Costa Verde Kayak Expedition

On arrival in Rio or Sao Paulo you journey along the Costa Verde, Brazil's Emerald Coast, and possibly its most spectacular coastal route. After leaving the big city behind, the 4 hour drive has jungle-covered mountains towering alongside, and tropical islands dotting the sparkling blue bays. After checking in to your Paraty hotel, you can spend a little time exploring the historic centre of the old port town and you may even have time to take to the waters of the bay by kayak or on a SUP (Stand Up Paddle) board. The shallow waters and offshore islands close to Paraty make it the perfect place for a little warm-up before your Costa Verde Kayak Expedition.

Your Costa Verde Kayak Expedition begins on Jabaquara Beach with some paddling and safety instruction while exploring the coast of the protected bay near town and learning a little of the history of Paraty. Paddling out to various islands in the bay, you may be lucky enough to see the endangered Golden Lion Tamarin monkeys on the private Ilha do Mantimento. Continuing around the headlands of the Laranjeiras Peninsula, you enter the magnificent Saco do Mamangua, which is only accessible by trail or sea. Paddling time for the day is approximately 5 hours, around 22km in distance to the final stop for the night at your accommodation on the water's edge.

In the morning you can enjoy the views of Sugarloaf Mountain (not the Rio one!) before taking to the trail to conquer the 500m peak. The view across the only tropical fjord in Brazil, and up and down almost the whole Costa Verde is one of the finest in the country. Back down at sea level, the protected waters and mangroves are a natural marine sanctuary for over 100 species of fish. After lunch with a view from the beach, a short paddle along the bay takes you to the mangroves, where three different ecosystems support the wildlife. Total paddling time is approximately 2-3 hours during the day, after perhaps 2 hours of hiking, with accommodation again in Mamangua.

Today's paddle takes you further around the coast to stay in the remote fishing village of Pouso da Cajaiba, nestling below the mountains of the Juatinga Peninsular Eco-reserve. This area looks out over the open ocean and is covered with lush Atlantic Rainfoest. After around 4 hours of paddling to cover 15km, you can stop for the afternoon and relax in the village and on the beach. The way of life for this traditional Caiçara fishing community is very simple but enjoyable to witness. The cuisine of the Caiçara communities is also simple with fish being the staple diet, but eating fresh local catch in this pristine environment can be as enjoyable as any meal.

A little time to explore Pouso da Cajaiba in the morning comes before paddling out in the kayaks to a nearby beach. After beaching your craft, a short hike through the jungle takes you to a rainforest waterfall, with the chance for a freshwater swim. An optional hike could take you to Martim de Sá beach, one of the finest of all the Costa Verde. A medium-difficulty hike of 3-4 hours is necessary, with around two hours of paddling in total to complete the journey back to Pouso da Cajaiba. All paddling times and chosen routes are dependent on ability and experience, and weather conditions, with the days alternating between long push paddling days and more leisurely days.

Your Costa Verde Kayak Expedition ends with a paddle of approximately 4-5 hours to Paraty Mirim, which means Little Paraty in the local Tupi Indigenous language. The tiny village was used to disembark people brought to Brazil from Africa as slaves in the 18th and 19th Centuries. All meals and accommodation are included during your paddle, with ocean-worthy kayaks, and a kayak and safety-qualified English-speaking guide with you at all times. A support boat is also present for every stroke of your paddles. On return to Paraty you can stay another night in town, or we can also include this trip as part of a longer tour, with Rio de Janeiro and Ilha Grande two obvious options.