ROCKFALLS, PARATY BOAT PARTY, AND NEARLY LOSING MY HEAD12 min read

THE SOUTHERN AMERICAN SERIES PT3

SÃO PAULO – PARATY

I was always told how great the islands of Brazil are, and I promised myself to visit as many as I could.

NO DOUBT, ON ANOTHER DAY I WOULD HAVE HAD LIFE-CHANGING INJURIES

Paraty is on the mainland, but the greatest thing about it is the island trips you can do to enjoy a boat party in Brazil. Not to mention it’s just 1 hour north of Rio!

WHERE IS PARATY?

Rockfalls, Paraty boat party

PARAGUAY

But first, I landed in Paraguay, where I got my first experience of mate, which is a traditional South American tea. It’s so loved that many locals carry their own flask wherever they go, whether to work, a café, or just for a walk.

PARATY BEACH HOSTEL

This hostel was excellent, mainly because of the other people who stayed here, and everyone got on really well. You’d be forgiven for calling it Party Beach Hostel rather than Paraty Beach Hostel, because that’s nearly all we did. However, it was a good mix. The town is definitely worth checking out, especially the nightlife in Paraty, Brazil, but as I said, the highlight is the party boats.

Rockfalls, Paraty boat party

CACHOEIRA DO TOBOGA

Before the boat trip, the first few days were spent checking out the town and what’s around it. There was a cool rock waterfall up in the hills that was worth visiting. There are heaps of locals who can skim down it on their feet, which takes a bit of skill, and I learned how to do it.

CACHAÇA DISTILLERY

There is also a cachaça distillery just down from the waterfall and restaurant. All worth visiting after spending the last few hours sliding on your bum!

PARTY BOAT

The booze cruise wasn’t like some I have been on; it was a bit more chilled. There were maybe 20 of us, which was good as it meant you had a chance to get to know everyone.

CACHAÇA

The real killer was the Brazilian cocktail, Caipirinha. Its base is Cachaça, which is just sugar and alcohol, so it’s far too easy to drink. Add that to the sweltering heat and humidity, and you are sure going to have your fair share. Not to mention it was also self-service via a huge serving bowl. At the start, we had been using the ladle provided, but it didn’t take long until we were all dunking our cups in instead!

Rockfalls, Paraty boat party

CAIPIRINHA

We spent the day at several different islands and jumping off the boat. However, after countless Caipirinhas, I think I lost my mind. The last stop was near another island, and I just jumped off, before noticing how shallow it was.

MOMENT OF MADNESS

From getting out of the water to jumping off the top deck, I somehow forgot how shallow it was. I thought it would be a good idea to jump in headfirst with my hands behind my back. Big mistake! My head hit the seabed, putting the full weight of my body and the force of the jump firmly on my neck. In all my travels, I’m not sure I have sobered up as quickly as I did then. I made my way up to the top deck and lay down without saying a word. Things could have ended up so differently, or the seabed could have easily been made of rock.

Rockfalls, Paraty boat party

FINAL THOUGHTS

Paraty ended up being one of the biggest surprises of the Brazil trip. Between the waterfalls, island scenery, nightlife, and boat parties, it had a bit of everything. I just probably should have avoided diving headfirst into shallow water after countless Caipirinhas.

NEXT UP

Ying and Yang as I drop back down to earth and endure the worst hangover of South America. However, I soon learn that Ilha Grande is the perfect cure! Click to read.

SAFE TRAVELS, DS x
76/229

This post is part of The Southern American Series. click to explore, or for episode 1, click here.