Where to Go in Rio de Janeiro State: Paraty, Beaches & Waterfalls

Cover photo: Alfredo J G A Borba / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

By Jonh, editor of Rio Gay Guide
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026.

Wondering where to go in Rio de Janeiro state beyond the city? Start with Paraty, my Editor’s pick for historic charm and a slower coastal stay. Add Martim de Sá for a simple beach-and-forest retreat, Ilha Grande for island beaches, Búzios for dining and nightlife, Arraial do Cabo for clear water, or Sana and Visconde de Mauá for mountains and waterfalls.

Rio de Janeiro is both a city and a state. If your Brazil itinerary treats the entire region as a few days in Copacabana, you are missing some very different experiences. You can leave the city for an island without a conventional road network, a stylish seaside town, or a mountain village where the afternoon revolves around a river rather than the ocean.

The important decision is how you want to spend your time. More destinations do not automatically make a better trip. Choose one coastal base or one mountain retreat and give yourself enough days to enjoy it.

Beaches, islands & coastal towns

Editor’s pick: Paraty for historic charm and a slower coastal escape

Paraty is my first choice for where to go in Rio de Janeiro state after a few days in the capital. Its historic center, stone-paved streets and waterfront create a different rhythm: a walk, a good meal and time to appreciate the town before heading out into the surrounding nature.

I especially recommend it as a change of pace after enjoying Rio’s nightlife. You can make the trip about rest without giving up a sense of place. Stay in town if you want restaurants and historic atmosphere close by, then plan separate days for beaches, forest and waterfalls.

For a mainland trip that includes Paraty and its surroundings, consider renting a car. It gives you more freedom to choose your accommodation and explore places outside the center. Compare parking arrangements before booking, walk around the historic core, and leave the car behind when visiting beaches reached by boat or trail.

FLIP and Bourbon Festival Paraty: literature, jazz and blues

Paraty also rewards a trip built around culture. FLIP—the Festa Literária Internacional de Paraty—brings literature and conversations into the town. The Bourbon Festival Paraty adds jazz, blues and other musical styles to its cultural calendar. Festival dates can change the atmosphere and accommodation demand; a quiet recovery trip and a festival weekend are different choices.

The verified 2026 editions are now past: FLIP ran July 22–26, 2026, and Bourbon Festival Paraty was scheduled for May 29–31, 2026. As of October 14, 2026, this review has not confirmed official dates for the 2027 editions. The 2026 Bourbon dates also appear in Paraty’s municipal calendar.

Explore FLIP’s official program →

Explore Bourbon Festival Paraty →

Check the official festival announcements before making date-specific bookings.

Martim de Sá: beach, Atlantic Forest and waterfalls near Paraty

For a deeper reset after Rio’s late nights, my recommendation is Martim de Sá, on the Juatinga peninsula in the Paraty area. This is a place to choose for the combination of beach, Atlantic Forest and freshwater—not for a resort-style stay. Do not confuse it with the beach of the same name in Caraguatatuba, São Paulo.

The appeal is the simplicity of spending time close to the sea and forest, with rivers and waterfall outings adding another layer to the stay. Allow several nights if you enjoy camping and want to settle into the place rather than arrive, take photographs and immediately leave.

How to reach Martim de Sá

One approach is to arrange a boat to Pouso da Cajaíba and continue on foot along the forest trail. This is a substantial hike with steep sections, particularly with camping equipment; arrange local guidance and confirm the route’s condition rather than treating it as a short beach walk.

You can also arrange a private boat transfer with a local boat operator, subject to sea conditions and safe landing access. Confirm the outward and return arrangements before departure. A rental car helps with the mainland part of a Paraty trip, but it cannot take you to Martim de Sá.

Seu Maneco’s family and the place they have protected

Martim de Sá’s story is inseparable from Seu Maneco—Manoel dos Remédios—and his caiçara family. Their relationship with the land goes back generations. Published reporting and research describe pressure from property speculation and resort-development interests, and the family’s resistance to losing its territory and way of life. This is a history of community and environmental stewardship, not simply an attractive beach waiting for development.

A 2011 report about Seu Maneco describes approaches from developers and his refusal to exchange the place for money. Later community research on the Juatinga peninsula records land conflicts, property speculation and predatory tourism among local concerns. These sources document the history; they do not establish the family’s current legal title or the status of any ongoing dispute.

The accommodation recommendation here is small-scale and family-run: camping is the core option. Local information shared with Rio Gay Guide also points to a small number of simple rooms arranged by Seu Maneco’s family; confirm directly whether they are available, what they include and how to reserve. Do not plan this as a hotel or conventional Airbnb destination.

Choose Martim de Sá if you value that family-led atmosphere and are comfortable with simple facilities. Follow the family’s rules, pay local hosts and boat operators fairly, and take responsibility for your waste. Its character depends on respecting the people who keep it that way.

Ilha Grande: stay longer than one or two days

Many visitors give Ilha Grande a day trip or one or two nights. My recommendation is to stay longer: four to five nights is a useful starting point if you want to explore beyond your accommodation’s immediate surroundings. That is an editorial planning suggestion, rather than a minimum requirement.

The reason is geography. Vila do Abraão is a convenient base, but some of the beaches worth building a trip around—Lopes Mendes, Aventureiro and Parnaioca—are not simply a short stroll from its guesthouses. Your choice of village changes which places are convenient and which require a substantial excursion.

Lopes Mendes, Aventureiro and Parnaioca

Lopes Mendes is a classic island beach day: a broad stretch of sand on the ocean-facing side, reached by walking or by combining a boat transfer with a trail. A boat transfer to Praia do Pouso reduces the walking, but does not remove the final walk to Lopes Mendes. Allow time to enjoy the beach rather than organizing the day entirely around the return departure.

Aventureiro and Parnaioca sit farther around the island and require more deliberate planning from Abraão. Aventureiro is associated with its distinctive leaning coconut palm and coastal community; Parnaioca offers a more remote beach setting. Treat these as separate excursions or part of a carefully chosen coastal itinerary, rather than nearby beaches you can casually add after lunch.

Longer stays give you room for a beach day, a boat excursion and slower time around your base. They also leave flexibility if the sea makes an exposed coastal route unsuitable on the day you originally planned.

The full-island boat tour: shared boats, private charters and trails

A volta à ilha, or full-island boat tour, is one way to reach several beaches on the ocean-facing coast in a day. Operators may include Aventureiro and Parnaioca, but stops vary with the itinerary and conditions. Do not assume every tour visits every beach mentioned in this guide.

Shared departures mean traveling with other passengers and following a fixed schedule. Before booking, ask about the boat’s capacity, the expected group size and time at each stop. A boat outing can be enjoyable, but a brief stop is a different experience from spending an afternoon at a beach.

Private full-island charters are also available, usually at a higher total cost. Hiking is another way to explore parts of the island, although routes to remote areas can require significant time and preparation. Confirm permitted access and trail conditions locally; a line on a map is not proof that a route is open or suitable for you.

For a geographic overview, consult the Ilha Grande trail map.

Búzios: Rio’s version of the Hamptons

For an American traveler, the Hamptons are a useful comparison for Búzios’ place in Rio’s holiday imagination: a seaside escape associated with summer homes, long weekends and people leaving the city for the coast. This is a comparison of social role and atmosphere, not a claim that the two places look alike.

Brigitte Bardot helped bring international attention to Búzios in the 1960s. Her connection remains visible along Orla Bardot. Today, the appeal combines a varied coastline with accommodation, restaurants and evenings that can continue well after dinner.

The beaches have distinct personalities. Geribá is associated with surf and a livelier scene; Ferradura and Ferradurinha offer contrasting bay settings; João Fernandes is a well-known visitor favorite; Praia do Forno has reddish sand. Choose according to the day’s conditions and your mood rather than looking for one universal “best beach.”

Rua das Pedras and Orla Bardot make Búzios a strong choice for travelers who want beach days and a choice of restaurants, bars and nightlife. Visit Brasil’s Búzios guide provides destination background. Editor’s pick: allow three to four nights rather than reducing the town to a hurried beach stop.

Arraial do Cabo: less polished, extraordinary clear water

Arraial do Cabo has a more informal, broadly popular holiday atmosphere than Búzios. My comparison is straightforward: choose Búzios when restaurants, accommodation style and evenings out are a major part of the trip; choose Arraial when the coastline and water are the main attraction.

“Less chic” should not be confused with less beautiful. White sand and striking blue-green water are central to Arraial’s appeal. The town is also known for diving, and the water can be colder than its tropical appearance suggests.

Prainhas do Pontal do Atalaia are famous for the staircase and elevated view. Praia do Forno combines a cove with trail access, while Praia Grande is an option for sunset. Praia do Farol is reached on authorized boat outings, with access restrictions: verify the current rules with the operator.

Use Visit Brasil’s Arraial beach overview to compare the coast. My planning suggestion is two to three nights. You can also pair Arraial with Búzios on a longer trip through the Região dos Lagos, leaving room for road transfers and busy holiday traffic.

Mountains, forest & waterfalls

The Região Serrana: mountains, forest and waterfalls

For a completely different side of Rio de Janeiro state, head inland. The Região Serrana offers mountain landscapes, cooler-weather retreats and opportunities to combine nature with food and cultural visits. You do not need to make every escape from Rio another beach holiday.

Petrópolis and its surrounding districts suit a mix of town, history and countryside. Teresópolis is a useful destination to research for mountain activities, while Nova Friburgo and its rural surroundings offer another route into the region. Guapimirim and Cachoeiras de Macacu also belong in a nature-focused search.

Waterfalls, rivers and trails are among the region’s attractions, but choose a specific base and outing instead of treating “the mountains” as one destination. Staying near the places you want to visit is more useful than selecting accommodation solely because it has a mountain-view photograph.

The state tourism board’s Serra Verde Imperial overview is a starting point for the region. Editor’s pick: consider two to four nights, with a balance of a planned outing and unstructured time.

Sana: forest, quiet days and waterfall swims

Sana, in the mountainous part of Macaé, is an option for travelers who want a smaller place with nature at the center of the visit. Think walks, rivers and waterfalls, with time to sit outside and slow down between outings.

The state tourism board lists Escorrega, Pai, Mãe and Sete Quedas among its waterfall attractions. Peito do Pombo is the area’s landmark mountain hike; for that outing, the tourism board recommends local guides.

Sana makes sense if your idea of a rewarding trip is spending more time in the forest than moving between attractions. Quietness still depends on the dates and where you stay, so ask about weekend demand and choose your accommodation accordingly.

Read the official Macaé tourism overview, including Sana. My suggested starting point is two to three nights. A waterfall day followed by a relaxed evening is already a good reason to be there.

Visconde de Mauá: mountain villages and a slower pace

Visconde de Mauá offers another kind of nature escape, in the Serra da Mantiqueira. The wider destination includes the villages of Mauá, Maringá and Maromba, with rivers, waterfalls, trails and rural roads. It is a region to explore at a comfortable pace, rather than a single attraction.

Choose your base carefully. A secluded stay can deliver the forest and tranquility you are looking for, but it may also mean traveling farther for meals and outings. Check the actual location, access road and transport arrangements before booking.

For me, Mauá works particularly well when you want several days of greenery and time to enjoy your accommodation. You can organize one outing each day and leave the rest open. Allow two to four nights as a planning starting point.

The state tourism board covers the area in its Resende and Itatiaia destination guides. Check the location of each attraction carefully: broader municipal guides also include places outside the Mauá villages.

How to choose your trip beyond Rio de Janeiro city

For historic charm and a change of pace after Rio’s nightlife: start with Paraty. For a rustic family-run coastal retreat: consider Martim de Sá. For island beaches and hiking: choose Ilha Grande and make room for several nights. For summer-house atmosphere, restaurants and nightlife: choose Búzios. For clear-water beaches as the main event: look at Arraial do Cabo. For a mountain break: compare the Região Serrana, Sana and Visconde de Mauá according to the atmosphere and access you prefer.

Ilha Grande lies on the Costa Verde side of the state, while Búzios and Arraial are in the Região dos Lagos. They are not interchangeable stops along one short transfer. If you have limited time, combine Rio city with one region rather than spending much of the holiday in transit.

An island-focused trip could pair time in Rio with four or five nights on Ilha Grande. A beach-and-dining trip could pair the capital with Búzios and, with enough additional days, Arraial. A slower nature trip could combine Rio with one mountain base. These are editorial itinerary ideas, not fixed packages.

Practical tips for beaches, boats and waterfalls

Build flexibility into boat-dependent plans and check conditions with the operator. On the mainland, compare public transport with a car or arranged transfer based on your accommodation’s exact address. Remote guesthouses may be less convenient for a trip built around taxis.

For waterfall outings, check local weather and upstream rainfall, respect closures and seek local advice about suitable bathing areas. A natural pool that appears calm in a photograph may have very different conditions when you visit. For hikes, choose a route suited to your ability and use a local guide where appropriate.

FAQs: things to do in Rio de Janeiro state

Is Ilha Grande worth staying longer than two days?

Yes, especially if you want to explore beyond Abraão and reach remote beaches. I suggest four to five nights as a starting point, with time for transfers, a beach day, a boat outing and flexibility.

Is Búzios or Arraial do Cabo better?

Búzios is my choice for combining different beaches with restaurants and nightlife. Arraial is my choice when clear-water scenery is the priority. With enough time, the two can complement each other.

Where can I find waterfalls near Rio?

Research the Região Serrana for a mountain escape, or compare Sana and Visconde de Mauá for a village-based nature stay. Choose the destination and base before selecting individual waterfalls.

Can I visit all these places as day trips from Rio?

Some visitors do, but that is not my recommendation for this selection. Road travel, boat transfers and trail access can take a substantial part of the day. Overnight stays make more sense when you want time at the destination.

Plan a Rio de Janeiro state itinerary around your interests

A useful itinerary starts with your dates, pace and preferences—not a list of places to tick off. Rio Gay Guide can help you compare bases and plan a trip that combines the city with beaches or mountain retreats. Explore our personalized travel planning and private experiences.

For the city portion of your trip, browse our Rio neighborhood and accommodation guide and Rio beach guide. Traveling farther across the country? Read our Brazil travel guide beyond Rio.

Suggested stay lengths, destination comparisons and itinerary choices are Jonh’s editorial recommendations. Destination information was checked against the sources linked above. Confirm transport, weather, access rules and availability for your dates.