The Brazilian city of Paraty was during the colonial era the most important export port of gold in the country. However, its splendor would come thanks to the exploitation of another resouce, a very different one: tourism.
The British Chesterton had already said in one
sentence: "The golden age returns to men when, even for a moment, they
forget about gold."
Paraty began to be populated from 1583, a
peculiarly remote year for a South American city. But gold justified everything,
including the recurrent entry of the sea into the streets every time the tide
rose.
Nowadays, a little more than 33,000 people live
in Paraty, but the main source of income is far from the gold that raised it
centuries ago.
In fact, a 2015 study showed that Paraty was
the Brazilian city whose local economy had most evolved in recent years.
Paraty is famous for its stone streets, for its
book fair and for the roots of its inhabitants to the local culture. But, above
all for the water adventures and fun activities that attract tourists from all
over the world.
Here, we will review the best activities to do
in that beautiful corner of Brazil.
Paraty Islands Tour
The boat tour takes tourists to visit some of
the 65 islands of the Paraty Bay, with its idyllic beaches, crystal clear
waters and coastal vegetation.
This tour is ideal for bathing and enjoying. In
addition, it is also an interesting place to practice snorkeling, because you
can see everything that happens under water.
Colorful fish, corals, starfish ... underwater
is another world, one that you have to know.
Tour by the City of
Paraty
Experts say that it is one of the most
beautiful cities in Brazil. Walking through its streets is to make a journey to
the colonial era.
We speak of cobblestone streets, more churches
than you can visit, huge houses with windows as big as doors, art, culture...
Paraty has managed to maintain its essence of
the 18th-century community. However, today it has the particular reputation of
offering one of the best cultural faces of Brazil. It is a city that values
thought and art as ways of life.
Kayaking
Kayaking the islands of Paraty Bay is a unique
and unforgettable experience for nature lovers. The direct contact with the
marine animal species, with the aquatic plants and with the crystalline waters
of the region is possible because in a kayak it is possible navigates at the
same level of the sea.
It is a four hours tour, those who visit Paraty
are dazzled by a spectacular tour guided by an expert who also explains each
natural phenomenon and each creature.
This tour includes a stop to enjoy idyllic
beaches. But if the tide is high, it also allows you to go through the
mangroves.
Jeep Tour through the
Sierra da Bocaina National Park
Adrenaline seekers must visit Sierra da Bocaina
National Park in an all-terrain vehicle. The tour goes into the Atlantic Forest
and it includes some stops at amazing waterfalls.
Another great attraction of this excursion is a
visit to the Alambique D'Ouro, where the traditional Brazilian drink is
produced: cachaça There, you will learn about your preparation to finish with
an unforgettable tasting.
The Ensedada Trinidade
This tour includes the best beaches of Paraty,
most of which have not yet been altered by humans. With beautiful walks in the
Atlantic Forest, the walk runs along coasts such as Praia do Meio, Praia do
Cachadaço, the natural pool of Cachadaço, Praia do Cepilho and Praia dos
Ranchos.
In addition, the tour allows you to discover
the underwater world that is below the waters of Paraty Bay.
Paraty has risen during the last decades as a
tourist city thanks to the vocation of its inhabitants to teach the natural
beauties with which they were blessed.
Today, not coincidentally, it is one of the
most requested tourist destinations by Brazilians and foreigners who visit the
largest nation in South America.