Most travelers reach Paraty by flying into Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo, then continuing by road along the BR-101 coastal highway.

From Rio de Janeiro (GIG or SDU), expect a scenic drive of roughly 250 km to Paraty, or use intercity buses that run the Rio to Paraty corridor.
From Sao Paulo (GRU or CGH), plan on roughly 275 km by road, typically via the coast or a mixed inland-plus-coast route.
Paraty has small airfields for private aviation, but there are no reliable scheduled commercial flights into town.

If you are driving, build buffer time for holiday traffic and rain.

Most travelers reach Paraty by flying into Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo, then continuing by road along the BR-101 coastal highway.

From Rio de Janeiro (GIG or SDU), expect a scenic drive of roughly 250 km to Paraty, or use intercity buses that run the Rio to Paraty corridor.
From Sao Paulo (GRU or CGH), plan on roughly 275 km by road, typically via the coast or a mixed inland-plus-coast route.
Paraty has small airfields for private aviation, but there are no reliable scheduled commercial flights into town.

If you are driving, build buffer time for holiday traffic and rain.

Convenient domestic airport close to central Rio. Useful if you are connecting from another Brazilian city before continuing to Paraty.

Major international gateway for Sao Paulo with the widest range of long-haul flights. Continue by road to Paraty.

Paraty is easy to navigate once you arrive, but your best transport plan depends on your mix of town, beaches, and dives.

In town: the Centro Historico is best on foot. Many streets are cobblestone and some areas flood at high tide.
To beaches and trailheads: use local buses or vans to Trindade and nearby beaches, or rent a car if you want early starts and flexibility.
On the water: most snorkeling and diving is by boat. For private beach access, hire a licensed boat taxi at the pier.
Parking: if you stay inside or near the historic core, ask your pousada about parking before you arrive.

Brazil entry rules depend on nationality and can change.

Many visitors enter Brazil visa-free for tourism, but some nationalities must apply for a visa or eVisa in advance.
If you need an eVisa, use the official Brazil eVisa portal and apply early so you have time for any document requests.
Carry a passport with sufficient validity for your trip and keep a digital copy stored securely.
Health guidance can include routine vaccines plus region-specific recommendations (for example, yellow fever for parts of Brazil). Check official travel health advice for your itinerary.

Always confirm requirements with an official government source before departure.

Most visitors travel with normal airline baggage and rent bulky dive gear locally.

Dive gear: Paraty dive centers typically provide tanks, weights, and full rental kits. Confirm availability of sizes and whether nitrox is offered if that matters to you.
Protection from rain: in wet months, use dry bags for regs, computers, and cameras during transfers.
Drying space: many pousadas have limited space, so pack a lightweight gear line and quick-dry towel.
Batteries and charging: bring a Brazil-compatible plug adapter (Type N is standard) and a surge-protected power strip for lights and camera chargers.
Reef etiquette: avoid touching reef, and do not use gloves for grabbing reef structure.

Cards are widely accepted in Paraty hotels and restaurants, but cash is useful for beach kiosks, small tour operators, and taxis.

ATMs are available in town, but outages happen. Withdraw before busy weekends and carry a backup card stored separately.

Bring a Type N adapter and use dual-voltage chargers for camera and dive-light batteries.

Communications

Mobile coverage is decent around town, but it can drop in rainforest valleys and on remote beaches.

Language

Portuguese is the primary language. In tourism businesses you will often find basic English, but not everywhere.

Learn a few essentials (hello, thank you, how much) to smooth logistics with drivers and boat crews.

Insurance

Carry travel medical insurance that covers adventure activities, plus dive accident coverage for scuba and freediving.

If you dive multiple days, prioritize coverage that includes hyperbaric treatment and medical evacuation coordination.
Keep policy numbers offline (printed or saved) in case your phone has no signal.

Packing list

Paraty weather can flip between sun and sudden rain.

For water time:

Wetsuit: many divers are comfortable in 3mm in warmer months; consider 5mm or layering for cooler winter water.
SMB or snorkel buoy for boat traffic areas.
Reef-safe sunscreen, hat, and rashguard for long boat days.

For topside:

Paraty

Logistics