How to Get to Paraty from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo

Paraty sits on the BR-101 (the Rio–Santos), the Costa Verde highway that links Rio de Janeiro to São Paulo along the coast. There's no commercial airport in town, so you always arrive overland — and the drive, sea on one side and Atlantic forest on the other, is part of the trip.

From Rio de Janeiro

It's about 250 km, or 4 to 4.5 hours by car along the coast. The Costa Verde bus line runs direct coaches from Rio's main station (Novo Rio) to Paraty several times a day. Private and shared transfers are common too, taking the same time with more comfort.

From São Paulo

From São Paulo it's about 300 km, or 5 to 6 hours, dropping down the mountains to the coast. There are direct buses from the Tietê terminal, though less frequent than Rio's. Many São Paulo travelers break the drive with a stop in Ubatuba, on the coast and about an hour short of Paraty.

Tips for the journey

• The highway has winding mountain stretches — pack for motion sickness if you're prone.
• Avoid leaving on Fridays and returning on holiday Sundays: the Rio–Santos jams up.
• The historic center is car-free; leave your vehicle in the lots at the entrance.
• Arrive in the afternoon and there's still time for a first walk through the center at dusk.