Coastal towns

Búzios
About 180 km east of Rio is the ‘Costa do Sol' - the 'Sun Coast' - where the beautiful beaches attract tourists from all over the country. Búzios is situated on a peninsula that has no less than 17 pleasant beaches. Some are perfect for surfing, whilst others are idyllically peaceful. Búzios was once a simple fishing village, until it was discovered by film star Brigitte Bardot in the 1960s. Nowadays it's an ideal place for surfing, diving, fishing or simply relaxing on one of its beaches.

Ilha Grande
Ilha Grande is an exceptionally beautiful island and a protected nature reserve. Situated across from Angra dos Reis. Ilha Grande has all the ingredients for a perfect paradise; the magnificent colour of the water, little tropical islets, fishing villages, waterfalls, superb beaches and car-free streets.

Paraty
Paraty is a charming, well-preserved colonial town situated 280 km from Rio. It's one of Brazil's well-known historic tourist attractions. In the 18th century Paraty was the main port for shipping minerals to Europe, including gold, precious gems, fabrics and spices. The streets are paved with large flagstones, the colonial houses have pretty, wrought iron balconies and the harbour boasts an 18th century cannon. There are art galleries and crafts-studios, and religious festivals are held regularly.
Along the coast you'll find countless tropical islands and inland you'll be amazed by the magnificent backdrop of mountains with peaks as high as 1700 m. After exploring the town you can take a boat trip to one of the many islands to do a spot of swimming or to go snorkelling...absolute heaven!
If you go further inland there's the Serra da Bocaina National Park, near Minha, with spectacular waterfalls and tropical vegetation. It's a great location for going on hikes and the terrain is easy-going. You can also hire a mountain bike and explore the coastal area or the mountainous landscape inland. In the months of January and February, Paraty is alive and buzzing, particularly with Brazilian tourists from Rio or São Paulo, and the town's squares, streets and bars overflow with partying people.

Angra dos Reis
Just 170 km from Rio de Janeiro lies the city of Angra dos Reis which is named after the feast of the Epiphany (January 6th), the day on which it was founded. Angra used to be a coffee port and the city has remained a little drab to this day. However, the atmosphere is lively and there's an active nightlife around the harbour area, with plenty of outdoor cafés and bars. You can also get the boat from Angra to the island of Ilha Grande.

Ilha Bela
This island is, as the name says, beautiful! The natural surroundings are just as you would imagine them to be in Brazil: lushly green and with and abundance of flowers, palm trees, tropical fruit trees, amazing animals and a myriad of magnificent beaches.