How to Get to Paraty: The Complete Guide

Paraty sits roughly halfway between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, right on the Costa Verde, which means there's no shortage of ways to get there, but also no single obvious answer. Bus, private transfer, shared van, or your own rental car all work, and which one makes sense really depends on your budget, how much luggage you're hauling, and how much you value not thinking about logistics on travel day. This guide walks through every option so you can pick the right one.

Option 1: The bus

The bus is the backbone of getting around this stretch of coast, and it's genuinely a solid option, not just the budget fallback. Costa Verde operates the main route from Rio de Janeiro's Novo Rio bus terminal, with frequent departures running from early morning into the evening and a journey time of roughly four to four and a half hours. From the São Paulo side, Reunidas Paulista covers the route, along with connections through Ubatuba and other coastal towns.

Our Tip: Buy your ticket a day or two ahead if you can, especially around holidays and festival weekends, when buses fill up fast. Check our Paraty Event Calendar before you travel.

Option 2: Private transfer

If you'd rather skip the bus terminal entirely, a private transfer picks you up directly from your hotel, apartment, or the airport and takes you straight to your accommodation in Paraty, no transfers, no waiting in line. From Rio's Galeão (GIG) or Santos Dumont (SDU) airports, the drive takes roughly four hours depending on traffic. From São Paulo's Guarulhos (GRU), plan for four to five hours.

This is the option we'd recommend if you're arriving after a long international flight, traveling with young kids, or simply don't want to deal with connections after a red-eye. You can book a private transfer directly with us.

Option 3: Shared van

Somewhere between the bus and a private transfer, shared vans pick up from a handful of hotels or a central meeting point and combine several bookings into one vehicle. It's noticeably more comfortable than the public bus and considerably cheaper than a private transfer, though you'll be sharing the ride and possibly making a stop or two along the way to pick up or drop off other passengers, You can book a shared transfer here.

Our Tip: If you're heading onward to Ilha Grande, several shared transfer services combine the road leg with the boat crossing in a single booking, worth checking before booking two separate trips.

Option 4: Driving yourself

If you're comfortable driving in Brazil, self-driving gives you the most flexibility, especially if you plan to stop at beaches or viewpoints along the way. From Rio, it's roughly 250 km via the BR-101 (Rio-Santos highway), a scenic but winding coastal road that passes through Angra dos Reis. From São Paulo, plan for around 250 to 290 km depending on your exact routing, with driving time in the four-to-five-hour range.

Our Tip: The BR-101 is beautiful but slow, full of curves and small towns. Avoid driving it after dark if you can, and build in extra time on Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings, when traffic leaving and returning to the cities can add hours to the trip. Our Is Paraty Safe guide covers more on night driving specifically.

Which airport should you fly into?

If you're coming from outside Brazil, you'll most likely land at Rio's Galeão International Airport (GIG) or São Paulo's Guarulhos International Airport (GRU), both roughly four hours from Paraty by road. Santos Dumont (SDU) in central Rio is a domestic-only airport but is served by the same private and shared transfer operators as Galeão. There's a small local airport in Paraty itself, but it doesn't have scheduled commercial flights, so for practical purposes, plan around GIG, SDU, or GRU.

Coming via Ilha Grande?

There's no direct boat between Ilha Grande and Paraty. The route runs via a boat crossing to Angra dos Reis or Conceição de Jacareí on the mainland, followed by a bus or van to Paraty. It's an easy connection once you know the sequence, but it does take planning around boat and bus schedules. We've broken down the full route in our How to Get from Ilha Grande to Paraty guide.

Coming from a specific city or region?

For step-by-step directions tailored to your starting point, see our dedicated guides: How to Get from Rio de Janeiro to Paraty, How to Get from São Paulo to Paraty, How to Get from Ubatuba to Paraty, and How to Get from Ilha Grande to Paraty.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest way to get to Paraty?

A private transfer is the easiest option, picking you up directly from the airport or your hotel and dropping you at your accommodation in Paraty with no connections.

How far is Paraty from Rio de Janeiro?

Roughly 250 km, about a four to four-and-a-half hour drive or bus ride via the BR-101 Rio-Santos highway.

How far is Paraty from São Paulo?

Around 250 to 290 km depending on the route, roughly four to five hours by car or transfer.

Is there an airport in Paraty?

There's a small local airport, but it doesn't have scheduled commercial flights. Most visitors fly into Rio's Galeão (GIG) or Santos Dumont (SDU), or São Paulo's Guarulhos (GRU), then continue by road.

Can I combine a trip to Paraty with Ilha Grande?

Yes, many travelers combine both. There's no direct boat between them, but the connection via Angra dos Reis or Conceição de Jacareí is straightforward. See our Ilha Grande to Paraty guide for the full route.