The best way to plan an ideal week on Brazil’s Costa Verde

Between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo lies the Costa Verde, or Green Coast, a ribbon of untamed Atlantic rainforest, time-forgotten seashores and historic cities whose Portuguese-era structure ranks among the many prettiest in Brazil. The Costa Verde is the nice, inexperienced lung of the nation’s southeastern coast, and the drive itself is diversified — at instances snaking inland between mist-hugged mountains, at others breaking by way of the bushes to disclose quiet bays with fishing boats. This is the way to spend six days exploring its highlights.

Day 1: Mangaratiba

A cluster of vibrant homes main right down to Praia do Saco — an arc of golden sand hemmed in by emerald mountains — the quiet coastal city of Mangaratiba is simply one-and-a-half-hour’s drive west of central Rio however feels a world away. Before you get there, you’ll drive round a headland fringed with much more seashores — Praia Brava, Praia de Apara and Praia de Santo Antônio. Once you get to city, take a look at native establishment Quiosque do Luiz, a kiosk on the seashore serving seafood feasts similar to bobó de camarão (shrimp stew with manioc and coconut milk) and ostra ao bafo (steamed oysters with cachaça and lemon).

Don’t miss: The ruins of Praia do Saco, what stays of the Portuguese colonial settlement.

Day 2: Ilha Grande

An hour’s drive west of Mangaratiba lies Angra dos Reis, a sweeping bay that’s dwelling to 365 islands. By far the most important and finest identified of those is Ilha Grande, a forested idyll dwelling to howler monkeys and hummingbirds. A day journey right here is a well-liked choice, with the ferry from Angra dos Reis port taking half-hour.

On the island is Lopes Mendes, an enormous arc of forest-backed sand usually listed as amongst Brazil’s most stunning seashores. To attain it, take a 40-minute schooner shuttle from Ilha Grande’s principal port, Vila do Abraão, to Praia do Pouso, from the place it’s a 20-minute stroll away. Alternatively, hike the paths round Vila do Abraão, searching for marmosets within the bushes.

Don’t miss: Snorkelling on the sheltered lagoon of Lagoa Azul.

(10 must-do experiences in Brazil.)

Day 3: Serra da Bocaina

A brief distance west of Angra dos Reis lies the japanese fringe of Serra da Bocaina National Park, a mountainous wilderness smothered in Atlantic Forest. This is a spot for climbing, watching spider monkeys and swimming beneath the waterfalls — such because the Cachoeira Chapéu do Sol ou Joelão — that line the tributaries of the Mambucaba River. The waterway runs by way of the forest to the city of Mambucaba, your spot for a seafood dinner in one of many seashore bars. The space is the house of cachaça, Brazil’s nationwide spirit and the lively ingredient within the caipirinha cocktail.

Don’t miss: Cachoeira de Melancia, a fantastic jungle waterfall.

Day 4: Paraty

The crown jewel of the Costa Verde is Paraty, a beautiful city of low-slung Portuguese buildings midway between Rio and São Paulo. It’s price taking a day to discover the enticing church buildings right here — Paraty Matriz, Santa Rita, Rosario and Das Dores — and to pattern native cachaça and moqueca (fish stew) in eating places and bars. There are additionally a number of galleries on the town, some exhibiting images of Paraty’s cobbled streets flooded with seawater, planks laid out for pedestrians to stroll on. This inconvenience — an unintended results of tiny holes drilled within the seawall to alleviate tidal strain — nonetheless means the streets get an intensive clear each month, significantly in the course of the full moon.

Don’t miss: The view of Paraty and its bay from Forte Defensor Perpétuo, a museum set in a former fort surrounded by landscaped grounds.

Day 5: Ubatuba

As you cross the border into São Paulo state, take the time to cease at Ubatuba, thought-about the watersports capital of the Costa Verde. Itamambuca Beach is a famed surf vacation spot due its dependable waves, whereas standup paddleboarding is a enjoyable choice for non-surfers. Calmer Félix Beach, in the meantime, is a beautiful place to do nothing aside from sip on a coconut. Efforts are additionally being made in Ubatuba to guard the marine atmosphere — take a look at the Tamar Project, which works to rehabilitate injured and rescued turtles.

Don’t miss: Farol do Cruzeiro lighthouse, a photogenic sundown spot.

Day 6: Ilhabela

The last swathe of wilderness, earlier than the skyscrapers of São Paulo loom into view, lies offshore on the island of Ilhabela. Park up in São Sebastião, a 90-minute drive from Ubatuba, and board the 15-minute ferry to the island. Here, the tiled rooftops of Ilhabela metropolis give solution to mountains coated in Atlantic forest. Hike to Cachoeira da Toca, a waterfall with a swimming gap and adjoining cachaça distillery, and take a 4WD tour to Praia De Castelhanos, a seashore on the island’s east coast.

Don’t miss: The distant sands of Praia do Jabaquara, bookended by river swimming pools.

(This Brazilian savannah may quickly offer jaguar excursions to rival the Pantanal.)