From Wikitravel

Paraty (also spelled Parati) [1] 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.

[edit] 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 São 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.

[edit] Get in

Paraty is 260km from Rio de Janeiro and 300km from São 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 São Paulo takes about six hours and cost ca. R$ 37.00. There a about four to five connections daily. (2007)

[edit] 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.

[edit][add listing] See

• The historic center - cobbled streets, old buildings, churches etc.
• Beaches - Especially in Trindade: Cachadaço, 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 Perpétuo - Perpetual Defender fortress, a 18th-century stronghold built with British cannons to defend the gold against British privateers

[edit][add listing] 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[2] - 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 on an old double-decker ferry-turned-dance-club. Just wander down to the dock after dark. You can try Café Paraty or Margarida Café.
• 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 the Caminho do Ouro. Access located in the Paraty-Cunha road

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Cachaça - Paraty is one of the famous producers in Brazil, as in fact a century ago cachaça was known as parati. Dozens of excellent brands are available.

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Porto Entreposto Cultural, Rua do Comercio #14 (Historical center), ☎ +55 24 3371-1058, [3]. 6pm-. Amazing Brazilian/European menu. Good selection of wines. $R25 for a main.  edit

[edit][add listing] 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 Caborê, Av. Otávio Gama, 100 (in Caborê, along river Perecé), ☎ +55 24 3371-2248, [4]. mon-fri 5pm-12pm, sat-sun 11am-12pm. Bar-restaurant of local brewery. Home of the Caborê draft. edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

If you have only a fews days, staying in the historical center is a must. But good deals can be found outside.

[edit] 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 (in Centro Histórico, close to Santa Rita), ☎ ''+55 024'' 33711362, [5]. Check out: noon. 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 from $R300 including breakfast.  edit

• Pousada Porto Imperial, R. Ten. Francisco Antonio s/n, (24) 3371-2323 (fax (24) 3371-2111, ), [6]. 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 - [7] Bungalows,waterfall,natural swimming pool, gastronomy, massages and body treatments, ofuro bath, sauna beside waterfall,tennis.55(24)3371-2791

[edit] Outside the historical center

• Principe, Av. Roberto Silveira, 289. (One block from the Bus Station), ☎ +55 24 3371-2266 (reservas@pousadadoprincipe.com.br, fax: +55 24 3371-2120), [8]. Pousada with rooms around an internal garden. From $R 115.  edit

[edit] Contact

There is lots of internet cafe's just outside the historical centre. You can't avoid seeing one while walkin couple of blocks around the main street.

[edit] 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.

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