Rio de Janeiro · PARATY TOURS

Paraty: The 15 Best Tours, Schooners & Waterfall Days

31 tours  ·  from $11 a head

Paraty is a colonial town on a bay of islands, about four hours down the coast from Rio. These 15 cover the schooners, the jeep runs to the waterfalls and the cachaça stills, with prices and start times.

Paraty: Jungle Waterfalls and Cachaça Distillery Jeep Tour - Pedra Branca: a waterfall reached on foot
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Paraty: Jungle Waterfalls and Cachaça Distillery Jeep Tour

1.Jungle Waterfalls and Cachaça Distillery Jeep Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 491 reviews · 6 hours · from $37Our pick

Ride a 4x4 jeep from central Paraty into Serra da Bocaina National Park for waterfalls, short forest walks, swimming, lunch, and a cachaça tasting. Guides such as Everton and Luis have brought local plants and wildlife to life for visitors. Expect a lively six-hour outing, not a strenuous hike, with cold water and busy stops possible.

“Excellent value for money. Great trip 2 waterfall locations, opportunity to swim and use natural slide. Distillery tour was interesting and able to try lots of flavours. Tour guides were amazing, knowledgeable and helpful (spoke English which was helpful for us). Where they took us for lunch was great, really nice food. Would definitely recommend the tour to anyone coming to Paraty.”

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Paraty Bay: Islands & Beaches Boat Tour with Snorkeling - Snorkeling is a bonus, not the whole point
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Paraty Bay: Islands & Beaches Boat Tour with Snorkeling

2.Islands & Beaches Boat Tour with Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 274 reviews · 5 hours · from $22

Set out from Paraty Tours for a five-hour cruise around Paraty Bay, with planned stops at two beaches and two islands for swimming and snorkeling. The boat has restrooms, a bar and restaurant, music, and floating aids; fruit and coffee are included. Lunch, a caipirinha, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards may cost extra or depend on your chosen option.

“very fun and lovely day on the water. good swimming spots very nice caring staff highly recommend”

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Paraty: Saco do Mamanguá Speedboat Tour - Praia do Engenho: a quieter beach stop
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Paraty: Saco do Mamanguá Speedboat Tour

3.Saco do Mamanguá Speedboat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 182 reviews · 6 hours · from $49

Spend six hours exploring Saco do Mamanguá and nearby beaches by shared speedboat, with stops at Ilha dos Cocos, Praia do Engenho, Praia do Cruzeiro and a surprise spot. Snorkel gear, water and a cooler with ice are included. At Cruzeiro, choose lunch or the steep 1.5 km Pico do Pão de Açúcar trail.

“The activity is good generally. I need to mention that the guide (who is the boat captain) does not speak english”

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Paraty: Historic Centre Walking Tour & Cachaça Tasting - Read Paraty’s history in its streets
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Paraty: Historic Centre Walking Tour & Cachaça Tasting

4.Historic Centre Walking Tour & Cachaça Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 96 reviews · 1h 30m · from $19

Meet your local guide at Santa Rita’s Church for a 90-minute walk through Paraty’s historic centre. Hear about Indigenous peoples, colonization, Freemasonry and the town’s trade cycles, then finish with a tasting of Cachaça Gabriela, a sweet local blend of cachaça, honey, clove and cinnamon. Tours run in English, Portuguese and Spanish.

“Everything. Thiago is amazing tour guide. He knows about Paraty almost everything 😁 Casacha was also very nice! all included”

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Kayaking to the mangroves - Returning by the Perequê Açu river
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Kayaking to the mangroves

5.Kayaking to the mangroves

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 85 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $36Top rated

Set out from Pontal beach with a guide such as Brenda or Mateo, basic instruction and kayaking gear included. Paddle around Ilha dos Pombos, look for birds, crabs and capybaras in Paraty’s mangroves, then follow the river canals past the historic center. The two-hour outing suits beginners, with a moderate amount of effort and time for photo stops.

“Very nice outing with Brenda. A bit sporty but still easy to access. Very nice way to discover the islandsAuto-translated”

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Small Group Hike to Saco Bravo Waterfall - The Waterfall and Its Ocean-Facing Pool
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Small Group Hike to Saco Bravo Waterfall

6.Small Group Hike to Saco Bravo Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 74 reviews · from $81

Set out from Paraty at 6:30 am with an accredited guide, then travel by boat to Ponta Negra and hike about 8.4 km through Atlantic Forest to Saco Bravo Waterfall. The round-trip boat and guide are included; private transport is not. Expect a demanding day, stream crossings, and a natural pool above the sea.

“This is a really authentic and stunning hike through the Mata Atlantica. Our guide Eugenia was knowledgeable and friendly.”

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Day Tour to Trindade: Nature and Sea Adventure from Paraty - Praia do Meio and the route to Caixa D’aço
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Day Tour to Trindade: Nature and Sea Adventure from Paraty

7.Day Tour to Trindade: Nature and Sea Adventure from Paraty

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 69 reviews · 6 hours · from $37

Ride about 40 minutes from Paraty to Trindade with a guide who shares details about local ecology and Caiçara culture. Visit four beaches, stop for an optional seafood lunch, then reach Caixa D’aço Natural Pool by a forest trail or a boat you pay for locally.

“Belles plages visitées surtout la plage de Cepilho magnifique avec ses rochers. Les piscines naturelles sont vite surbookées car les rochers pour se poser ne sont pas nombreux. Le sable et l’eau sont un peu affectés par les traces d’hydrocarbures laissées par le canot à moteur qui fait les aller-retour avec la plage et qui rentre dans la principale piscine naturelle. Pas d’intérêt pour le snorkeling. Bon repas du midi même si le cadre d’arrivée pour le restaurant n’inspire pas forcément confiance de prime abord.”

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Private walk tour of Paraty's historical center - BY PARATY TOURS - Masonic marks, painted houses, and the stories between stops
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Private walk tour of Paraty’s historical center – BY PARATY TOURS

8.Private walk tour of Paraty’s historical center – BY PARATY TOURS

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 49 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Explore Paraty’s historic center on a private, two-hour walk with a bilingual, CADASTUR-registered guide. You’ll visit seven stops, including the churches of Santa Rita and Our Lady of the Rosary, and look for Masonic symbols in the old streets. Guides have included Chris, Christiano, and Ramon, though your guide may vary. Price: $80 for up to 15 people.

“My tour was excellent. I learned so much and really enjoyed understanding the history and present of Paraty. Highly recommend.”

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Adventure Experience to Saco Bravo Waterfall - BY PARATY TOURS - What the six-to-seven-hour outing involves
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Adventure Experience to Saco Bravo Waterfall – BY PARATY TOURS

9.Adventure Experience to Saco Bravo Waterfall – BY PARATY TOURS

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 48 reviews · 6 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $145

From Paraty, travel by private transport toward Ponta Negra, then tackle a steep, strenuous rainforest trail to Saco Bravo Waterfall. At the coast, a clear natural pool sits at the ocean’s edge, with time to admire the view and swim. A bilingual English-speaking guide leads a group of no more than 10. The hike calls for strong fitness.

“This was the hardest hike I've ever experienced. I would suggest you do your research before embarking on this hike. Bring plenty of water! Hiking shoes/boots and walking sticks are a must. Please don't try this hike if you're not physically fit.”

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Private Bike Tour in Paraty - Waterfalls, beaches and the ride between them
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Private Bike Tour in Paraty

10.Private Bike Tour in Paraty

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 43 reviews · from $63

Start at Praia do Jabaquara and ride with a private guide, often Alison, on a route tailored to your group. Depending on the plan, you may visit Paraty’s historic center, Morro do Forte, a waterfall and a beach such as Praia do Rosa. A bike, safety equipment, water and guide are included.

“We had a great canoa Tour with Alison in Paraty. He is well equipped with top modern canoes and prepared everything on the beach. We started our tour from the Praia Jabaquara and visited several small Islands and beaches. Alison guided Read more”

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Historical Tour with Cachaça Tasting - BY PARATY TOURS - Four churches, four different chapters
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Historical Tour with Cachaça Tasting – BY PARATY TOURS

11.Historical Tour with Cachaça Tasting – BY PARATY TOURS

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 40 reviews · from $11Best value

Spend about two hours walking Paraty’s stone streets with an Embratur guide, hearing stories about colonial architecture, churches and local culture. The tour visits four churches, the Religious Arts Museum and Casa da Cultura, then includes a craft cachaça tasting. It starts at 5:30 pm and returns to the meeting point.

“Foi td muito bom, pois o guia conhecia muito bem todo centro histórico. Farei novos roteiros qdo eu voltar.”

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Sunset Kayaking - Jabaquara’s mangrove and the chance of capybaras
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Sunset Kayaking

12.Sunset Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 37 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $36

Set out from central Paraty with a professional kayak guide for an easy-paced sunset paddle. After basic instruction and a safety briefing, you head across the bay toward Jabaquara’s mangroves and Ilha dos Pombos, where you may spot capybaras, grebes and other wildlife. Equipment is provided; allow up to two hours, with about 60 minutes of paddling.

“Fine kayak tour - as expected all the way through. No real sunset, but that cannot be blamed on them ;)”

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Kayaking Mangroves tour ( Natural Reserve ) - Choosing the two-hour or three-hour route
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Kayaking Mangroves tour ( Natural Reserve )

13.Kayaking Mangroves tour ( Natural Reserve )

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 36 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $36

Set out from Pontal in Paraty for a guided kayak trip among bay islands, beaches, and mangroves. Choose the two-hour route, where capybaras are commonly spotted, or the three-hour route through quieter shores and the mangroves near Itú island and Várzea do Corumbê. Kayaks and other necessary equipment are provided. Guides include Brenda, Paulo, Lumila, and Sergio.

“the beautiful nature in its purity the beautiful nature in its purity the beautiful nature in its purity”

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Private Jeep Tour with All Prices Included by PARATY TOURS - Milling, fermentation and tasting at Engenho D’Ouro
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Private Jeep Tour with All Prices Included by PARATY TOURS

14.Private Jeep Tour with All Prices Included by PARATY TOURS

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 36 reviews · 6 hours (approx.)

A private jeep tour for up to eight takes you from Paraty to Pedra Branca Waterfall and two traditional cachaça stills, then to the Gold Path and Tobogã Waterfall. A bilingual Cadastur guide accompanies your group; cachaça tastings and admission are included. Lunch is optional and costs extra.

“We had an awesome time. Fantastic guide great information and fabulous time had by all. Waterfalls were stunning and lunch was really good.”

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Jipe 4x4 Private 3hr Waterfalls and Waterfall Paraty by Jango Tour - Engenho D’Ouro: a taste of local cachaça
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Jipe 4×4 Private 3hr Waterfalls and Waterfall Paraty by Jango Tour

15.Jipe 4×4 Private 3hr Waterfalls and Waterfall Paraty by Jango Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 27 reviews

This private three-hour 4x4 outing from Paraty visits the Toboggan and Tarzan waterfalls, the Penha church, an Estrada Real monument, and Engenho D’Ouro distillery. Expect time for a swim and a natural rock slide, plus a guided distillery visit. The included guide speaks Portuguese; an English-speaking guide costs an extra $50.

“Very nice tour and our guide Teresa was very friendly and knowledgeable. She knew all the good spots”

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