paraty is located about 150 miles west of rio de janeiro, near angra dos reis and ilha grande, part of the beautiful rio's 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 visitors alike.

it 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 - automobiles are forbidden to enter the town center so as to protect the cobblestone streets, historical sites and overall serenity that pervades the center of paraty.