'''Paraty''' (also spelled '''Parati''') [http://www.paraty.tur.br/] is a coastal historic town in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was first settled by the Portuguese in 1667. Its old churches, cobbled streets and nearby forests, waterfalls, islands and emerald-green sea attract lots of tourists interested in mixing cultural tourism and more natural settings.
Understand
Paraty grew in the 18th century as a strategically important port for exporting the gold mined in Minas Gerais. When shipments in nearby Rio began to attract the attention and ambition of pirates and privateers from rival European powers, the Portuguese began using Paraty as their safe port for getting their gold to Lisbon. Together with Ouro Preto, the town was part of the Royal Road (''Caminho Real'' or ''Caminho do Ouro'', Gold Road), a route used to export gold in colonial times. It was also an obligatory sleep-over stop for travelers between Rio and Sao Paulo until the late 1800s, when the inner road was opened. This caused Paraty to be forgotten, stalled in time, away from "progress" and disfiguration and helped it preserve its old city as it was in the past. In the 1970s, it was rediscovered as a popular tourist destination.
Get in
Paraty is 260km from Rio de Janeiro and 300km from Sao Paulo. Buses connect the city with those capitals. There are also buses to Ubatuba and Taubate.
Buses to and fro Rio depart about nine times a day. The trip takes about four hours. The price for the trip from Rio is R$ 44.00 and R$ 44.00 from Paraty to Rio. (2007)
The trip to and fro Sao Paulo takes about six hours and cost ca. R$ 37.00. There are about four to five connections daily. (2007)
Get around
The historic town is compact and can be covered on foot and cars, save for taxis picking up or dropping passengers, are not allowed into the historic city center. The rough boulders of the old city streets would quickly destroy the shocks of most cars anyway.
Vans pick up tourists at the city perimeter for a day-trip to the small fishermen's village of Trindade.
See
'''The historic center''' - cobbled streets, old buildings, churches etc.
'''Beaches''' - Especially in Trindade: Cachadaco, do Meio, etc.
'''Islands''' - Ilha dos Meros has the best diving conditions
'''Waterfalls''' - Pedra Branca and Andorinhas
'''Puppet theatre''' - 2 weekly presentations of a famous puppet group
'''Casa da Cultura''' - a cultural center
'''Forte Defensor Perpetuo''' - Perpetual Defender fortress, a 18th-century stronghold built with British cannons to defend the gold against British privateers
Do
A '''boat trip''' through the bay. You can even find your own private beach on one of more than 300 islands. Small boats are available for charter near the river mouth. Negotiate a price before leaving.
'''Diving'''
'''FLIP'''[http://www.paraty.tur.br/flip/indexen.php] - This literature festival usually takes place in July. It gathers some of the best national writers and guest international authors. Hotels can get pretty crowded, book well in advance for this period.
'''Dance''' with the locals at bar/clubs in the main square, Lado B da Praca or Dinho's Bar, or in Paraty 33
'''Snorkeling''' in the bay. When you rent a small boat (and hire the driver for the afternoon) you can ask about getting a mask and snorkel. They'll also supply you with fish food. You just jump off in the middle of the bay and float around feeding fish.
'''Trekking & Guided Walks''' the Caminho do Ouro/ Gold Trail. Access located in the Paraty-Cunha road. Lots of trails through the Atlantic Rainforest to tropical beaches, like Praia do Sono. English speaking guides at "http://www.paratyexplorer.com"
'''Kayaking''' in the bay to islands, beaches and mangrove.
Paraty Explorer. nfo@paratyexplorer.com. ttp://www.paratyexplorer.com. Rainforest Hiking and Kayaking in the Bay with English speaking guides with expert local knowledge. Also offers educational Eco-farming in Rainforest tour. Day Trips and Multi-day short breaks and adventures available.
Buy
'''Cachaca''' - Paraty is one of the famous producers in Brazil, as in fact a century ago cachaca was known as ''parati''. Dozens of excellent brands are available.
Eat
Porto Entreposto Cultural. ua do Comercio #14. istorical center. 55 24 3371-1058. ttp://www.eco-paraty.com/portoentreposto/en.htm. pm-. R25 for a main. Amazing Brazilian/European menu. Good selection of wines.
sereia do mar. v Praia do Jabaquara 33"
directions="800 metres from the town centre looking out onto one of paratys most beautiful and tranquil beaches" phone="+55 24 337111930 for delivery and resavations" url="http://www.sereiadomar.com./index.php?o=seccion&id=69" hours="Open from 5pm-11pm" price="From R$14 for a main course and from R$19 for a large 8 slice pizza" lat="" long="" email="" fax=""> With 24 varieties of pizza and over 10 other main dishes this restaurant has a mouthwatering menu to satisfy all tastes not to mention an excellent wine list. With live music on weekends and both helpful and friendly staff a visit to this restaurant is a must.</eat>
Casa do Fogo bistro. ua Comendador Jose Luiz 390"
directions="Historical center" phone="+55 24 81271644 for resavations" url="http://www.casadofogo.com" hours="Open from 5pm-1am" price="From R$10 for a starter to R$82 for a flambee seafood paella for two" lat="" long="" email="restaurantecasadofogo@yahoo.com.br" fax=""> Casa do Fogo serves flambees specialities, all flambee with cachaca - seafood, vegetables and fruits, on the menu you also find meat, chicken, vegetarian, pastas and moquecas.</eat>
Merlin o Mago. ua do Comercio 376. n historic town center. 4 3371 2157 . Fantastic french restaurant; very small but excellent food and drink. A German head chef settled in Paraty to run a French restaurant, and succeeded marvelously. The seafood is caught mere meters from the restaurant, as fresh as can be!
Restaurant Grao da Terra. venue Roberto Silveira, Loja No. 9, Galeria G'brail. Fully vegetarian restaurant with daily menus and a wide range of fruit juices and salads. Great ambience and great hosts..!!www.graodaterra.com
Restaurante Grao da Terra. ve. Roberto Silveira, Loja No. 9, Galeria G'brail. ww.graodaterra.com. A fully vegetarian restaurant with daily menu and a range of fruit juices and salads to choose from. Great hosts and ambience, and wifi too..!!
Drink
Most of the town shuts down relatively early, but if you find yourself in need of some diversion after 10 or so, head down to the pier where you will find an old two-story boat-turned-dance-club which has events with local bands a few nights a week.
Cervejaria Cabore. v. Otavio Gama, 100. n Cabore, along river Perece. 55 24 3371-2248. ttp://www.cervejariacabore.com.br/. on-fri 5pm-12pm, sat-sun 11am-12pm. Bar-restaurant of local brewery. Home of the Cabore draft.
Sleep
If you have only a fews days, staying in the historical center is a must. But good deals can be found outside.
Historical Center
The historical center has plenty of charming hotels and ''pousadas''. Cheaper options can be found at the newer neighborhoods, outside the tourist area. Watch out for the busy periods of FLIP (see ''Do'' above), Carnival and New Year's.
Pousada Arte Urquijo. Rua Dona Geralda, 79. n Centro Historico, close to Santa Rita. '+55 024'' 33711362. ttp://www.urquijo.com.br/english/iindex.htm. oon. rom $R300 including breakfast. One of the coziest and most charming accommodations in the city. You get you own (to keep) slippers to use inside on the clean floors. A/C, safe
'''Pousada do Cais''' - R. travessa Santa Rita no 20, (24) 3371-1200 [http://www.pousadadocais.com.br/] Located in the Postcard of paraty ,in the historic center. Pousada do cais is a restaured lord house from the XVII century. Made with rich materials, this hotel preserved the colonial achitecture and style. We have the luxous apartement with the best view of the harbor and bay.
'''Pousada Porto Imperial''', R. Ten. Francisco Antonio s/n, (24) 3371-2323 (''fax (24) 3371-2111, ''), [http://www.pousadaportoimperial.com.br/]. Right into the historic center, this hotel is set in a tastefully decorated colonial house next to the Matriz church. Many of the air-conditioned rooms are located at the internal patio and garden. R$200-R$340 (''check out high/low season prices'').
'''Pousada Bromelias''' - [http://www.pousadabromelias.com.br] Bungalows,waterfall,natural swimming pool, gastronomy, massages and body treatments, ofuro bath, sauna beside waterfall,tennis.55(24)3371-2791
Misti Chill. eachFront Hostel. ua Orlando Carpinelli, 3 - Praia do Pontal. n Praia do Pontal in Town. 55 24 3371-2545. ookings@mistichill.com. ttp://www.mistichill.com. orms From R$19 - Private Rooms from R$59. Cool Beachfront Hostel in Twon. Free Pick-Up, Breakfast, all rooms ensuite.
Outside the historical center
Principe. v. Roberto Silveira, 289.. ne block from the Bus Station. 55 24 3371-2266. eservas@pousadadoprincipe.com.br. 55 24 3371-2120. ttp://www.pousadadoprincipe.com.br/ipousada.htm. rom $R 115. Pousada with rooms around an internal garden.
On the beach
Sereia do mar. v. Praia do Jadaquara 33.. 00 metres from town centre. 552433711930" local call collect="909033711930. ostelparaty@hotmail.com" url="http://www.paratyhostels.com. rices from R$25 for dorm room and R$60 for double. Hostel is situated in front of and only ten metres from Jabaquara beech and 800 metres from town centre.The hostel offers an excellent complementary buffet breakfast internet access pool and ping pong tables along with a wide variety of tours including kayak jeep and boat excursions. The hostel also has a fully stocked bar and an excellent restaurant.
Misti Chill. ostel Paraty. ua Orlando Carpinelli, 3. each Front - Pontal Neighbourhood. 552433712545. ookings@mistichill.com. ttp://www.mistichill.com. orms from R$19 - Privates From R$79. [http://www.mistichill.com Paraty Hostel] and Pousada - Dorms from US$11 - Cool Atmosphere - FREE Pick-Up and Breakfast Te. +55 (0)21 3521-7234 - right on the Beach with an amazing view.
[http://www.gekohostel.com Hostel in Paraty] <sleep name="Geko Hostel & Pousada" alt="Paraty Hostel" address="" directions="" phone="" url="http://www.gekohostel.com" checkin="" checkout="" price="" lat="" long="" email="paraty@gekohostel.com"> - Geko Hostel is located at Praia Pontal, only 3 minutes away from the historical center of Paraty and also near everything you may need. This hostel in front of the sea has a quiet and relaxed environment where you can enjoy a caipirinha, make friends from all over Brazil and the world, read a book, play the guitar or anything else you may enjoy. +55 (0) 24 3371 2507 | Rua Orlando Carpinelli, 5 | Praia do Pontal.</sleep>
Contact
There are plenty of internet cafes just outside the historical centre. You can't avoid seeing one while walking a few blocks along the main street.
Get out
Angra dos Reis
Cunha
Trindade - Popular beach in an old village. Buses once per hour at around 45 after.
Penha from where you can walk to the distillery. Around 30 minutes by bus.