Sail Southeast, Brasil.

The Baía de Ilha Grande is one of the more sheltered cruising grounds in the tropical Atlantic. Between the mainland and Ilha Grande sits a wide channel dotted with islands, granite outcrops, and coves where the water shades from green to a dark clear blue over sand. You anchor off a beach with jungle running straight down to the tideline and howler monkeys somewhere in the trees behind you.

Paraty itself is a colonial town of cobbled streets that flood at spring tides, cachaça distilleries, and a working fishing quay. It is not a manicured resort strip; it is a real place with a real economy, and the sailing starts a few minutes after you clear the marina. Right for people who want short hops, warm water, and anchorages over marinas; less right for anyone chasing long open-water passages.

Most charters stay inside the Baía de Ilha Grande, and there is enough here for a fortnight without repeating an anchorage. The distances are short — an hour or two between stops — so you sail when you feel like it and swim the rest.

Ilha Grande is the obvious first target: Abraão is the island's only village and the check-in point for the ecological reserve, while Lagoa Azul and Saco do Céu give you calm, tree-fringed water to yourself outside the day-tripper hours. West of Paraty, the Saco do Mamanguá is a long fjord-like inlet — Brazil calls it a tropical fjord — with mangroves at its head and good holding throughout. To the east, Angra dos Reis has more infrastructure and more traffic; useful for provisioning, less peaceful for anchoring.

The islands close to the mainland — Cataguases, Comprida, the Botes group — are the classic day-anchorage circuit. Holding is generally good over sand; watch for isolated rock heads near the smaller islets and read the chart rather than eyeballing it.

Brazil's southeast runs on the southern-hemisphere calendar, so plan around it. The dry, cooler, more settled sailing season is roughly May to September — steadier weather, fewer afternoon storms, water temperatures still comfortable for swimming. This is the window we'd point most charterers at.

December to March is high summer: hot, humid, and prone to sudden afternoon thunderstorms and heavy rain. It is also the busiest domestic holiday period, so anchorages fill and Paraty is crowded. Sailing is still possible, but expect to reef for squalls and to share the popular coves.

Winds inside the bay are generally light to moderate, sea-breeze driven, with the funnelling effect of the channel giving you more than the forecast suggests on a good afternoon. The one to respect is the sudden southerly front — a frente fria — which can bring a sharp wind shift and rain. Watch the forecast, and pick anchorages with protection from the south when one is due.

The fleet based at Farol de Paraty Marina is bareboat throughout — you take the yacht yourself. That suits the ground well: distances are short, anchorages are forgiving, and navigation inside the bay is straightforward for a competent skipper.

If you'd rather not skipper, a local skipper can usually be arranged to come aboard; ask us on WhatsApp and we'll sort it against availability. There is no crewed fleet here as standard, so a skipper is an add-on to a bareboat booking rather than a separate product. Provisioning, dinghy, and safety gear come with the boat; anything beyond that — paddleboards, extra tenders — is on request.

Bareboat weekly rates depend on the boat, the size, and the season, and Brazil's high summer (December–March) carries a premium over the cooler months. As a broad guide, expect low-to-mid four figures in EUR per week for a smaller monohull in shoulder season, rising for larger yachts and catamarans in peak weeks. For an accurate quote on a specific boat and dates, price on request — message us on WhatsApp.

Budget separately for: the marina/security deposit, fuel (short hops keep this modest), the Ilha Grande reserve fees where they apply, provisioning, and a skipper if you add one. Restaurants in Paraty and Abraão are reasonable by European standards; the fresh fish is the thing to order.

Day 1 — Board at Farol de Paraty, provision, and shake down with a short sail to an anchorage off the Paraty islands. Dinghy into town for the first evening.

Day 2 — Cross to Ilha Grande, check in at Abraão, then move round to Lagoa Azul for the afternoon swim before the day boats leave.

Day 3 — Work west along Ilha Grande to Saco do Céu, a near-enclosed cove with flat water. Quiet night at anchor.

Day 4 — Head into the Saco do Mamanguá. Anchor near the head, take the tender up to the mangroves, walk to the Pão de Açúcar viewpoint if you fancy the climb.

Day 5 — Out to the mainland-side islands — Cataguases or Comprida — for beach anchorages and clear water.

Day 6 — A longer reach across the bay, timing the afternoon breeze, back towards the Botes group. Last full day for swimming.

Day 7 — Short hop back to Paraty, top up fuel and water, and dinghy in for a final dinner on the quay before the morning handover.

Slide the order to suit the wind and any southerly front on the forecast.

Paraty sits on the coast road between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Rio's Galeão (GIG) is the usual international gateway; from there it's a road transfer of around four hours down the Costa Verde, or you can fly into São Paulo and drive up the coast in similar time. There's no airport at Paraty itself.

Bring passports and check Brazil's current visa requirements for your nationality well before you travel — they change. The marina handles the boat paperwork; you'll want your sailing qualifications and, for skippering, the usual proof of competence. Message us on WhatsApp ahead of arrival with your flight details and crew list and we'll line up the handover.