Parati Beaches, Boat Trips & Gold
What to Do on Rio de Janeiro's Unmissable Weekend Trip
Dec 29, 2007
Parati is the perfect place for relaxing on the beach, taking boat trips round the bay or visiting the Caminho de Ouro, Brazil's Gold Trail. Whatever you do in Parati, learn the history behind it - it's not for nothing that this place has been preserved as an official national historical monument.
Parati Beaches
If you haven't had enough of Rio's beaches, try the ones around Parati. The best are a 35 minute bus ride away in the former pirate spot of Trindade. It is now a sweet old fishing village with several beaches.
Head to Cepilho for surfing or Praia dos Pelados for nude sunbathing, or for something really special spend the afternoon at the Piscina do Cauxadaço, a natural pool created by huge volcanic stones enclosing part of the sea. To reach it, you can follow the trail at the end of the main Praia do Meio (not recommended if it's wet or slippery) or – much more fun – hire a speedboat taxi for only about R$5 (US$2) each way. You can arrange a time for pick-up later if you don't fancy the hike back.
Boat Trips in Parati Bay
A good alternative to the beach, especially since you can't do this in Rio, is a five-hour schooner trip round the bay. On trips organised by Paraty Tours you'll stop at four different islands for swimming and can have lunch served on board for an extra fee.
If you like to go your own way, you'll find a gaggle of converted fishing boats bobbing around in the harbour and you can hire one, along with the skipper, for the day or by the hour. A three-hour trip would cost around R$50 (US$28) – split between a few of you, that's a real bargain and you'll go places the organised tours don't go.
Brazil's Caminho de Ouro (Gold Trail)
Leading up and away from the nearby village of Tobogá is the Caminho do Ouro the old trail along which thousands of slaves carried the gold which made Paraty famous and Portugal rich.
The first part of the trail, from Tobogá itself, can only be visited with a guide, and it is well worth the R$15 (US$8.50) fee to have the history and nature explained as you trek the few kilometres through the trees. Ask at one of the tour agencies in town – out of season you may have to hire a private guide for an English-language tour.
Just after the guided tour ends, you can follow a well-signposted path up through the forest to a small site park (entrance R$10 (US$5.50). There's very little there except for a simple restaurant, but you'll see some lovely waterfalls and natural pools, the ruins of an old toll house and the finest view over Parati from anywhere around. You can get a simple map of the area from one of the agencies in town.
Tobogá is a short bus ride from Parati in the direction of Penha. Take food and water as there is very little at the village itself. And take a swimsuit and towel – if you're brave and don't mind the odd insect bite, you can bathe in a small natural pool in a clearing under a lovely waterfall.
The tourist office will help with any queries and maps you need, and there are plenty of tour agencies scattered around the town if you don't want the bother of organising a trip yourself.
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