Paraty

In the chilled-out coastal pocket of Campinho sits Quilombo Campinho, a proud, defiant community that emerged from escaped slaves who collectively decided, "Enough of colonial nonsense, we're starting fresh." You're here not just to tick off a historical landmark, but to dive headfirst into the rhythmic heartbeat of Afro-Brazilian resilience-think drumbeats pounding into twilight, smiles wider than justified optimism, and food that tells colonialism exactly where it can get off. Come around mid-morning-the sweet spot when sunlight cascades golden over the lush hillsides and before the midday heat dissolves your adventurous spirit into puddles. Be sure to book a day or two ahead, since spontaneity is charming, but not when it leaves you stranded outside looking in, longing for moqueca and ancestral stories. Budget for about 100 reais (approximately $20 USD) per person to cover guided tours, drumming workshops, and hearty communal lunches bursting with flavors handed down through generations. Don't forget your camera (to document your questionable drumming capabilities), a sense of humor, and a humble appreciation of what genuine resilience looks like. Even if cultural tourism isn't typically your thing, Quilombo Campinho is worth every sweat-soaked minute, if only to punctuate your future cocktail conversations with, "Did I ever tell you about that time I spectacularly embarrassed myself drumming with the proud descendants of revolutionary escapees?"

If your idea of a fjord involves frostbite and Viking helmets, think again-Brazil's Mamangua is like Norway's breezier, hammock-swinging cousin. Snuggled into the lush green embrace of Paraty's coast, Saco do Mamangua is South America's lone tropical fjord, a geological oddball carved into emerald hills and tangled Atlantic rainforest. Hop aboard a brightly painted boat piloted by a local who's never heard of hurry, and drift lazily from deserted beaches to secluded coves, the kind of hideouts pirates would've fought to keep hush-hush. Plan on heading out early, preferably just after sunrise-trust me, dawn's golden light makes even your most amateurish Instagram shots look like National Geographic material. Book at least a couple days in advance, as the laid-back locals approach timetables as mere suggestions. Budget-wise, set aside about $60 per person for a guided boat trip, but throw in a few extra reais for indulgent caipirinhas served up by barefoot bartenders at beachside kiosks along the way. Bring swimwear, sunscreen, cash, and the liberating acceptance that your phone signal will be spotty at best. Ultimately, touring Mamangua is worth every sunburn, mosquito bite, and lost flip-flop-because there's something gloriously surreal about returning home to tell tall tales about a tropical fjord nobody believes exists anyway.

If your idea of paradise involves awkwardly wrestling into a kayak at dawn, paddling across blissfully calm waters while scanning anxiously for suspicious ripples-was that a dolphin or your sunscreen floating away?-then kayaking to Ilha da Cotia is exactly your flavor of adventure. This tiny slip of an island in Paraty Bay remains refreshingly devoid of civilization's clutter, a lush Atlantic forest oasis that feels like it got overlooked by history and Instagram alike. Get there early, preferably just after sunrise to beat the sunburned hordes and nab a private front-row seat to nature's morning broadcast-bonus points if you channel your inner Portuguese explorer, minus the colonialism. Plan about a week ahead for kayak rentals and guides, especially in the busy summer months, and budget at least $30-40 for a half-day trip. Pack sunscreen, snacks, enough water to silence your hangover, and a waterproof bag to safeguard your dignity. But why go through all this trouble? Because floating silently toward Ilha da Cotia, dripping seawater and slightly uncertain if you're lost, is one of those rare adventures that ultimately becomes far more memorable than comfortable-precisely why it's entirely worth it.