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Kuala Lumpur to Brazil's Costa Verde: Paraty and Ilha Grande

Kuala Lumpur → Paraty → Ilha Grande

Paraty historic center
"Paraty – Ensemble architectural et paysager en 2005 (1).jpg" by Pierre André Leclercq, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence
Cidade Maravilhosa (Rio de Janeiro)
Photo: Rafael Rabello de Barros, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Colonial port, rainforest & car-free island Best season (general guide): Apr–Oct

The Costa Verde, between Rio and São Paulo, is a coast of forested mountains, islands and bays. This route spends three nights in Paraty and three on Ilha Grande. From Kuala Lumpur you'll connect through the Gulf or Europe to Rio de Janeiro.

How to pace it: Spend days one to three in Paraty: day one, road to Paraty; day two, old town and schooner trip; day three, waterfalls and cachaça. Then spend days four to six in Ilha Grande: day four, road and ferry to Abraão; day five, hike to Lopes Mendes; day six, boat around the island.

Paraty is a colonial port with cobbled streets and white churches. UNESCO lists it with Ilha Grande for their culture and biodiversity.

Schooners take visitors around the bay's islands and beaches, and the hills behind the town have waterfalls and cachaça distilleries.

Serra da Bocaina National Park protects the Atlantic Forest above the coast.

Ilha Grande, reached by ferry, has no cars. Trails cross the rainforest to beaches such as Lopes Mendes.

April to October is the drier season.

Good to know: Paraty's streets flood at high tide in places, so wear sandals.

Paraty's old town is closed to cars, and its uneven cobblestones need sturdy shoes. Many shops sell local crafts and cachaça. Boat trips leave from the harbour to swim at quiet islands. Waterfalls in the hills behind the town make a cool escape on hot days. On Ilha Grande, the main village, Abraão, has guesthouses and restaurants, but no cars. Trails to the beaches can be steep and muddy, so start early and carry water. Water taxis can bring you back if you're tired. The island's beaches vary from calm bays to surf beaches, so choose by the day's weather. Book ferries and transfers ahead in high season. Use insect repellent in the forest.

Safety: Canada advises a high degree of caution in Brazil because of crime; its avoid-non-essential areas are along remote land borders, far from this coast (advisory updated 5 Oct 2026). The US rates Brazil Level 2 (issued 31 Aug 2026).

Suggested outline

  1. Kuala Lumpur

    Start

  2. Paraty

    By air · 3 nights suggested

    A cobbled colonial town between mountains and a bay.

  3. Ilha Grande

    By road and ferry · 3 nights suggested

    A car-free island of rainforest trails and beaches.

    Lopes Mendes Ilha Grande
    "Praia de Lopes Mendes - Ilha Grande RJ.jpg" by Viviane Marques dos Reis, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Paraty — Arrive; road to Paraty· Kuala Lumpur → Rio de Janeiro (by air) — long-haul; may arrive the next calendar day, then Rio de Janeiro → Paraty (by road)
  2. Day 2 · Paraty — Old town and schooner trip
  3. Day 3 · Paraty — Waterfalls and cachaça
  4. Day 4 · Ilha Grande — Road and ferry to Abraão· Paraty → Ilha Grande (by road and ferry)
  5. Day 5 · Ilha Grande — Hike to Lopes Mendes
  6. Day 6 · Ilha Grande — Boat around the island
  7. Day 7 · Ilha Grande — Travel home from Ilha Grande· Ilha Grande → Rio de Janeiro (by road and ferry), then Rio de Janeiro → Kuala Lumpur (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

Flights, leg by leg

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Paraty

Nearest airport: Rio de Janeiro Search fares · Rio de Janeiro ↗

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