Paraty has quietly become one of Brazil’s most exciting culinary destinations — a combination of extraordinary local ingredients, a growing concentration of talented chefs, and a setting that inspires exceptional hospitality. The region’s Atlantic Forest provides wild herbs, heart of palm, and fruits that appear on menus of startling originality. Freshwater and ocean fish are caught daily. The Paraty Cachaça Route is among the finest spirits itineraries in South America — the region’s artisanal alembic distilleries produce some of Brazil’s most celebrated cachaças, best tasted at source with the producers themselves. Merola arranges private distillery visits, chef’s table experiences at Paraty’s finest contemporary restaurants, and intimate dinners prepared in private villa kitchens or on the bay.

From a private cachaça tasting at a heritage alembic distillery deep in the Atlantic Forest to an intimate dinner in a colonial courtyard, Merola curates every culinary moment in Paraty with precision and local knowledge.

Paraty is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — and it is immediately evident why. Its colonial centre, preserved in near-perfect condition, consists of whitewashed baroque churches, cobblestone streets built to flood with the tides, and pastel-coloured mansions that have changed little since the 18th century. The FLIP — Paraty International Literary Festival — is one of the world’s most important literary gatherings, attracting leading authors and intellectuals from across the globe each July. The city has also developed a serious visual arts scene, with galleries and studios that draw collectors and curators of national significance. Merola provides private architectural tours with specialist guides, preferred access to FLIP events, and studio visits with the region’s most acclaimed artists.

Paraty’s colonial centre at night — the streets flooded with moonlight, the churches illuminated, not another soul in sight — is one of the most beautiful urban experiences in Brazil. Merola arranges after-hours access to the historic centre and its most significant buildings.

Paraty sits at the edge of one of the Costa Verde’s most beautiful bays — a protected body of water scattered with small islands, pristine beaches, and mangrove channels of extraordinary ecological richness. Merola arranges private schooner and catamaran day trips to the bay’s most secluded beaches, accessible only by boat. Snorkelling and diving in the crystal waters reveal abundant marine life sheltered within the bay’s calm confines. Kayaking through the mangroves of the Paraty-Mirim estuary offers an encounter with the Atlantic Forest ecosystem at its most intimate. For those who wish to explore further, private yacht charters extend the itinerary south along the Costa Verde toward Ilha Grande and the Angra archipelago.

A private boat day in Paraty Bay — anchoring at three deserted beaches, snorkelling over reef, and returning to the colonial centre at sunset — is the essential Paraty experience. Merola handles the vessel, the crew, and everything on board.

A private FLIP literary event, with reserved access and a private dinner with one of the festival’s participating authors. A sunrise walk through the deserted streets of the colonial centre before the first visitor arrives, guided by a local architectural historian. A private cachaça masterclass at a 200-year-old distillery in the Atlantic Forest, followed by a long lunch prepared by the distiller’s family. A candlelit dinner in a colonial courtyard, with the sound of the bay and the fireflies providing the only entertainment needed. Paraty is a place that rewards slowness and depth — and Merola ensures the conditions for both.

June through September is Paraty at its most beautiful — dry, mild, golden-lit, and intimate. July brings FLIP and the cultural calendar’s most important moments. December through February offers the full tropical warmth and the most vibrant social atmosphere on the bay. The historic centre is the natural base; the surrounding Atlantic Forest and bay provide the daily rhythms of the visit. Merola manages all logistics — helicopter transfers, villa reservations, boat charters, restaurant reservations, and cultural access — ensuring that Paraty reveals itself entirely on your terms.

Paraty’s accommodation offer has matured significantly in recent years, with a growing collection of design pousadas, boutique hotels, and private villas that combine the region’s natural and architectural heritage with contemporary luxury. Casa Turquesa and Pousada Literária de Paraty represent the finest hotel offer within the historic centre, while private villas in the surrounding hills and coastal communities provide complete privacy with views over the bay and the Atlantic Forest. Merola holds preferred access to the region’s finest properties — including private residences not available through conventional booking channels — and manages all aspects of villa rental from staffing and provisioning to in-stay concierge.

Merola’s hospitality network in Paraty ensures our clients access the finest properties in the region — with the service, privacy, and personalisation that define the Merola experience.