Step inside one of South America's best-preserved colonial towns with an expert private guide who unlocks the stories behind the cobblestone lanes, gold-rush-era churches and baroque mansions of Paraty's UNESCO-listed historic centre. A living 18th-century stage set unlike anywhere else in Brazil.
What to expect
Your guide meets you dockside and leads you through car-free cobbled streets paved with stones that flood at high tide by design — a centuries-old drainage system still functioning today. You enter the Igreja de Santa Rita (1722), the oldest church in Paraty, and explore the Casa da Cultura, gaining insight into how Paraty served as the principal export port for Brazilian gold and later coffee. The tour weaves through artisan ateliers and finishes with a private cachaça tasting at a historic distillery, pairing aged spirits with local cheese and honey.
Good to know
The historic centre is flat and fully pedestrianised, but cobblestones are uneven — wear closed-toe shoes or sturdy sandals. Tours typically last two to three hours, leaving ample time before all-aboard. Check tide tables: flooded streets at high tide are atmospheric but require waterproof footwear.
Sail there
Luxury cruises that call at Paraty — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.