Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
with Cariocas and people from
the neighboring state of Minas
Gerais, who come for the
beaches, surfing, snorkeling,
and scuba diving just to the
south of the town. Although
Cabo Frio has rather uninspiring
architecture, it is packed with
numerous hotels, shops, and
restaurants. d Map C2
A Day in Paraty
Morning
Stay in the historical
center and after an early
start, walk down to the
long quay. The sun rising
behind the sleeping town
and the forest-covered
hills of the Mata Altântica
is a magnificent sight.
Have breakfast in one of
the little cafés near the
quay before chartering a
boat for a half-day cruise
around the bay. This will
include a snorkeling stop
at one of the small islands
nearby as well as visits to
beaches. Request a lunch
stop at the popular
Catimbaú (see p99)
restaurant, which is run
by a local fisherman.
Afternoon
Explore the town in the
early afternoon. Maps are
available from the tourist
office at the gateway to
the historic center. It is
hard to get lost as the
center is only five streets
deep and eight wide. All
the sights can be visited in
three or four hours. There
are several Baroque
churches, the most
interesting of which is
the Nossa Senhora do
Rosário e São Benedito ,
the church of the African
slaves, which is on Rua do
Comércio. It is plain but
has a special atmosphere.
It is also worth visiting the
town's museum, which
focuses on the gold rush.
Boats moored at Paraty quay
( Paraty
This colonial town situated
152 miles (245 km) southwest of
Rio city grew rich on gold that
was transported along the Camino
d'Ouro trail from neighboring
Minas Gerais in the 18th century.
The historic center, which was
declared a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 1958, is filled
with streets of whitewashed
Portuguese houses and Baroque
churches. There are also many
beaches nearby. d Map A3
) Ilha Grande
Evening
In the evening, dine in
one of the town's many
excellent restaurants.
Follow it with a night out
at the adult puppet theater
in the Teatro Espaço on
Rua Dona Geralda, whose
touching, tragi-comic
shows have toured Europe
and the USA.
There are no roads on this
forested island just south of Rio
city, and facilities are limited. How-
ever, the beaches and trekking
are breathtaking. Ferries and
chartered fishing boats leave for
the island's capital, Abraão , from
the port town of Angra dos Reis,
which is well-connected to Rio de
Janeiro by a bus service. d Map A2
97
Every winter Paraty hosts the Festa Literária Internacional de
Paraty (see p32) , an internationally renowned literary festival.
 
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