Four Churches, Four Castes

Best Time to Visit

Come early morning or late afternoon, when the low sun warms the whitewash and the heat eases; midday can be fierce and bright. If you can, time your visit to a spring or full moon high tide to see seawater run through the cobbled streets, a signature of the town's design. Churches are generally open by day, while the museums inside Santa Rita and the fort keep more limited hours, so aim for late morning if you want to go inside.

Pro Tips

• •Wear shoes with grip. Paraty's cobbles are large, uneven, and slick, especially near the water and after rain.
• •Churches are free to view, but carry a little cash for the small museum fees at Santa Rita's sacred art museum and at the fort.
• •Check the tide table. At spring and full moon high tides parts of the historic center flood on purpose, which is beautiful but means wet feet.
• •Save the fort for last. It sits a short walk north across the river, so you can look back over the whole town from the rise once you have seen every church.
• •If a mass, festival, or Afro Brazilian celebration is happening, especially at the Rosary church, watch from the edge and keep quiet out of respect.
• •Take the stops in any order and skip freely. The four churches sit within a compact grid, and the walk works at whatever pace suits you.