The Old World Charm of Paraty and the Natural Beauty of Trindade

I was looking for places to visit while in Brazil. I was choosing between Ouro Preto or Paraty. I decided to head on over to Paraty because it was in the middle of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Ouro Preto was too far away from Sao Paulo. I figured I'll just make time for Ouro Preto during another trip to Brazil.

I took the late afternoon bus from Rio to Paraty.

Old World Charm

Paraty oozes with old world and small town charm. It's a preserved Portuguese colonial municipality that reminded me a bit of Vigan in Ilocos and El Nido in Palawan. It's a laid back town lined with restaurants, shops, and historic buildings. Paraty is part of the state of Rio de Janeiro. The historic center of Paraty is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with Ilha Grande. The town used to be part of the Gold Route or the Caminho do Ouro wherein gold was taken to Europe.

The town is lovely at night. You can find a place to dine in and chill after a day of island hopping.

Beach Hopping in Trindade

Island and beach hopping is a popular activity while in Paraty. The beaches along the coast reminded me so much of the Philippines and other tropical countries I've been to. During my visit, I went to different beaches in Trindade.

Fine, gold-tinged sand, and azure waters greeted our group as we went from beach to beach. I joined a tour to make going to places easier. However, it's possible to go on your own. The trip to Trindade was a welcome respite to the hustle and bustle of Rio de Janeiro (even if technically I was still in the same state). Trindade is a popular tourist destination even or locals. I met quite a few Brazilians that lived in Sao Paulo or other cities but were in Paraty for a vacation.

You might want to check out my other posts about Brazil: