Stopover in Paraty

Before heading back to Sao Paolo, I decided to make a 2-day stopover in the small, colonial seaside town of Paraty. Located right smack in the middle of the route between Rio and Sao Paolo, it makes for an excellent detour.

Paraty is a great place and is gaining popularity among travelers, but it doesn't have that many buses. Best advice - buy an onward ticket as soon as you arrive, which I intelligently (?) did for the day after tomorrow.

I didn't have a room booked, so I went along with the first guy that offered a room - a dorm bed in a slightly shabby, dark room. Hmmm…. It was going to be my last few nights, and I felt like some comfort. Although I'd have to pay double his original quote, he took me to another small guesthouse (more like a bed & breakfast), which sold me immediately. It wasn't located within the colonial old town limits, but the town is small enough that I could walk anywhere.

After unpacking and settling into the room, I realized I was starving. Headed out to wander and check out some food places nearby. My great find was this cozy, vegetarian cafe, with yummy juice (think passion fruit!) and sandwiches. Chowed down. Followed by a little relaxation with a cup of coffee.

My tummy satisfied, I headed towards the colonial area.

With a slight detour at a shoe store (yup, you read correctly) to buy a pair of these cheapie looking Brasilian sneakers (in silver!!!) that I've been dying for. Not sneakers, more like those Puma shoes, but with absolutely no sole. There's no logical explanation for my purchase, except that i was REALLY attracted to the Brasilian flag on the sides.

Anyways, like any colonial town, Paraty has its cobblestoned alleyways, churches, and colorful buildings with gift shops, hotels, and restaurants. But what made this town one of my favorites was its quaintness and serenity. It was just so comfortable walking around and snapping photos that it was easy to lose track of time.

The next day, I took a boat tour thru the bay. I didn't realize how many small islands were in the area, some of them owned privately by very wealthy people I assume, because there were many an island with a single house/mansion.

For the most part, you enjoy the passing beautiful scenery on the boat - turquoise water dotted with lush green islands. And there's also time for some snorkeling:And some chillin' at the beach:

Not anything astonishing or mind-blowing, but I highly recommend this tour to anyone going to Paraty. An enjoyable, tranquil way to spend a few hours in the bay : )

FYI - I booked a the tour from my guest house (35BRL), but you can actually go down to the harbor in the morning and get on whichever boat satisfies your desires. There were a bunch of them docked, offering more or less the same trip, I think. Maybe there's a difference in food…I had the usual chicken vs. fish option and a coconut for purchase on board, which I gladly did. One annoyance was the on-board entertainers, requesting tips after their musical performance. Can't have everything perfect…

Next, Sao Paolo. Only 2 more days left. Major tears.