Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Paraty, Brazil is a town of 36,000 people located on the Green Coast (Costa Verde) of Brazil between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.  Paraty's location on the water but close proximity to the Brazilian mountains and rainforest is what first caught my attention, not to mention the beautiful photos readily available via the interwebs.  After reading more about this colonial period paradise, I decided this is a getaway that is surely on the "don't dream about it, actually do it!" list.


Paraty's Bay (From Paraty Explorer)

Charm and History
The old town historic center is lined with cobblestone streets and is off limits to vehicles - accessible only by foot or bicycle (and of course horse and buggy for deliveries). Point for paradise!  The old town center seems to offer a variety of restaurants and shops and is a cultural hub of colonial architecture, historic churches and artistic flair.  Sounds like a great way to spend an afternoon if you ask me!
Fun fact: Twice a day at high tide, the streets of old town actually flood, about shin deep in some places, due to a system created in the 18th century designed to allow tides from the bay to cover the street as a way to keep them clean!  Could make for a slippery situation but a delightful story...

Old Town Paraty, Watch for Rising Waters! (From Paraty Explorer)

Outdoor Adventures
Not only does Paraty appear to be a quaint colonial town that transports visitors back in time; sitting on Ilha Grande Bay and backed by the Atlantic Rainforest and Serra do Mar State Park makes Paraty the perfect homebase for outdoor adventures from hiking to kayaking to boating and biking.  I can imagine getting lost in the rainforest and stumbling upon one of Paraty's 300 beaches or a hidden waterfall; or maybe biking around one of the 60 picturesque islands.  Not only are outdoor activities endless, it seems as though the locals are accommodating and would be happy to recommend their favorite restaurant where you can sit on a veranda, try local cuisine and watch the boats floating on the crystal clear waters of the bay.
Well, if I didn't convince you, I just convinced myself...better start saving up for a ticket!
Brazil's only tropical fjord (From Paraty Explorer)
 Hospitality
Another point for paradise comes in the form of what seems to be a "my house is your house" hospitality.  I have read in many places that locals are very welcoming to visitors and want to help you enjoy their slice of heaven.  After a read through National Geographic Travelers recommendations of places to stay as well as a quick search of my own, I already came up with a list of places I would be more than happy to spend a night or two:
Casa Turquesa in Paraty's historic center (Photo from Casa Turquesa website)

...and a bit of History
Paraty has been described as Brazil's "best kept secret" and really has slowly become more of a tourist destination since 1970 when a paved road was built between the historic town and the nearby Rio de Janeiro.  Prior to the 70's Paraty housed the only port used for exporting gold between Brazil and Portugal, and later became an economic hub for trading coffee and cachaça, a liquor made from sugarcane.
Fun Fact: Cachaça is used in Brazil's national cocktail, Caipirinha...I can't remember when/where I tried this, but I have tasted this refreshing refreshment and highly recommend it. 
Caipirinha
One of the blogs where I was reading about Paraty says, "The name Paraty originally came from the Tupi Indian word “Paratii” which is a kind of fish found in the bay, but in Portuguese it sounds like “For You.” No matter what you are looking for in the far side of the world, Paraty will have some kind of paradise for you." - From Escape Artist

I couldn't agree more and I truly believe Paraty offers some kind of paradise for everyone.  So go make yourself a Caipirinha, revel in the hidden gems of this world, check out the websites below and figure out how to get to Paraty asap!


Bon Voyage!
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