Rio de Janeiro & the Costa Verde

8 days Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Couples Moderate Ocean Adventure Hiking

Posted on March 11, 2024

Our motives in traveling to Rio and the Costa Verde were to enjoy some beach vibes and colonial charm. Plus, the opportunity to see famous harbor of Rio de Janeiro and its world-famous beaches was a strong incentive as well.

Trip Recap

Days 1 to 4: Our journey in Rio de Janeiro was a perfect blend of beach and adventure.
Days 5 to 7: Exploring Ilha Grande's secluded bays and charming hamlet was pure paradise.
Day 8: Exploring Paraty's charm by foot and boat was the perfect vacation finale.

Highlights

While Rio was awesome, my favorite highlights were the chilled vibe of Ilha Grande, where we dined on the beach and walked everywhere we needed to go.
Most of all I loved the historic center of Paraty, with its festive vibe, authentic architecture, and gorgeous setting. I've traveled all over the world and I can honestly say this is one of my all-time favorite places.

Days 1 to 4

Our trip started and ended in Rio de Janeiro. We based ourselves right near the spot where Copacabana and Ipanema Beaches converge, giving us easy access to some of the best attractions the city has to offer.

We also took a trip up Sugarloaf Mountain for spectacular views of the city, and even took in the lovely Botanical Gardens and its tropical flora and fauna.

Ipanema Beach

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Copacabana Beach

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Sugarloaf Mountain - Urca, Rio de Janeiro - State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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Days 5 to 7

After a few days in Rio we took a bus to Concecao de Jacerei - a launching point for boat transfers to idyllic Ilha Grande. There we spend a few days in a lovely pousada, enjoying the secluded bays and charming pedestrian-only hamlet of Abraao. A highlight was visiting Praia Lopes Mendes - a world-class beach on the Atlantic shore.

Abraao Beach

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Lopes Mendes Beach

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Day 8

The last stop on our itinerary was the historic town of Paraty. Here we wandered its cobblestone streets and whitewashed houses trimmed in color. Best of all was a schooner trip to the many islets in Paraty Bay for some fun in the sun in a natural paradise setting.

Paraty Bay

Must Do

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Anything you would add or do differently?

When planning this trip, I underestimated all there was to see and do in Rio de Janeiro itself. If I went back, I'd take a trip up Corcovado and reserve a little more time for the Ipanema/Leblon area.

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