Sail Southeast, Brasil.

Baía da Ilha Grande is warm, clear water with rainforest running down to the tideline on nearly every island. Paraty sits at the western edge of the bay — a Portuguese colonial port with cobbled streets, whitewashed churches and a working cachaça trade that predates the town's UNESCO recognition. This is protected-water sailing: short hops between anchorages, swimming off the boat most afternoons, engine time when the wind drops rather than a hard beat to windward. Paraty's harbour front still functions as a working port, not a museum — fishing boats share the anchorage with charter yachts, and the market by the church sells the morning's catch alongside cachaça and passion fruit. We like the contrast — colonial Brazil ashore in the morning, empty green water and a swim by lunchtime.

Boats sail from Farol de Paraty Marina, inside Paraty's own sheltered bay at the western end of Baía da Ilha Grande. From there the ground runs east past dozens of forested islands toward Angra dos Reis, and south into Saco do Mamanguá, a narrow fjord-like inlet lined with mangrove and almost always flat calm. Distances are short: most anchorages sit within two to three hours' sail of Paraty, so days stay relaxed rather than becoming passages. The water is calm enough for children to swim off the boat almost anywhere in the bay, and forest comes right down to most anchorages, so there's shade at the shoreline even at midday. Ilha Grande, the largest island in the bay, is a full day's circuit on its own, with beaches on its ocean-facing south side worth the detour.

This coast sails year-round, and the two halves of the year feel different. December to March is Brazilian summer — hot, humid, the warmest water of the year, with afternoon thunderstorms that build fast over the hills and clear within the hour. June to August is cooler and drier, punctuated by the occasional cold front (frente fria) pushing up from the south, which can bring a day or two of stronger wind and rain before settling back to calm. Rain, when it comes, tends to be short and heavy rather than an all-day soak. Most days follow the same rhythm: a light morning, building to a 10-15 knot sea breeze by early afternoon. Squalls are the main thing to watch here, not sustained heavy weather.

Every boat here goes out bareboat. Skippering yourself in Brazilian waters means holding a qualification the Brazilian Navy recognises — an International Certificate of Competence or equivalent, with logged sea time to match the boat you're chartering — so check your paperwork well before you fly. There's no skippered or fully crewed option run from this base at present. If you'd rather not skipper yourself, a local skipper can sometimes be arranged separately on request; ask us on WhatsApp before you commit to dates so we can confirm availability.

Weekly bareboat rates depend on the boat, the season and how far ahead you book — Price on request. Summer weekends and the turn-of-year holiday fortnight carry a premium; winter weekdays are the value end of the calendar. Marina fees, fuel, provisioning and a returnable damage deposit typically sit on top of the base charter fee. Ask us for a full, itemised quote before you commit — we'd rather you know the real number early than be surprised at handover.

Day 1: Pick up at Farol de Paraty Marina, provision in town, sail a short first leg to anchor off Ilha do Algodão for the night. Day 2: Cross to Ilha Grande, snorkel the clear shallows at Lagoa Azul, anchor off Araçatiba for the evening. Day 3: Walk inland to Lopes Mendes for a swim, then sail south to Saco do Mamanguá for flat water and mangrove. Day 4: Slow day — dinghy exploring Mamanguá's inner reaches, kayak if the boat carries one, no sailing. Day 5: Sail east toward Angra dos Reis, island-hopping through the bay's outer chain, anchoring wherever looks good. Day 6: Head back toward Paraty, stopping at Cachoeira do Tobogã for the natural rock slide. Day 7: Return to Farol de Paraty Marina, last night ashore in Paraty's old town before flying home.

The nearest international airports are Rio de Janeiro (Galeão) and São Paulo (Guarulhos), each roughly three and a half to four hours from Paraty by road. A domestic flight into Rio's Santos Dumont airport can cut the drive closer to three hours. Farol de Paraty Marina sits inside Paraty town itself, a short taxi from the bus station if you're arriving overland via the Costa Verde highway (BR-101) from Rio. Build in a buffer day either side of your charter — Brazilian coastal roads are scenic but slow, and a missed connection shouldn't cost you a day of sailing.