Nice places to visit in Brazil - part 3. Paraty

Nice places to visit in Brazil - part 3. Paraty

Font: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraty

"Paraty (or Parati, Portuguese pronunciation: [pɐɾɐˈtʃi]) is a preservedPortuguese colonial (1500–1822) and Brazilian Imperial (1822–1889)municipality with a population of about 36,000.^[1] It is located on the Costa Verde (Green Coast), a lush, green corridor that runs along the coastline of the state of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil. Paraty has become a popular tourist destination in recent years, renowned for the historic town and the coast and mountains in the region."

Geography

The town is located on the Bay of Ilha Grande, which is dotted with many tropical islands. Rising up as high as 1,300 meters behind the town are tropical forests, mountains, and waterfalls. It is the southernmost and westernmost city in Rio de Janeiro state.

Paraty is surrounded by many parks and nature reserves, including Serra da Bocaina National Park, Serra do Mar State Park (of São Paulo), the Park Reserve of Joatinga and the Cairuçu Environmental Protection Area, where the village of Trindade is located. The municipality also includes an indigenous village and an Afro-Brazilian quilombo.

Climate

The temperature in Paraty ranges from 16 °C to 37C. Its wettest month is February.^[2] However, sea breezes temper the heat and afternoon rains are common in the summer.

Culture and Tourism

There are many musical and cultural events, the most prominent of which is the FLIP – Festa Literaria Internacional de Paraty (International Literary Festival of Paraty). The town is also known for its local festivals on Catholic holy dates, such as the Feast of the Holy Ghost.

The Casa da Cultura Paraty (House of Culture) occupies an historic 18th century house originally built in 1754 ^[3] which opened to the public in 2004 ^[4] and holds a permanent exhibition on local history and culture. In the Salon of Indigenous Culture, visitors can see the “carpets” made of colored sawdust and flower petals used during the festival of Corpus Christiin June. The largest is almost 92 square feet (8.5 m²). The “carpet” is protected by glass so that visitors walk on it as they enter.

Paraty played the part of the Bahian town of Ilhéus in the 1983 Bruno Barreto film Gabriela, Cravo e Canela, starring Sônia Braga and Marcello Mastroianni.^[5]

Paraty was also the set for Isle Esme (the place of Edward and Bella's honeymoon) in the movie The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn.^[6]

Transportation

Paraty airport can be reached from Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo by chartered helicopter or small commercial and private aircraft because presently it has no scheduled flights.

Another possibility of transport is to arrive by sea by way of a sailboat or cruise ship from Rio de Janeiro, Angra dos Reisand Ilha Grande.

Paraty is connected by road to Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo (via road BR-101). Air-conditioned buses leave to go back and forth from Rio to Paraty and Paraty to Rio.

Things to do in Paraty!

Font: http://wikitravel.org/en/Paraty

The historic town is compact and can be covered on foot; 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.

Beware of the Taxi's as they are very expensive (between R$25-30 for a 1.5km drive) and are not metered, therefore negotiate a price before jumping in one

Buses to the beautiful village and beaches at Trindade and outlying beaches leave from the Bus Station. Buy tickets onboard approximately R$3 to Trindade.

See

• 
  The historic center - cobbled streets, old buildings, churches etc.
• Beaches
• 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 privateer

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[7] - 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 Praça 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, (info@paratyexplorer.com), [8]. 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.  edit
• Shambhala Asian Day Spa, (info@shambhalaspa.com.br), [9]. A day spa with a stunning view on the bay, at 10 minutes walk from the historical center. The Asian way of getting pampered and looked after…with natural body treatments and traditional massage techniques.  edit
• Walking tour of Paraty Old Town, [10]. Explore the colonial jewel with expert local guides on a walking tour thro the cobbled streets of the Old Town  edit
• Mud Carnival / Bloco da Lama, End of Jabaquara Beach, [11]. Crowds of people go to the end of Jabaquara beach on the Saturday afternoon before Carnival, cover themselves in mud and chant. Sounds crazy but it's a lot of fun.  edit
• Stand Up Paddle (SUP) boarding, [12]. Lessons and tours on flatwater bay in front of Jabaquara beach. Perfect for beginners to learn.  edit
• Speedboat Trip, Main Pier (Right at the very beginning of the pear), ☎ +5524999757859, [13].Daytime, All days of the week. Speedboat trip will get you to more uncrowded and remote beaches. As many stops as you want, snorkeling, photos, stop and a restaurant at the end then back to town. English speaking guide. 700.

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.

Eat

• Paraty & Mediterrani, Praça da Matriz, 6 (in Matriz Square-Historic Center), ☎ +55 (24) 3371.2155,[14]. Fabulous local fresh foods with a touch from Barcelona.  edit

• Porto Entreposto Cultural, Rua do Comercio #14 (Historical center), ☎ +55 24 3371-1058, [15].6PM-. Amazing Brazilian/European menu. Good selection of wines. $R25 for a main.  edit

• sereia do mar, Av Praia do Jabaquara 33 (800 metres from the town centre looking out onto one of paratys most beautiful and tranquil beaches), ☎ +55 24 337111930 for delivery and resavations,[16]. Open from 5PM-11PM. 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. From R$14 for a main course and from R$19 for a large 8 slice pizza.  edit

• Casa do Fogo bistrô (Casa do Fogo Paraty), Rua Comendador José Luiz 390 (Historical center), ☎+55 24 33713163 for resavations (bistro@casadofogo.com.br), [17]. Open from 5PM-1AM. Casa do Fogo serves flambées specialities, all flambée with cachaça - seafood, vegetables and fruits, on the menu you also find meat, chicken, vegetarian, pastas and moquecas. From R$18 for a starter to R$120 for a flambée seafood paella for two.  edit
• Merlin o Mago, Rua do Comércio 376 (in historic town center), ☎ 24 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!  edit
• Restaurant Grao da Terra, Avenue Roberto Silveira, 328 - Galeria Gibrail, ☎ +55 (24) 3371-8626,[18]. 9am to 9 pm. Fully vegetarian restaurant with daily menus and a wide range of fruit juices and salads. Great ambience and great hosts, Wi-Fi connection availble. 9 USD

Sleep[

The Historic Centre suits visitors wanting to be where the action is. It can however be busy and noisy particularly at night so its worth considering staying outside and walking or cycling in. There are over 200 pousadas in the area.

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, [21]. checkout: 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 do Cais - R. travessa Santa Rita nº 20, (24) 3371-1200 [22] 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. Has the luxous apartment 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, ),[23]. Right into the historic center, this hotel is set in a 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).

• Chill Inn Hostel & Pousada (BeachFront Hostel), Rua Orlando Carpinelli, 3 - Praia do Pontal (In Praia do Pontal in Town), ☎ +55 24 3371-2545 (bookings@chillinnhostel.com), [24]. Cool Beachfront Hostel in Twon. Free Pick-Up, Breakfast, all rooms ensuite. Dorms From R$19 - Private Rooms from R$59. 

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), [25]. Pousada with rooms around an internal garden. From $R 115.  

• Pousada do Corsario, Rua Joao do Prado 26, Bairro da Chácara, Paraty. An excellent pousada at a perfect location, along the canal, near the bus station and near the city centre.  

• Pousada Bromelias - [26] Bungalows, waterfall, natural swimming pool, gastronomy, massages and body treatments, ofuro bath, sauna beside waterfall,tennis.55(24)3371-2791

On the beach

• Sereia do mar, Av. Praia do Jadaquara 33 (800 metres from town centre), ☎ +552433711930(hostelparaty@hotmail.com), [27]. Hostel is situated in front of and only ten metres from Jabaquara beech and 800 metres from town centre.The hostel offers an excellent complimentary 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. Prices from R$25 for dorm room and R$60 for double.  

• Geko Hostel & Pousada (Paraty Hostel), (paraty@gekohostel.com), [28]. - 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.  

• Casa do SUP (Paraty Guesthouse), Avenida Jabaquara, 26 (Beach Front - Jabaquara Neighbourhood), ☎ +55243371494 (casadosup@casadosup.com), [29]. Guesthouse located directly in front of Jabaquara beach, perfect location for Stand Up Paddle boarding (SUP). Discounts for board rentals and tours. Prices from R$45 for dorm room and R$120 for double.  

• Che Lagarto Hostel Paraty, Rua Benina Toledo do Prado, n° 22, ☎ +55 (24) 3371-1564(paraty@chelagarto.com), [30]. Paradise beach, history and youth meet in Paraty and make it an ideal destination for your holiday.  

• Che Lagarto Suites Paraty, Rua Marechal Deodoro s/n, ☎ +55 (24) 3371-7591(paratysuites@chelagarto.com), [31]. In Che Lagarto Suites Paraty you will find cozy private rooms, perfect for relaxing after walking around the beaches and the historic streets of Paraty. Fun, freedom and caipirinha.