The cobblestones of Paraty are so uneven, it's actually painful to walk on the streets! Its staunchly preserved old homes, buildings and churches are beautiful. Our visit coincided with the Holy Spirit festival so the town was brightly decorated with red and white bunting. Originally we thought they may have put it up for England's World Cup warm-up against Ecuador which was on when we arrived. In the evenings, the plazas and sidewalk cafes came to life with live music. The town was in party mode and we joined in with the festivities.

Paraty's biggest draw is its astounding assortment of 55 islands and 100 beaches nearby . We got out on a boat to visit some of the more remote and idyllic sands, enjoying a very relaxing day.

Onward bus to Angra, 2 hours, followed by catamaran to Ilha Grande, 45 minutes.