At leisure to relax on the beaches of Paraty and absorb the wonderful atmosphere of this old Portguguese colonial town, with its white-washed buildings and beautiful bay.
Amble through the narrow pedestrianised streets of the historic centre that is today a World Heritage site and admire the old houses, many of which are adorned with Masonic symbols. You can visit the colossal First Church of Our Lady of the Remedies and the much smaller Chapel of Santa Rita built for emancipated slaves; browse in the market for handcrafts and see artists exhibiting their paintings. Afterwards relax in one of the many restaurants or pubs, where you can taste 'cachaça' - a popular rum-like Brazilian spirit used to make Caipirinha cocktails.
With over 65 islands in the surrounding ocean, you can also take a boat ride to swim, snorkel and dive in these crystal clear waters. A speedboat ride to Saco do Mamangua fjords, a collection of tree-covered isles and hump-shaped hills rising above an expanse of calm water, with beautiful beaches and umbrella-like palms is also recommended.
Alternatively head 30-minutes inland on an optional 4x4 tour to enjoy walking or birding in Serra da Bocaina National Park, part of Brazil's pristine Atlantic rainforest. With crashing waterfalls, verdant forests and sprawling open hills, this park is home to a host of exotic wildlife including numerous colourful tropical birds, the woolly spider monkey, white-lipped peccary and the black jaguar (panther).
If you enjoy history, you can visit the remains of the Caminho de Ouro ('Gold Route'), a 745-mile stone-paved road built by slaves in the 18th century, along which gold was shipped via Paraty to Europe. You can also see prehistoric cave paintings in this region.
In the evening visit the main square, where locals congregate for live samba music and dancing.