How long should I stay in the Costa Verde?

We recommend spending three or more nights on the Costa Verde, ideally more when staying at two different locations. When combining Paraty and Buzios, we prefer to overnight in Rio de Janeiro to break up the six-hour drive.

Brazil's Costa Verde – Bespoke Itineraries

Tucked between lush Atlantic Forest and hemmed by emerald waters, Brazil‘s Costa Verde (Green Coast) boasts a string of charming beach towns. Threaded along this 325-mile route are nearly 400 idyllic islands and islets, and scores of deserted, pearlescent beaches tucked into protective bays.

Located within driving distance of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, the Costa Verde is an easy jaunt from Brazil’s two largest cities that doesn’t require getting on a plane (which is often times the case in a country the size of Brazil). You’ll find weekenders from both hubs in places such as Itaguai, Ilhabela, Caraguatatuba, Angra dos Reis, and Ilha Grande, but Paraty is our favorite.

A quiet cobblestone street of white colonial buildings stretches through historic Paraty, Brazil.

A densely forested green island rises sharply from the calm turquoise sea near Ilha Grande.

Sailboats anchor in calm turquoise water beside a densely forested green island at Ilha Grande.

Why visit the Costa Verde?

One of Brazil's best-preserved colonial towns, Paraty's cobblestone streets, UNESCO-listed historic center, and turquoise waters make it as beautiful to explore on foot as it is by private boat.

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One of Brazil's best-preserved colonial towns, Paraty's cobblestone streets, UNESCO-listed historic center, and turquoise waters make it as beautiful to explore on foot as it is by private boat.
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A former penal colony turned protected wilderness, Ilha Grande is blissfully undeveloped. Spend your days hiking through virgin forest, discovering hidden beaches, and snorkeling in clear Atlantic waters.
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Búzios, the beach town that Brigitte Bardot put on the map, still trades on a certain effortless chic. Beaches, excellent seafood, and a Mediterranean atmosphere make it the Costa Verde's most polished finale.

Highlights of a Costa Verde tour

Explore secretive coves and hidden beaches on a private boat trip. Sun yourself on the bow until you’re coaxed into forest-hugged glimmering shallows for a refreshing dip.
Snorkel atop schools of fish and starfish, kayak, or go stand-up paddleboarding.
Hike part of the Caminho do Ouro (Gold Trail) in Serra da Bocaina National Park, visiting a set of waterfalls.
Wander the romantic, cobbled streets of UNESCO-designated Paraty.
Sample cachaça, a Brazilian spirit distilled from sugarcane.
Escape to a car-free island paradise, taking a ferry to llha Grande to play castaway.
Take a boat to Lopes Mendes, one of Brazil’s best beaches.

A scenic coastal bay in Brazil's Costa Verde region, featuring several colorful fishing boats moored in calm turquoise water, surrounded by lush green hills.

Costa Verde travel FAQs

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Other areas to explore

A visit to the Costa Verde puts you within easy reach of many other beautiful and fascinating parts of Brazil.

Pantanal

The Pantanal is the world's largest tropical wetland and an area of incredible biodiversity that shelters some of the most extraordinary wildlife on Earth.

Sunlight filters through mist at Iguazu Falls, where palm trees frame roaring curtains of water plunging below.

Iguazú Falls

A braid of 250 waterfalls plummeting over towering basalt cliffs, Iguazú Falls is one of South America’s most breathtaking natural landmarks.

Red macaw flies with wings spread wide, showing bright scarlet feathers and long tail against a blurred green forest.

Amazon Rainforest

A vast natural wonder visible from space, the Amazon Delta needs no introduction. Shared by eight countries, Brazil claims the lion’s share and contains pockets so remote they’ve never been explored.

Aerial view of the Lençóis Maranhenses shows endless white dunes interspersed with blue lagoons.

Lençóis Maranhenses and Jericoacoara

Remote, extraordinary, and unlike anywhere else in South America, northeastern Brazil's dune coast is one of the continent's great undiscovered journeys.