Rio to Sao Paulo

We collect you in Rio de Janeiro with our private guide and drive for about three hours to Angra dos Reis along a winding mountain road, with sweeping views of valleys and the Atlantic. On arrival at the marina, we board a motorboat and join a small‑group tour for around six hours of island‑hopping among Angra’s 365 islands and more than 2,000 beaches.

We visit key spots around Ilha Grande, with stops to swim in clear turquoise waters, snorkel among colourful fish and enjoy both wild and lively beaches. There is time for photos and unhurried exploration, and you can choose to buy snacks or lunch along the way and pick up a small souvenir. Ilha Grande is one of Brazil’s great diving areas, known for clean, crystalline waters and one of the largest concentrations of shipwrecks in the world – a legacy of historic clashes between pirates and corsairs. We call at Blue Lagoon, a postcard‑perfect natural pool that is excellent for snorkelling, where small fish are often fed, and continue to Lagoa Verde, celebrated for its calm, transparent green waters. Japariz Beach is a popular break for lunch and a little shopping, home to a small community of fishermen and traders with close ties to the mainland. From here, you can also take about 15 minutes to visit nearby Funil Beach, known for its clear, lake‑like waters.

Further stops may include Praia da Feiticeira, a scenic beach framed by Atlantic Forest, and Praia do Amor, where a local tradition says couples who kiss on the sand will never be apart. After a full day on the water, we return to shore.

From Angra to Paraty, the stretch passes through a large uninhabited area, with mountains and preserved forests. At first glance, it seems that time stopped in Paraty, a small town squeezed between the mountains and the sea that had its peak in the Gold Cycle. The Historic Center preserved its colonial mansions, churches from the 18th and 19th centuries and streets paved by slaves where car traffic is prohibited.

Today can be spent touring around in the historic city that has a myriad of activities to do and things to see. Walk around the alleys to see a pulsating, charming city, with people, accents and tastes from all over the world, combining tradition and modernity. It pays to save part of your day just getting to know Paraty on a walking tour learning secrets, curiosities and little-known places in a walking tour through the charming Historic Center. Listed by the National Historical Heritage Institute, the Historic Center of Paraty was built between the 17th and 19th centuries. But still, you will find colonial houses and churches, mostly in good conservation. Many of the townhouses are occupied by bars, restaurants, inns and craft shops. We can easily spend many hours strolling through the Historic Center, exploring all it has to offer.

Serra da Bocaina National Park imposes itself as a grandiose preserved paradise extending from mountains to beaches. Ecotourism in the Park takes advantage of the most diverse natural attractions ranging from several waterfalls to peaks and viewpoints. That makes you have a unique experience of contact with nature. The idea is that you enjoy a walking tour in charming Historic Center in the morning and hike to reach one of the beautiful waterfalls in the park in the afternoon. In the evening, Paraty gets even more charming. The lights of the Historic Center give an air of old times and turn the night walk into one of the best moments for tourists. It is irresistible to attend the delicious restaurants, sit at the tables on the sidewalk and enjoy life pass calmly.

After taking advantage of the historic center's elaborate menus, why not sit in one of the bars, try a local cachaca and have fun listening to live music? In Paraty, you can quietly extend your dinner and continue enjoying the night.

Spend the day in Ubatuba, an area densely occupied on the roadside beaches, and becomes more rustic and wild towards the sea. The beaches of Ubatuba are spread over 100 kilometers, the attractions appear in the form of inlets and bays of green and blue waters, framed always by the dense vegetation. There are dozens of waterfalls, islands for diving, and many trails. Along the Serra do Mar State Park there are hiking options that cover deserted beaches, cliffs, rivers and ruins, always surrounded by the Atlantic forest. Seafood restaurants are all around the downtown having as highlight the traditional recipe of fish with banana, called Azul-Marinho.

You can also pay a visit to the TAMAR project, which is an ONG that aims to preserve and manage five species of sea turtles that occur in Brazil, all endangered. The TAMAR in Ubatuba has a complete infrastructure for environmental education and leisure, including tanks and aquariums.

You can choose to take on one the most incredible hikes on the North Coast of Sao Paulo, called “Seven Beaches trail” (Travessia das Sete Praias) that goes along the coast in a rich area of native Atlantic Forest revealing deserted beaches and sceneries with breathtaking viewpoints. The hike includes a stop to enjoy the sea and the amazing view of Cedro Sul beach, considered one of the 10 most beautiful and peaceful beaches in Brazil.

After the hike, enjoy the day at the beach eating appetizers, freshly prepared seafood and having delicious caipirinhas. Head out for swims in the river or the sea. Ask the guide for the beach’s hidden spots like trails to waterfalls, viewpoints and other nearby isolated beaches. Get to know the local traditional community of hospitable fishermen that live there for generations. 

Today is designed to be spent in the city of Sao Sebastiao, which is a popular spot on weekends and holidays for locals and beach-goers. Explore its neighborhoods with commercial centers and urban beaches. Each beach has its own life, with inns, bars, restaurants, and shops. Despite the buzz around it, Sao Sebastiao preserves historic center, taken over by nice colonial houses and chapels that maintain the simple original layout of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Get ready to spend a relaxing day on a popular busy sandy beach near snack bars and restaurants having appetizers and sipping drinks beachfront. Juquehy beach, in the city of Sao Sebastiao, has a long strip of clear soft sand, almost 4 km long with an excellent infrastructure. It brings together all the good in one place: wonderful beach, magnificent sunsets, hikes, stand-up paddles, kayaks, surfboards, nearby river, good waves for surfing, or calm waters on the other end to enjoy with kids. In addition, it is one of the busiest beaches in the region, with two super charming mini-malls and excellent restaurants.

The last leg from Sao Sebastiao to Sao Paulo is marked by the grandiose mountain range. As Sao Paulo is 760 meters above sea level, in order to get to it, highways get through this astonishing mountain range that extends for the south and southeast coast of Brazil.

In the evening, the tour ends in the largest city in the southern hemisphere, Sao Paulo.