Brazil’s Dusty Azurre: Day 8 (Scene 1)

I have shown you how Paraty is all about charm, architecture and reinvention.

But the absolutely cool thing is that this small town offers much more than that.  Paraty can be used as a base to get active and enjoy the many pleasures nature offers.  You can spend a week hiking, kayaking, swimming, snorkeling, diving, horse riding, biking and sun bathing around town.  Wait, that last one is not an active pursuit.  Ahhh, who cares?  You will need to rest a little bit after some adventure packed days.

The Bay of Paraty contains 65 islands and about 200 beaches.  And let me tell you, these are the kind of beaches that come up to your mind when you think of paradise.  The golden sand and emerald waters can’t be more inviting.

So, what is the best way to explore 65 islands?  On a boat tour, of course.  In Paraty, simple boats are not used for these purposes. Schooners (sailing vessels with two or more masts) are the ones who transport people among exotic beaches and deserted islands.

If you visit Paraty, this is a must do.  Schooners five hours trips can be booked anywhere around town.  The best thing?  This can be done for $30 dollars per person.  That is an awesome deal if you consider how expensive Brazil is (Paraty has way better tour prices than Rio de Janeiro).

Here are some things you should take into consideration when booking your tour:

• Some companies include lunch in the tour price.  This is a no brainer.  Go with the company who offers more for your money.
• If you book a tour where lunch is not included, bring snacks (or eat a big breakfast) if you don’t want to pay the hefty prices of the food offered onboard.
• There is a lot of availability for this type of excursion.  If you arrive late at Paraty, there are good possibilities to find availability for the next day.
• Most companies offer the same itinerary.  Ask for options if you want to get off the beaten path.
• Make sure you understand what stops are included.  Some companies say they include four stops.  In reality, they count the lunch stop even though there is no opportunity to get out of the boat.

I took the tour with a company called Parati Tours and I highly recommend them.  The staff is very friendly and accommodating.

Let me give you an extra tip.  Get out of your comfort zone and talk to your fellow passengers. I met people from all over the world.  It was really great to share travel notes and ideas.

In this post, I want to show you pictures of the first two stops of my tours: Comprida Island and Praia da Lula.  The pictures do not show the true colors of the area since we started with cloudy skies (one of the disadvantages of going in low season).  Nevertheless, I believe these photos give you an idea of why this is a must if you are in the area.

Did I mention you can sail among tropical islands every day?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Have you visited the islands of Paraty? Let me know in the comments section below.

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