home to spectacular nature and dozens of beaches, paraty is located about 150 miles west of rio de janeiro, near angra dos reisand ilha grande- part of rio's gorgeous costa verde region.

with origins in the dawn of the seventeenth century, the town has been preserved in all of its colonial splendor and has become very popular among history buffs, beach bums, backpackers and tourists alike.

paraty is a candidate to become a unesco world heritage site, and many of its period buildings have been converted into cozy shops, bars, restaurants and bed-and-breakfasts, called 'pousadas' in portuguese.