Paraty's Centro Histórico

The town center is a historical monument, sporting architecture from Brazil’s colonial period. Today, the center is a well-preserved tourist area, full of good restaurants, bars, and shops with local handicrafts, souvenirs, clothes, and other items. You can walk around the streets of the town in an hour or two, but be sure to wear tennis shoes or other walking shoes as the stone streets are difficult to navigate. In the rainy season, the streets fill with water and people are forced to walk along the sides. The center is usually full of street vendors, artists, and performing groups. The main praça features the town’s principal church and many sidewalk cafés. Past the praça is the bridge that leads to the closest beach (Pontal) and, slightly farther up the road, to the Jabaquara beach. There are many pousadas near these beaches.