Parati Transportation

We went to Paraty from Rio with Paraty Tours on a regular transfer - it took 7 hours door to door each way and cost us 700 real for 2 of us (350 each). 500 reals was to get to Paraty and then anoth 100 reals each way for a taxi to out hotel. The pick ups took around 1 hour - I would say a private transfer to the centre of Paraty may take 5 hours and to our hotel (30 mins out) 5.5 hours - a regular 6.5 hours or 7 hours. The regular transfer was in a minibus and seemed expensive for what it was. It made one stop at a service station half way on both trips. On the way down the driver kept closing his eyes but we arrived safely. When we got to Paraty we got in our prepaid taxi to the hotel (they do free drop offs at central Paraty hotels) he then asked to be paid again so we weren't too impressed by that. The taxi driver offered to take us back for 400 reals door to door but we'ld already booked a regular transfer back otherwise we would have booked him back. Its OK but if you can afford it a taxi / private transfer would be much better. Didn't seem to be too many options for getting to Paraty but Paraty is lovely so well worth making the effort. Think there is also a regular coach down which is much cheaper.

Paraty is well connected with all nearby towns and big cities.
It is midway between Rio and Sao Paulo but you need 4+ hours by bus to reach it from Rio and 6 from Sao Paulo..
In Rio go to the Central Bus Station (Rodoviaria Novo Rio) and take a bus for Paraty run by the Empresa Costa Verde (21) 22335295
In Sao Paulo you go to Tiete Bus Station and get on a bus of the Empresa Reunidas Paulista (03002103000). The fares are about 30R for a standard bus and 40R for an executivo.
There are several a day. If you are arriving by plain you just have to take a bus or a taxi to the Central Bus Station in Rio, or Tiete Bus Station in Sao Paulo .
Buses from Paraty take take 1 hour to go to Trindade and cost 2,50R
If you are heading towards Ilha Grande you have to take a bus to Angra dos Reis ( about 2 hours) ( 7,80R)and then a boat to the island( about 1,5-2 hours)

There are four buses daily from Sao Paulo to Paraty. The journey takes 6 hours and costs 37 RS (December 2007). The bus makes several short stops for drink and snack and one of 20-30 minutes for lunch.

Buses leave from Terminal Rodoviaria Tiete (www.passagem-em-domicilio.com.br), phone number 011 3235 0322. It is easy to reach by metro (Tiete metro station). The company that runs to Paraty is

Reunidas
www.reunidaspaulista.com.br
phone number: 030 0210 3000

Timetable: 08.00, 12:15, 16:00 (except on Sunday), 22:00

To get from Sao Paulo to Paraty by car, there are three possibilities:

- highway Ayrton Senna, following by Mogi-Bertioga till BR 101 Rio Santos (338 km)
- highway Ayrton Senna, following highway Carvalho Pinto, then highway of Tamoios till BR 1010 Rio Santos (285 km)
- highway Ayrton Senna, following highway Carvalho Pinto till Taubate and take highway Osvaldo Cruz till BR 1010 Rio Santos (293 km)

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Buses from Rio to Paraty go along Costa Verde (260 km). The journey takes about four hours and costs 44 RS (December 2007). On the way you can observe beautiful scenery with lush vegetation of Atlantic Rainforest. The bus makes several short stops.

Buses leave from Terminal Rodoviaria Novo Rio (www.novorio.com.br) and the company is

Costa Verde
www.costaverdetransportes.com.br
phone number: 021 2573 1484

Timetable: 06:00, 07:40, 09:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 19:30, 21:00

There are also two companies that offer daily van transport between Rio and Paraty.

Paraty Tours
www.paratytours.com.br
phone number: 024 3371 1307
e-mail: paratytours@paratytours.com.br

Alcance Tourismo
www.alcanceparaty.tur.br
phone number: 024 3371 6442
e-mail: alcanceparaty@uol.com.br

To get from Rio to Praty by car, you take highway BR 101 - Rio Santos (236 km)

Parati is about four hours’ driving south of Rio de Janeiro. We had pre-booked a transfer by minibus before leaving home and this worked very smoothly. We were picked up from our Rio hotel in the late morning and enjoyed the drive south along the “Green Coast” very much. The scenery is pretty for the most part – lots of lush green hills and little off-shore islands, as well as the bigger tropical island of Ilha Grande. We were the only passengers and our driver was happy to stop on one occasion for us to take a photo, and again at a rest area for a cold drink. For the rest of the time he played Brazilian music on the van’s cassette player, including the ubiquitous ”Girl from Ipanema”.

Alternatively Parati is easily accessible by bus. I’ve found two bus companies mentioned on the internet that appear to have daily departures: Costa Verde and Normandy. Both depart from the main bus station in Rio (Novo Rio). The trip takes approximately 4 hours and costs R$30 (US$9.90).

Parati is located about 263 km from Rio de Janeiro. The best way to get there is by renting a car and taking the BR-101. It will also make it easier for you to go round Parati and its wonderful surroundings. Another way to get there is by bus from Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo.

Also, Parati has beautiful surroundings, beaches, waterfalls, landscapes. If you have a car you will be able to enjoy this piece of paradise at its best.

If you want to rent a car while in Parati, you can contact Paraty Tours and they will arrange that for you.

A comfortable 4- 41/2 hour bus ride from main bus station in Rio. Much cheaper than taking a tour. Get your tickets abut 1/2 hour before you leave or if you are like I am you might want to go to the bus station and buy them ahead of time. You can also reserve the seat that you would like. The bus makes several short stops along the way and with a 15-20 minute lunch stop. But you can also bring your own snacks, drinks.

It can get cold from the air-con so bring a light sweater etc.

COMPANY : COSTA VERDE
RIO TO PARATY : 4.15 HS - 5.30 HS - 7.00 HS - 8.30 HS - 11.00 HS - 14.00 HS - 16.00 HS - 19.30 HS - 22.00 HS
TIME DEPARTURE : PARATY TO RIO : 3.00 HS - 5.20 HS - 7.20 HS - 9.00 HS - 10.30 HS - 11.30 HS - 13.20 HS - 16.20 HS - 18.30 HS - 21.15 HS

Everything happens in paraty at the historic center... and it is tiny! Just about 20 blocks or so. Car and motos are not allowed in there. So, you can only circule by food, bikes or horses.
The reason this happens is to preserve the stone streets build by slaves in 1820.
Don't be lazy and walk around a bit. It is worth it.