeople. Local rich people built their luxurious mansions here, who amassed huge fortunes during the “gold boom”.
The local aristocracy, which kept apart from the nouveau riche, in 1800 built for itself a small elegant das dores church(port. Igreja das Dores).
On Rua do Comercio Street stands the smallest church in the city "Rosario" (port. Igreja do Rosario), erected in 1725. By the location and forms of the religious building, it is clear that it was intended for the lowest stratum of Brazilian society - the slaves.
In the southern region is the oldest Church of Santa Rita(port. Igreja Santa Rita), built in 1722 for the local mulatto community. The facade of the church is considered the brightest example of the Portuguese Baroque.
On a picturesque hill among evergreen trees flaunts Chapel of the Virgin Mary(port. Capela de Nossa Senhora). It has never been restored, perfectly preserved to our times. The chapel resembles an ordinary residential building with a richly decorated facade, built in the traditional Brazilian style. The luxurious decoration of the church has remained intact, allowing visitors to appreciate the talent of the colonial masters.
There are no high-rise hotels in Paraty, all hotels are located in buildings built in the spirit of old mansions.
There are many cozy cafes and restaurants that offer amazing. You can enjoy a meal here under the live performance of musicians. The historic center is home to many shops selling unique antiques.
In the evenings, life is in full swing on the city streets, live incendiary music sounds, singing and dancing do not stop until dawn. After a day spent on the beach or on an exciting excursion, tourists can dine in a restaurant, go shopping, souvenir shops or drink coffee with ice cream in one of the coffee shops, decorated in a traditional colonial style.
Beaches
In addition to historical sights, Paraty is famous for its magnificent beaches, islands, lagoons and waterfalls: there are more than 300 beaches and about 70 islands in the bay.
For example, the most popular Paraty Mirim beach(port. Praia de Paraty-Mirim) about 800 long and up to 0.7 m deep, with warm clear water, light sand and scattered boulders. The beach is located at the mouth of the river of the same name.
The small beach of Conceição (port. Praia da Conceição) is about 200 m long with clean fine sand, warm clear water, surrounded by coconut palms and almond trees. The island of Ratosh (port. Ratos Ilha - “Rat Island”) is clearly visible from the beach, a little further is the island of Meros (port. Meros), known for its excellent conditions for fishing and diving.
An excellent place for a family vacation is the secluded Praina beach (port. Prainha) - small, clean, with surprisingly warm water and a comfortable, gentle slope to the sea. For several tens of meters, the water in the sea barely reaches the knees - this makes the beach ideal for bathing small children.
The Iririguacu beach is popular with fine dark sand, its warm green water is pleasant for swimming. At the edge of the beach, at the confluence of the Iririguacu river into the sea, there is a small pier where small boats can moor.
Lula Beach (port. Praia de Lula) has a narrow strip of sand and shallow, warm, clear water of a dark green color. Stone boulders and fragments are scattered throughout the sandy strip.
The picturesque Sono beach (port. Praia do Sono), strewn with fine sand, is washed by warm emerald water. It stretches for 1370 m and is located in the shade of the surrounding almond trees. At 20 min. On the way from the beach there are several natural pools with fresh water, filled with mountain rivers. At the end of Sono, there are two more secluded wild beaches - Antigos and Antiguinhos - to which a steep path leads, as a result of which they are deserted almost all year round.
Felix Beach is a transparent shallow water, suitable for families with small children. The beach is bordered on both sides by ridges of rocks and boulders, so there are almost no big waves here. The sand on the beach is clean, coarse-grained, which makes the water perfectly transparent. Here you can often see colorful fish frolic in the turquoise water, and cute turtles drifting on the surface of warm water or perched on the rocks of small coves scattered along the coastline of the beach.
Paraty is also a real paradise for diving fans. Professional divers have long appreciated the clear coastal waters of the islands of Komprida (port. Komprida) and Katinbau (port. Katinbau).
Neighborhood Paraty
25 km from Paraty is Trindade (port. Trindade), a small fishing village. Near the village there are 7 beautiful beaches.
At 8 km from the city there is a picturesque Toboga waterfall (port. Cachoeira Toboga), which is a rock about 10 m high, from where you can jump into a pool created by nature itself. A magical, relaxing atmosphere reigns here - the murmur of falling water and the wonderful chirping of birds.
You can come close to the waterfall and enjoy the power of the water flow. Under the waterfall there is a small cave, which can be entered by passing through the jets of water. And if you climb Toboga, you can admire unforgettable views.
Nearby is Serra da Bocaina National Park(port. Parque Nacional da Serra da Bocaina) is a magnificent nature reserve, occupying about 105 thousand hectares. In the park, created in 1971, you can see representatives of the exotic flora and fauna of this region. More than 60% of the vegetation in the Park consists of the natural Atlantic forest, which has the most diverse vegetation. Among the varieties of flora, pines, cedars, palms and beautiful bromeliads predominate here. Of the representatives of the fauna, fallow deer, deer, monkeys and an abundance of all kinds of birds live in the Park. A picturesque mountain range lies in the region, which gives the local landscapes an amazing variety.
Paraty is a preserved Portuguese colonial (1500-1822) and Brazilian imperial (1822-1889) city with a population of about 36,000.
It is located on the Costa Verde (Green Coast), a lush green corridor that runs along the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Paraty has become a popular tourist area in recent years, famous for the historic town, coastline and mountains in the region.
Anyone who finds himself in Rio de Janeiro is usually so amazed by this phantasmagoric city that he completely forgets about everything else. But in vain. After all, Brazil is not only Rio. However, like Rio, it is not only Copacabana or Ipanema. But one way or another, breaking away from these world-famous beaches, you can discover truly amazing things.
For example, 300 km west of Rio on the Atlantic coast is a real masterpiece - the colonial town of Paraty. More precisely, it would be more correct to call this miracle Vila de Nossa Señora dos Remedios de Paraty, and it is located in the bay of Illa Grande, but this does not change the essence of the matter. This town has been preserved in the same form in which it was built in the middle of the 17th century, when the Portuguese colonialists decided to seriously start developing this land.
It must be said that Paraty was the first major urban development project in Brazil. Prior to that, all the settlements in the colony were mainly built as God would put it on the soul. Paraty, on the other hand, was originally planned, and therefore differed from other cities in thoughtful severity, straight streets and clear contours of houses.
Despite the long name - Vila de Nossa Señora dos Remedios de Paraty, the city was and remains the smallest of all colonial cities in Brazil. Nevertheless, it was built according to all the canons of the Portuguese urban planning of that time. Traditionally, each of the city churches served a strictly defined sector of this small population. The main temple of the city, by the way, in honor of which he received such a long official name, was Nossa Señora dos Remedios. It was built at the end of the 18th century for the urban bourgeoisie, and therefore is distinguished by special luxury and impressive forms. The square in front of the cathedral was paved with stone blocks and became a favorite place for the townspeople to walk. The main mansions of the largest local rich people were also located here.
In the southern part of the city is the oldest church - Igrea de Santa Rita. It was erected in 1722 for the free mulatto community. The facade of this temple is considered an unsurpassed example of the Portuguese Baroque.
It seemed that the city was assured of a cloudless future and that it would continue to flourish, but its star went down as unexpectedly as it had risen. And the point, in general, is not that gold in Brazil ended very quickly. Even earlier, numerous pirate attacks and Indian raids forced the colonial authorities to find a safer place to send such valuable goods. The main port of the country gradually became Rio de Janeiro, which, moreover, after some time became the capital of the independent Brazilian Empire.
Well, in Paraty, life stopped. Almost two hundred years have passed since then, but nothing more can disturb the measured existence of this amazing ghost of colonial times. And even strong storms that happen in these places quite often, and which turn the streets of the city into canals, do not really annoy the locals. Stormy waters carry away all the dirt from the ancient streets into the ocean, and therefore Paraty always remains clean and fresh, as if there were no several centuries of timelessness, and as if a swift galleon is about to enter the city harbor for another batch of gold.
Dear blog readers, in this post I will tell you about my trip to the small town of Paraty in the very south of the state of Rio de Janeiro (this region of the state is called the "Green Coast"). Paraty is a small and very peaceful village, where everything has remained almost untouched since colonial times, surrounded by mountains and tropical jungle. This city is known not only as one of the main international tourism destinations in the state of Rio de Janeiro, but also because it hosts an annual International Literary Fair, which attracts writers from all over Brazil, as well as from other countries. Let's move on to the photo gallery about the trip to Paraty, made especially for the Portal.
Street in Paraty, Brazil
One of the noble houses of Paraty (left)
Landscape overlooking Paraty street next to the pier
A river that flows through Paraty and flows into the ocean
Houses on the banks of the river in Paraty
The main church of the city of Paraty, at the pier
The streets in the historical center of Paraty are lined with large stones
Streets of the modern part of Paraty
"Modern" quarter in Paraty, Brazil
Near Fountain Square in Paraty, Brazil
Painting doors and windows is one of the locals' favorite pastimes. This is one of the main attractions of the city.
A small church in Paraty on one of the main streets of the city
Evening on the embankment of the river in Paraty, where the river flows into the ocean
The main church of the city of Paraty in Brazil. The Negro standing on the right side of the photo with shackles is not a statue, but a local resident "working" as a statue of a colonial-era slave
View of Paraty street after the rain the day before
Village life in the city of Paraty, next to the central square
View from around the corner to one of the streets of Paraty (Brazil)
Below is a photo gallery of a boat trip on the bay near Paraty. So you can leave for the whole day, visit beaches, islands and snorkel in the sea, where fish, turtles, etc.
We sail from the town of Paraty by boat. The landscape is the most famous view of the city, as it usually appears in photographs.
Travel on the ocean near the city of Paraty in Brazil
Castle on a private island in Brazil
Private beaches
Return to Paraty. Pay attention: clouds are gathering. During the stay in Paraty there, on all days except one, the same weather was repeated: during the day it was hot, and in the evening there was a tropical downpour with gusts of wind. The city has very high humidity, a lot of jungle and mosquitoes
By the way, in early 2014, I went to a wild beach a few hours from Paraty by boat, which I wrote about here in a blog called Paradise Lost. You can remember.
Paraty is a cute colonial town, located 200 km from, just between the borders of the states of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. It is very popular among both tourists and Brazilians. Paraty is suitable for those who dream of a relaxing holiday among historical buildings on beautiful beaches.
During the Golden Age, when gold literally flowed from the mines near Paraty, which was delivered to Portugal, the port of the town was one of the most important in Brazil. However, the road to it by land was difficult and long, therefore, during the construction of a more convenient port, Paraty was forgotten, many residents left the settlement. This is reflected in the local architecture - many buildings retain the appearance of the time when the last ship loaded with precious metal sailed from the port of Paraty to Portugal. The city is now experiencing a renaissance as a tourist destination.
Currently, the city center is closed to cars, so walking along the streets of Paraty takes you back to the 16th century, during colonial times. You can often see horse carts here. Many buildings have a history of more than 250 years. The largest church is the temple of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, built in honor of the patron saint of the city. Every September, the city hosts the feast of the Holy Savior, during which a wooden figure of the Virgin Mary in gold jewelry is carried through the streets of Paraty.
What to do in Paraty
- Go on a boat tour of the bay. In the vicinity of Paraty there are about 300 small islands with sandy beaches. You can rent a boat at the main pier of the city.
- Dancing in local clubs all night long. Best in town - Lado B da Praça, Dinho's Bar and Paraty 33
- Make walking tours along the "golden route". Guides with English can be found.
- Just stroll through the cobbled streets of the old town.
- Don't forget to take your cachaca with you.
How to get to the city
You can get to Paraty by bus. Buses leave from Rio de Janeiro every hour, the trip lasts about 4 hours and 30 minutes, a one-way ticket costs 60 reais. The schedule can be viewed at
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