Parati, Brazil - port trip report

(I am posting here because this port is not listed in the port review section.)

This is not much to do in the city center while on a 1 day cruise stop. This was a former gold mining town that almost became a ghost town. They are trying to revive it as a tourist destination. It seems the best activity to do here is to take a boat to snorkeling or to a beach.

You will read that Parati has cobble stone streets. The streets are actually cobbled together with large stones (not cobble stones) and the walking is unsteady. If you have mobility limitations this may not be a good place for you.

I hope you find this helpful!

I received a request to comment on the water temperature. I visited in December 2012. I did not swim at this port stop so I don't have first hand knowledge. Based upon swimming at other nearby port stops I can say that the water is NOT Carribbean warm.

can you give details of how close the ship moors to the colonial town and are the schooners walkable from the cruise ship?

It's a tender port. The schooners are easy to get to.

many thanks.

How far is it from the tender drop off to the town and schooners please. MY husband has mobility problems .

I forgot mention in my original post that the harbor is very shallow so the ships need to moor farther out than most ports. The tender ride was approximately 30 minutes. The scenary is beautiful on the ride so time quickly passes.

The tender dock is is approximately 50 yards. (Maybe the length of 1/2 a US football field.) After that their is a smooth, dirt path where some vendors set up booths with trinkets for sale.

I do recall that the dock had small (1/2 inch) gaps between the boards. The dock boards are not touching each other.

If your husband has a walker or a cane, it could be an issue with the legs getting caught in between the boards. A wheelchair would be ok.

(I did arrive at multiple tender stops on this cruise so there is a possibility my recolection of the small gaps in the tendor dock is wrong. I may have mixed it up with another port but I don't think so.)

I would suggest the following:

1. Check with the staff on your ship. If they have been to this port prior they can advise you. On my cruise this was the first time this ship was in Parati so no one had advice. The port was new to all of us.

2. I would not suggest walking around the town with mobility issues. The large stone streets are not stable for walking.

3. The town did have horse drawn carriage rides. If you could get to the end of the dock, you could take one of these rides around the town.

4. At a minimum I would take the tender to the dock. The ride is beautiful.

Have fun!

One more comment....

Boats are docked along the tender dock itself. If your schooner is docked along the tender dock the walk could be quite short. Maybe your vendor or the ships shore excursions can advise you.

If is docked on the tender dock and the mobility issue requires a walker or cane, I would go for it. You can just take your time and be sure that the walker legs/cane are safely planted each time before moving forward. Just take it slow.

I have attached some photos to help you. One is of the streets so you can judge for yourself. One is Parati as seen from the approaching tender. One is of the beautiful scenary viewed from the tender.

thanks Coldwater, helpful info.

we will probably take the schooner tour organised by the ship and walk around the town after .

And thanks (if that is indeed you) for passing on the good info garnered here to the folks on the other forum.

Just to add to the information. We were recently there on a Sunday . Took the schooner tour to a beach and then to two stops for snorkeling. Beach time was only an hour. It was not easy to get on and off schooner

Went into town in afternoon. Tender ride is 30 minutes. Few shops were open. Streets were difficult to walk

Thanks for the report!

Coldweather - Found this one, thanks. Think I will pass on Parati and stay on ship.

Marlinton--

Not clear if you have mobility issues that are worrying you or other, but Paraty is the most charming and architecturally/historically significant ports of those reviewed in Coldweather's multiple posts. Speaking as someone who has seen a great deal of Brazil, it would be a shame not to make considerable effort to see this lovely town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. I do hope you enjoy your stops in Brazil.

Manininha82 - I was just going by some previous comments I had read but now will reconsider after seeing your post. Thank you. Would we be able to see everything important on our own or do we need to take the ship excursion?

Paraty is a relatively small village. You could easily walk around on your own and get a drink and something to eat. Some people also choose to take a motorized schooner ride, but since you are tendering in, you might see enough scenery. Enjoy.