After the São Paulo City Marathon: Paraty

The Route: São Paulo → Tietê terminal → Paraty → São Paulo Logistics: Coach from the Tietê terminal. Confirm the operator, the journey time and the departures when you book, as schedules vary. Marathon Month: July Duration: 4 nights

São Paulo hotel ──(Metro)──> Tietê terminal ──(coach)──> Paraty
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                          Historic centre, harbour, boat trip towards Ilha Grande
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São Paulo ◄──(coach, day five)─────────────────────────────┘

Paraty is a Portuguese colonial port on the coast between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and its historic centre is on UNESCO's World Heritage list. The streets are paved with rounded stones laid long ago, and when the tide is high, water can come into some of them. This is a bad town for heels and a good one for people who have decided never to run again.

July in Paraty: July is winter and the driest part of the year on this coast. Days are mild and often sunny, evenings are cool, and the sea is cold. Rain can still arrive, so pack a light shell.

Getting There

Take the Metro to the Tietê terminal and board a coach to Paraty. Check the journey time, the operator and the last return coach when you buy the ticket. Start on the Monday morning, and avoid a tight onward connection on the way home.

The Days

Wear shoes with grip, because the cobbles are uneven and stiff legs catch on them. The historic centre is compact and almost entirely pedestrian, so a morning is enough to cover the churches, the harbour front and the main streets. Check each church's opening hours locally.

Boat trips leave the harbour towards the islands and beaches of the bay and, on longer days, towards Ilha Grande. Ask your pousada to recommend an operator, and check the sea conditions and prices before you book, since these change with the season. A boat day involves sitting, which is the correct activity for the second day after a marathon.

Spend the remaining days doing very little. Walk along the harbour, read, eat and sleep.

Where to Stay

Pousada Apple House Paraty is rated 4.9 on Tripadvisor.
Magnu's Pousada is rated 4.3.

Sandi Hotel, rated 4.4, is another option. Many pousadas are in or near the historic centre, so ask about walking distance and how the cobbles affect luggage.

Where to Eat

Paraty has a long list of restaurants for its size, with fish, Brazilian regional dishes and cachaça from nearby producers. Book dinner on the weekend. In a quiet midweek period, some places close on Mondays or Tuesdays, so check ahead.

Getting Home