Paraty was founded formally as a town by Portuguese colonizers in 1667, in a region populated by the Guaianás Indians.

Located on the Costa Verde (Green Coast), a lush, green corridor that runs along the coastline of the state of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil, Paraty (or Parati) [pronounced Par-a-CHEE] is a preserved Portuguese colonial and Brazilian Imperial (1822-1889) town. Paraty has become a popular tourist area in recent years, renowned for the beauty of the town and the magnificence of the coast and mountains in the region.

The town is located on the Bay of Ilha Grande, which is dotted with many tropical islands. Rising up some 1,000 meters behind the town are the tropical forests, mountains, and waterfalls.

Paraty is surrounded by many Nature Parks including Serra da Bocaina National Park, Serra do Mar State Park, the Park Reserve of Joatinga and the Environmentally Protected Area of Cairuçu, where the village of Trindade is located.

The temperature in Paraty ranges from 64F - 80F, (18C to 30C), though the summer months could be even hotter. However, sea breezes temper the heat and afternoon rains are common in the Summer making the city a popular destination for visitors from São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, the rest of Brazil, and the world.