The Paraty Don't Start Till I Walk In

Paraty actually pronounced parachee, is a small town known for its cobbled streets, perfect for excursions and lazy days on the beach. It is so chilled out here that you can't help but feel relaxed. 

Schooner Boat Trip 

This day out was again included within the pass that we have whilst we are here. However, there are several day boat trips so if this us something you would be interested in I would recommend asking at your hostel or going across the pier and enquiring yourself. 

The company who organised our trip was called Paraty Tours and the boat itself, Netuno I. We visited two islands and two beaches, which we spent between 20 minutes and half an hour exploring, snorkelling, swimming etc. The views from the boat were amazing and it is such a good way to spend a hot day because you can easily cover up in the shade but you have the coolness of the water at every stop. I would advise bringing a lot of sun cream, moisturiser for both your face and body, aswell as lip balm. 

 We brought some snacks but ordered a fish dish with a prawn sauce accompanied by salad, rice and potatoes to share between us. I would recommend ordering a meal rather than the snacks because the sake of $R5 you get so much more. Be aware that a 10% service charge is added on to the price so bear this in mind whilst ordering. 

Out in Paraty 

After meeting some people at our Hostel we decided to go for a few drinks. Due to Paraty being a small town it is exactly known for its night life however there are few interesting places to go. 

Our first stop was Geko bar. This bar is on the beach and linked to the Geko hostel. Their caipirinhas are $R12 but there isn't a service charge. Drinks are strong and the atmosphere chilled, there is normally some sort of live music on the beach at night aswell. 

We then went on a wander around the town and stumbled across La Gamboa. This is a samba bar where drinks are a little bit more expensive but you get the treat of seeing some great dancing. Honestly, it will just make you jealous that you can't dance like that...well it did me!

From here we went to the main bar street which is the road opposite to the river. Bars here are pretty similar and often double up as a restaurant but be careful as food here is pricey. Caipirinhas here were $R10 but there was a service charge. However, when we mentioned that our drinks tasted weak, they took them all back and added even more cachaça!

  

All in all, a good night!   

Praia de Pontal 

The weather we had in Paraty was a bit hit and miss with it swapping between heavy rain showers to glorious sunshine in the space of an hour. Due to this, we often visited the beach near our hostel so we could avoid the storms if needed. The beach itself is not the most beautiful in the world but it still has a nice view, and never felt crowded despite being quite small. If you aren't a sun lover or you just want a bit of shade there are restaurant/bars across the beach in which you can lose yourself in the shade. 

 Love Imogen xoxo

Paraty Hostel Review

PARATY BEACH HOSTEL

We wanted to get a hostel by the beach with good wifi so from the reviews on Hostelworld this place looked perfect. 

Facilities 

Paraty Beach Hostel has two nice outside areas to chill, one next to reception where breakfast is served and another through the first doors which is equipped with tables, chairs, hammocks and a kitchenette which you can use freely. There's also an inside room to chill which has laptops which you can use. 

Wifi sometimes works here and sometimes doesn't but the computers normally always have a good signal if you are desperate to check something etc. 

Breakfast 

Breakfast was included within the price and included an assortment of fruit, bread rolls,cake (although a little bit dry), fruit juice, a mixture of sausage and onion and an assortment of jams and spreads. I have to say I could really get used to eating breakfast by the beach!

Showers/Toilets 

There were gender specific and mixed toilets and showers, which were cleaned daily. If you do stay here I would advise using the girls one which inside the main building and the one opposite the 12 bed dorm. The shower themselves have good pressure and temperature. 

Staff 

The staff here were the friendliest so far, Gus met us on arrival and gave us a map of where everything was and made us feel really welcome. He even offered us another room for additional privacy. The other guy who works there was also really friendly. Although not a member of staff there is a 6 month old golden retriever who is always around the place. The dog is so well trained and will not come inside or bear the dorms although will try beg for food! When we left, Gus also called us a taxi and helped us with our bags- something we really appreciated. 

Value for Money 

This hostel cost around £7 per night which again is a decent price especially because breakfast is included. 

Dorms 

We were in a room of 20, however the room was never completely full and didn't feel too crowded either. There were mosquito nets on the beds and also a fan in our room. I would advise trying to avoid the 12 bed because the air con didn't seem to work and there were no mosquito nets either. Lockers were provided, this time in the corridor outside our room, again you need your own lock.

Location 

Paraty is not very big so being in a bad location is quite hard. We were right next to the beach, a 5 minute walk if that from the centre and a 15 minute walk from the main supermarket and bus station. We got a taxi to the bus station because we didn't want to make the walk in the mid day sun with our large backpacks, this only cost the set rate of  $R20.

OVERALL

I would definitely recommend staying here if you are in Paraty because it is priced well, includes breakfast, has a great staff and I really enjoyed it!

Imogen xoxo

The Smallest Big Island

A little bit of background information on Ihla Grande. Despite the name, the island is actually quite small. It is very tranquil, there are no roads or cars and no cash points on the island, so be sure to have cash before you come or else you are going to be stuck. Furthermore, the Internet connection on the island is poor to say the least so if you need to sort transfers etc out ensure you do this before or have a plan B to contact the necessary people. 

Ultimately, this place is a little piece of paradise, perfect if you have just been in the hustle and bustle of Rio. 

The Journey 

So to get to Ihla Grande from Rio, you need to get a public bus or shuttle bus to the town of Jacareí. The hop off hop on bamba pass we have for the trip means all travel is included so the boat and bus is all taken care of, but if you are going it alone I would recommend booking in advance to guarantee you have a boat before travelling. The company we used was called easy transfer brazil so check out their website to see what they have to offer. 

The view once you get off the bus is phenomenal as you can see below. 

 The boat takes about an hour and I would recommend going on the top of the boat however make sure you are wearing lots of sun cream because it's so easy to burn up there. 

The boats often stop in two different ports, I would recommend looking at this to decide which pousada/hostel you stay in because you don't want to be walking for ages especially because there are no cars so this would mean a walk across the beach. In normal circumstances a walk across the beach sounds like a dream but when you are faced with a massive backpack/suitcase it slowly becomes a nightmare. Believe me, I have seen it happen!

Praia Julia

The island itself has several beaches, you can really take your pick. We often went to this one because it was round the corner from our hostel, was never crowded and you did not have to treck to get to it. As always, I left valuables back at the hostel...better to be safe rather than sorry! So again, will have to wait for the disposables to really appreciate the beauty of this beach!

Umbrella Restaurant 

The main restaurants here are located on the main beach front near the ports. We stopped at this restaurant which I have named the umberella restaurant because they use umberellas as lights, giving the restaurant a unique feel and stand out. Marketing as its best if I do say so myself! 

Seats are on the beach, just adding to that peaceful vibe that Ilha Grande effortlessly has. As we sat, we were given mosquito repellant cream which I thought as a nice touch especially because the Mosquitos have taken a real fancy to me! 

We ordered the seafood risotto to share and of course a couple of caipirinhas- because when in Brazil! The seafood risotto was amazing, just the right amount of saltiness and so many types of seafood; octopus, mussels, prawns and much more. 

The only downside to this place is not only do they charge a 10% service charge but also R$5 each for live music. As we were not informed of the music charge they did actually take this off for us when we inquired what it was. All in all, a really good night with really good food!

Che Lagarto Night Fun 

Due to Ilha Grande being a small island, nightlife is not a massive priority here. Che Lagarto however has a good bar which keeps beers and caipirinhas flowing all night long. You also don't necessarily have to be a guest here to enjoy. It is a great way to integrate with other travellers, swap stories and you are bound to have lots of fun. So definitely get involved! 

A Few Snaps of the View 

I couldn't let this blog post end without showing you the real beauty of Ihla Grande and highlight why it is definitely a must if you are planning a trip to Brazil. 

Love Imogen xoxo