Brazil Costa Verde: Rio, Ilha Grande & Paraty

Contents of this post11 chapters

• 1Our road trip from Rio to São Paulo
• 2Paraty
• 3São Sebastião
• 4Next stop: Who knows…
• 5Costa Verde trip: route from Rio de Janeiro
• 6Ilha Grande: Arrival, ferry and accommodation
• 7What's worth seeing on Ilha Grande
• 8Discover Paraty on the Costa Verde
• 9Best time and planning for a Costa Verde trip
• 10Read more
• 11Frequently Asked Questions

Eight days on the Costa Verde in a rental car, right after Carnival in Rio: We took a speedboat (half an hour) from Angra dos Reis to Ilha Grande, then continued by rental car to Paraty. Here you'll find out what our snorkeling tour (€20 per person), dinner (€20–30 per plate), and fuel (approximately €1.20 per liter) cost, where we stayed, and which route is recommended from Rio.

Our road trip from Rio to São Paulo

After the carnival in Rio we did an 8-day rental car tour along the Costa Verde. Our first stop was Ilha Grande. A dreamlike beautiful island & definitely one of my MUST SEEs in Brazil!

On the first day we took a speedboat from Angra dos Reis to the island of Ilha Grande. The crossing took half an hour in total. When we arrived, we were first of all completely speechless. A beautiful, golden beach, crystal-clear water & the green jungle in the background. Where have we landed here? In paradise?

It was simply indescribably beautiful. But the best part: the deserted beaches! Absolute peace & pure nature!

In our first accommodation we had a cute balcony with a sea view. What could be better than relaxing in a hammock & listening to the birdsong? Maybe a hearty breakfast? I don't know. I thought both were awesome!

In the evening we strolled a bit through the little village. Here you'll find shopping options on every corner & a lot of restaurants. Prices for a good dinner are around 20-30 euros per plate, so quite high! In the supermarket the prices are about like on the mainland, but of course with a somewhat smaller selection. You can get clothing here at fairly reasonable prices.

The tours are inexpensive. We paid 20 euros per person for our 5-hour snorkeling tour. Totally okay. With this water, snorkeling is also one of the MUST DO’s! The underwater world was incredible!

But even without tours there's plenty to experience! We went on a hike through the jungle and even saw little monkeys

All in all we had a lot of fun. Ilha Grande was one of my absolute highlights of our tour! It definitely won't be the last time we visit this beautiful island! So if you love snorkeling with turtles, sunbathing on a deserted beach & swimming in crystal-clear water, you're in exactly the right place here!

Paraty

Next we headed back to the mainland. From there we got our rental car to drive on to Paraty. The drive was super easy. Finally no potholes on the roads! Fuel prices are about 1.20 euros per liter.

When we arrived we were at first completely enchanted by our new suite in the Hotel Pousada do Ouro! The whole building is, like the town of Paraty, kept in a chic colonial style. Incredibly cool!

In the afternoon we explored the beautiful old town of Paraty. On every corner there were restaurants and little boutiques. In the small alleys jewelry sellers sold their handmade works. Everything was very well kept. I was especially fascinated by the beautiful, colorfully painted doors!

In the evening the town gave off a romantic charm. It reminded me of the sweet fishing village in Faro, one of my absolute highlights from Portugal. I loooove these gold-yellow lanterns

São Sebastião

On the way to São Sebastião we made a few more stops at great waterfalls! That's what I love about road trips. Just stop wherever you want. Max took the pictures – That looks like it's from a picture book, doesn't it?

When we arrived at our new accommodation at the Maui Maresias, a little gift for me was lying on the bed. Have you ever received a piece of jewelry as a gift from a hotel? For me it was definitely the first time! Later we had a freshly squeezed juice outside. Meanwhile a saxophonist played his music, an absolutely wonderful atmosphere!

The next day we slept one night in our last accommodation called Nau Royal Hotel Boutique and Spa. As the name says, there was a large spa offering & outside there was a swimming pool as well as a whirlpool with sea view. We enjoyed the view at the hearty breakfast too! The staff were once again very nice & fulfilled our every wish. A nice finale to our Costa Verde tour!

Conclusion: The Gateway tour was one of the best parts of our Brazil trip. My absolute highlight was definitely Ilha Grande- this island simply enchanted me. The waterfalls were also especially beautiful & of course the chic accommodations- with the suuuper delicious breakfast! It was sooo nice not having to plan anything for once. The organization ran flawlessly, there were no problems whatsoever! A big thank you to the great Gateway team!

You can find more information about the tour here:

To Gateway Latin America

Next stop: Who knows…

Costa Verde trip: route from Rio de Janeiro

The Costa Verde stretches along a 600-kilometer coastal road between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Within a small area, it connects tropical rainforest, colonial towns, and Ilha Grande. For a road trip, a good route from Rio is via Angra dos Reis and Paraty towards Trindade and Ubatuba. This route covers 350 kilometers; with stops along the way, allow three to five days.

From Rio via Angra dos Reis to Paraty

For a more extensive trip, the journey can be spread over eight days. On the first day, the drive from Rio to Angra dos Reis takes about three hours. There, you leave your car in the parking garage while you take a boat to Ilha Grande. Days two through four are dedicated to the island's beaches, hiking trails, and boat tours. On the fifth day, you return to Angra dos Reis and continue for another hour and a half to Paraty. Days six and seven are reserved for exploring the old town, taking a schooner tour, visiting the waterfalls, and perhaps taking a trip to Trindade. Day eight takes you back to Rio or onward to Ubatuba and São Paulo.

The BR-101 is well-developed and signposted. It's considered safe to drive on during the day. Avoid driving on this route at night. Start with a full tank and make longer fuel stops in Angra dos Reis or Paraty. Police checks are frequent and usually conducted in a friendly and routine manner. An international driving permit is officially required.

Ilha Grande: Arrival, ferry and accommodation

You can find all the details about the island in my guide. Ilha Grande: Beaches, Hikes & Tips for the Dream Island.

Ilha Grande is the largest island in the Bay of Angra dos Reis and belongs to the state of Rio de Janeiro. Around 80 percent of the island is a protected nature reserve. It is car-free, with the exception of police and emergency vehicles. With its tranquility, nature, and beaches, it thus forms a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of Rio.

By boat or ferry to Vila do Abraão

The usual route from Rio to Angra dos Reis is by rental car or bus. The 170-kilometer journey takes about three hours. From Angra dos Reis, you take a boat to the main pier, Vila do Abraão. The public ferry runs only once a day (at 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, and at 1:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays), takes up to 110 minutes, and costs R$ 20.50, or about €3.50. Speedboats and flexboats run several times a day, take 20 to 40 minutes, and usually cost R$ 70 to 120 each way, or about €12 to €21. If you're traveling early, it's best to take a speedboat: in the late afternoon, the boats are full of day-trippers. Since June 2026, a tourist tax of R$ 50 (valid for 30 days) has also been in effect in Angra dos Reis; timetables and prices are subject to change, so please check them before traveling.

Overnight stay in the island center

Vila do Abraão is the main village and the only place on Ilha Grande with any significant infrastructure. It has restaurants, pousadas (guesthouses), a small market, a bank branch, and most of the accommodations. A bed in a dormitory of a basic hostel starts at €10; boutique pousadas cost more than €100 per night. Pousadas on the upper hillside are about 200 meters from the main beach. There, it's quieter and cooler, and you also get a view across the bay at sunrise.

Some smaller establishments on Ilha Grande only accept cash. ATMs are scarce on the island. Therefore, you should budget approximately 100 to 150 euros in Brazilian reais for boat tickets, day trips, and small expenses over several days. Cashless payment is possible in tourist hotels and restaurants; ATMs are more reliable in Paraty.

What's worth seeing on Ilha Grande

Lopes Mendes and Lagoa Azul

Lopes Mendes is the island's most famous beach. It boasts three kilometers of white sand, turquoise water, and no development whatsoever. It can be reached either via a three-hour hike through the Atlantic Rainforest or by boat taxi for about 25 euros round trip. A possible combination is to take the boat there and hike back. For the hike, be sure to pack plenty of water, sunscreen, and sturdy shoes.

Lagoa Azul is also only accessible by water. The shallow lagoon offers opportunities for snorkeling. Many pousadas arrange six-hour boat trips starting at around €35, including lunch. Other activities include snorkeling and diving in the clear bays, hiking, and kayak rentals for exploring the mangroves on the south side of the island.

Hiking and other activities

The hike to Pico do Papagaio takes four to six hours round trip and offers panoramic views of the entire bay. The Lazareto, a former quarantine station and later prison, can be visited on foot or by bicycle. For photography enthusiasts, sunset boats depart daily at 4:30 pm; the price is approximately €15 per person. Combining the various activities allows you to experience the beaches, rainforest, and bays from multiple perspectives.

Discover Paraty on the Costa Verde

Paraty lies approximately 100 kilometers west of Angra dos Reis. Its historic old town is one of the best-preserved colonial towns in Latin America. Whitewashed houses, blue and yellow door and window frames, cobblestone streets, and Portuguese architecture characterize the center. The old town has been a protected historical site since the 1950s; in 2019, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Old town, harbor and bays of Paraty

The old town itself is car-free. At high tide, parts of the streets are submerged by the bay; this system was designed to clean the streets. Key landmarks include the Igreja Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, built in 1646, the Igreja de Santa Rita, and the historic harbor. From there, schooner tours depart daily into the bay. A day trip to three bays and islands costs approximately 25 to 35 euros per person, including lunch.

Inland lie the Cachoeiras, including the Tobogã water slide and the Pedra Branca waterfalls. Both are among the most popular waterfalls in the area and can be reached by rental car or on an organized tour starting from €25. For a longer stay, a hike in the Serra da Bocaina National Park with its Atlantic Rainforest is also recommended.

Accommodation and travel time in Paraty

Pousadas in the historic old town start at €50 per night. The Bairro Histórico and the adjacent Caborê are just a five-minute walk from the old town; Caborê is the more affordable option. Hostels outside the center cost approximately €15 to €25 for a bed in a dormitory. During the peak season from December to February and in July, accommodations should be booked four to six weeks in advance, as Paraty is also a popular weekend getaway for visitors from Rio and São Paulo.

Best time and planning for a Costa Verde trip

From May to September, it is generally drier. With temperatures around 18 to 26 degrees Celsius, a lower probability of rain, and fewer tourists, this period is particularly suitable for hiking and boat trips. From October to April is the rainy season: short, intense tropical downpours, temperatures between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius, and higher humidity characterize these months. The Christmas and New Year period, as well as Carnival in February or March, are peak season, so booking early is essential.

Seven days is considered the minimum for Ilha Grande and Paraty combined. Ten to fourteen days allow additional time for Trindade and the Cachoeiras. For a shorter trip, it's recommended to focus on Ilha Grande with four to five days or on Paraty with three to four days. An extra rainy day as a buffer is helpful in case tropical showers prevent a beach day.

Trindade as a complement to Paraty

Trindade is located about a 25-minute drive south of Paraty. This small fishing village offers a tranquil alternative to the more touristy Paraty and boasts the beaches of Cachadaço and Praia Brava, as well as a manageable number of pousadas (guesthouses). The Piscinas Naturais are saltwater pools separated from the open sea by rocks, perfect for snorkeling. They can be reached from the village center in about 30 minutes on foot or by boat.

For tourism boards and hotel chains, the Costa Verde offers motifs of colonial architecture, tropical beaches, and Atlantic rainforest. Information on professional content and visual storytelling for the region is available on the page for collaboration.