Christmas and New Year's Eve in Paraty

The two weeks from Christmas to New Year are when Paraty is at its most festive and welcoming. Families from Rio and São Paulo arrive for their summer holidays, the squares of the old center carry their Christmas decorations, and on the last night of the year the whole town walks down to the water in white to count down to the fireworks. If you are planning Christmas and New Year's Eve in Paraty for 2026-27, this is the guide we wish every guest had before they booked.

It covers the calendar for this particular holiday season, the way Brazilians celebrate Christmas Eve and Réveillon, where the town gathers at midnight, how to plan the quiet days in between, and a day-by-day outline you can borrow for your own fortnight. We have kept every date that changes from year to year clearly marked, because the town usually confirms its New Year program in December. Everything else here comes from how the season actually runs on this stretch of the Costa Verde.

One thing to know before anything else: in Brazil the holidays fall in high summer. Christmas lunch is often followed by a swim, the sun sets close to a quarter to seven, and the sea in late December averages around 78°F. Pack for a beach holiday that happens to have a Christmas tree in it.

The holiday calendar for 2026-27

This season lines up neatly for travelers. Christmas Eve, December 24, 2026, falls on a Thursday, and Christmas Day on Friday. A week later the pattern repeats: New Year's Eve is Thursday, December 31, and New Year's Day is Friday, January 1, 2027. Two long weekends sit back to back, which is why so many Brazilian families take the whole fortnight off.

Brazil's federal calendar for 2026 treats December 25 and January 1 as national holidays. December 24 and December 31 are optional days off for public offices from 1 pm,. Plan errands for the mornings of the 24th and 31st: the afternoons and evenings belong to family.

School is out for the Brazilian summer, and December is the month when workers receive their thirteenth salary, an extra month's pay that helps fund the holidays. Put those together and you can see why the coast between Rio and São Paulo is at its most sociable in these two weeks. Paraty's streets have a happy, holiday buzz from roughly December 20 until the first weekend of January.

A few natural details are worth having in your notes. The moon is full late on December 23, so Christmas Eve has a big, bright moon rising over the bay not long after dark. By New Year's Eve it has waned to its last quarter and rises late, which leaves the sky dark for the fireworks. Sunset is at about 6:45 pm through Christmas week and 6:48 pm on December 31, with sunrise a little after 5 am, so you have more than thirteen and a half hours of daylight to spend.

The dates that are not yet fixed are the town's New Year concerts and the exact times of church services. Paraty normally announces its Réveillon lineup in December, and parishes post their Christmas Mass times during Advent. We note below what the town has done in recent years and treat the 2026-27 details as expected until the program is published.

Pack for a beach holiday that happens to have a Christmas tree in it.

How Brazilians celebrate Christmas

If you come from North America or northern Europe, the shape of a Brazilian Christmas will feel familiar and slightly rearranged. The main event is the evening of December 24, not the morning of the 25th. Families gather for the ceia de Natal, the Christmas Eve supper, which usually starts around 10 pm. At midnight everyone toasts, embraces and exchanges presents, and children who have stayed awake finally get to open their gifts.

Many Catholic families go to the Missa do Galo, the rooster's Mass, held late on Christmas Eve and traditionally finishing around 1 am. The name comes from the old idea that the rooster was the first to announce the birth. On Christmas Day itself, services are often held in the afternoon, and the rest of the day belongs to leftovers, naps and, in a beach town, the sea.

Nativity scenes, called presépios, go up in churches and homes through December, a custom with Portuguese roots. Papai Noel, also affectionately called the Bom Velhinho or good old man, is the Brazilian Santa, and in some families children leave a sock by the window for him to fill. Christmas trees and lights are everywhere, from city avenues to small-town squares.

One custom that visitors love to join is amigo secreto, Brazil's version of Secret Santa. Each person draws a name and buys a gift for that person, and the reveal becomes a game: the giver describes their secret friend with clues until the group guesses who it is. If you are traveling as a large family or a group of friends, set up an amigo secreto before you leave home. It costs little, takes the pressure off gift shopping, and it is a lovely way to bring a Brazilian tradition to your own table.

The other thing that sets the season apart is simple: it is summer. Brazilians are used to a Christmas of salads, fruit, cold drinks and a morning swim, and the menus, the clothes and the timing all follow from that. Plan your days the way locals do, outdoors early and at the table late, and the holiday will feel natural very quickly.

Christmas in the historic center

Few colonial towns on the Brazilian coast have survived as completely as Paraty's historic center, and since 2019 it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage site named Paraty and Ilha Grande, Culture and Biodiversity. In December its squares put on their Christmas decorations, with trees and garlands in the small plazas under the old trees, and the whitewashed streets look especially good in the long golden hour before sunset.

The streets of the center are closed to cars, which makes an evening walk the easiest pleasure of the season. Start near the waterfront at the Igreja de Santa Rita, the little white church built in 1722 by freed former slaves, which now houses the town's Museum of Sacred Art. From there, wander inland along the grid to the main square and the Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, the large parish church that anchors the town. Our guide to Paraty's churches and their sacred art tells their stories in more depth.

The Christmas evening walk works best after about 7 pm, once the heat has gone out of the stones. Wear flat shoes with a good grip, because the large irregular paving stones are part of the town's charm and they reward careful footing. The shops and galleries of the center are also the easiest place for last-minute gifts: local cachaça, ceramics, woven baskets, handmade sweets and prints.

If you would like to attend a Christmas service, ask at the parish office on the main square during your first days in town, or check the notices on the church doors. Mass times are set by the parish each year, and arriving a little early for the Christmas Eve service is always wise. Visitors are always welcome, and even if you do not attend, the sight of the lit churches against the dark hills is one of the quiet highlights of the season.

For a first orientation to the grid of streets, the old port and how the town fits together, read our guide to the historic center before you go. Knowing where the squares and churches sit makes the Christmas evenings far more relaxed.

Christmas Eve supper at the house

For most of our guests, the heart of the holiday is not a restaurant but a long table at home on December 24. The Brazilian ceia lends itself to this perfectly: a late supper, a midnight toast, presents, and nobody needing to drive anywhere afterward. Having your own kitchen and terrace for the night is one of the real advantages of a villa holiday at Christmas.

A traditional Brazilian Christmas table is generous and mixes the old Portuguese feast with tropical produce. Expect roast pork or ham, turkey or chester (a large breed of chicken that has become a Christmas staple), rice with raisins, farofa (toasted manioc flour cooked with butter and onion), salads, and a bowl of fresh and dried fruit. In Rio and along the coast, salted cod often appears, and dessert usually includes rabanada, the Brazilian take on fried bread soaked in milk and sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon, alongside passion fruit mousse and a panettone.

On this coast, the most natural centerpiece is fish. Buy from the small municipal fish market or straight from the harbor: a whole robalo or a few kilos of prawns bought on the morning of the 23rd or 24th makes a superb Christmas Eve dinner. Our Paraty seafood guide explains the local catch and how to buy it.

If you would rather someone else handle the cooking, a private chef is the most relaxed way to do Christmas Eve. A chef can shop the market that morning, cook a caiçara menu with fish and local produce, and clear the kitchen while you open presents. Book a chef for either eve when you confirm your stay, since these are the most requested nights of the year. Our article on hiring a private chef in Paraty covers how it works.

A practical tip for the shopping: do the big supermarket run on December 22 or 23 and leave only fresh fish, bread and ice for the morning of the 24th. The morning of the 24th is when everyone in town is buying the same last items. With the pantry stocked a day ahead, Christmas Eve becomes a slow day of swimming, napping and setting the table.

Christmas Day on the beach and the bay

Christmas Day in Paraty is gentle. The town sleeps in after the late supper, the streets are quiet in the morning, and by midday families are heading for the water. Follow their lead. A swim on the 25th, with the sea at its summer warmth, is the most Brazilian way to spend the day.

The two beaches closest to the historic center are Praia do Pontal and Praia do Jabaquara, a short walk or drive across the river from the old town. Both have calm water and rows of kiosks serving cold drinks, grilled fish and fried snacks, and both are easy with children. Our guide to Paraty's beach kiosks explains how the kiosks work and what to order.

If you want Christmas Day on the water, the bay is at its best in summer. A shared schooner trip is sociable and simple to join, and a private boat lets you choose your own islands and coves, set your own start time and bring your own food and drink. Some families keep Christmas Day for the beach and a long late lunch, and book their boat for the 26th or 27th. Either way, read our guide to boat tours in Paraty before choosing, and book private boats early for the holiday weeks.

Close to town, the little island of Ilha do Mantimento sits at the mouth of the Perequê-Açu river, and further out the bay opens into dozens of islands and quiet beaches that are reachable only by boat. A morning on the water followed by an afternoon in the shade at home is a very good Christmas Day.

Back on land, the late afternoon is the time for a walk through the center. The light is soft, the decorations are still up, and the town has a contented, after-the-feast mood that is quite different from the bustle of the days before. Find a terrace, order a coconut or a caipirinha, and watch the schooners come back to the quay.

The days between Christmas and New Year

The stretch from December 26 to 30 is the best part of the fortnight for exploring. The holiday crowd has settled in, the weather is warm and settled into its summer rhythm, and you have five full days before the big night. This is when we suggest guests do the trips that need a full day.

Trindade, about half an hour south toward the São Paulo border, is the classic choice: surf beaches, a natural pool among the boulders at Cachadaço, and a laid-back village feel. Go early in the morning to enjoy it at its calmest, and read our Trindade guide first. Inland, the road toward Cunha climbs into the Serra do Mar past waterfalls and swimming holes; summer is when they run fullest. Our waterfall guide lists the easy ones and the ones worth a short hike.

For a slower day, take a boat into the Saco do Mamanguá, a sheltered arm of the sea that reaches deep between the hills, with calm water, mangroves and small caiçara communities along its shores. Our Saco do Mamanguá guide explains the boat options and the best stops. On another afternoon, a tasting at one of the cachaça distilleries up in the hills is a pleasant outing; the town has been making the sugarcane spirit for centuries, and a bottle makes a fine souvenir or New Year's gift. See our guide to cachaça country.

Build in at least one day with no plan at all. The rhythm of a holiday fortnight in Paraty works best with alternating busy and quiet days: a boat, then a pool day; a trip to Trindade, then an afternoon reading. With Christmas behind you and New Year ahead, these days are a gift in themselves.

Two practical notes. First, restaurants in the center are lively every night of the fortnight, so reserve dinners for the evenings that matter most to you. Second, do your New Year's Eve shopping, for the white outfits, the drinks and the dinner, by the 29th or 30th, so the 31st itself can be easy.

When to arrive and how to get here

Paraty lies on the coastal BR-101, known locally as the Rio-Santos, at about the midpoint of the coast between Brazil's two biggest cities. In ordinary traffic the drive takes about three and a half hours from Rio and a little under five from São Paulo, and the road itself, with the Serra do Mar on one side and the islands of Angra on the other, is one of the loveliest in Brazil. Our Rio to Paraty road trip guide describes the route and the best stops, and our guide to reaching Paraty from São Paulo covers the other direction.

For the holiday weeks, our best advice is about timing rather than route. Much of the region heads for the coast in the last two days before each holiday. If you can, arrive by December 22 or 23 for Christmas, or on December 27 or 28 if you are coming only for New Year. An arrival a day or two ahead of the crowd means an easy drive, a calm first evening and time to settle in before the celebrations start.

Drive in daylight. The road is winding in places and much more enjoyable when you can see the views, and with sunset close to 6:45 pm you have plenty of daylight to work with. Leave Rio after breakfast, stop for lunch on the way, and you will arrive in the late afternoon light.

International visitors usually fly into Rio, where Galeão handles long-haul flights and Santos Dumont handles domestic ones. Some travelers prefer to fly into São Paulo instead. Both work well, and a private transfer from either city is the stress-free option if you would rather not drive on holiday. Our guide to the airports for Paraty compares the choices.

For the return, the same logic applies in reverse. Many families leave on January 2 or 3. If your flight allows, stay until the 4th or 5th, enjoy a calmer final weekend in town, and drive back on a quieter road.

New Year's Eve in Paraty, and where the town gathers

New Year's Eve, which Brazilians call Réveillon, is the biggest night of Paraty's summer. In recent years the town's main stage has been at Praia do Pontal, the beach just across the bridge from the historic center, with live music building through the evening and fireworks at midnight over the water. The favorite places to watch are in front of the little church of Santa Rita on the waterfront and along the beach at Pontal, where the bursts reflect in the bay with the old town behind.

For the 2025-26 celebration, the program ran across three nights. There was a warm-up concert at Pontal on December 30, a full New Year's Eve with DJs and bands from about 7 pm until 2 am, and another evening of music at Pontal on January 1. On the 31st itself, the town also set up public stages in other parts of the municipality, at Jabaquara beach, at Santa Rita, at Trindade, at Paraty-Mirim, at Tarituba and at Prainha de Mambucaba, so each community had its own party within easy reach.

For 2026-27, expect a similar shape: a main stage on the water, smaller stages around the district, and fireworks at midnight. The lineup and exact times are normally announced by the town in December, and we share them with guests as soon as they are published.

The atmosphere is relaxed and family friendly. People arrive in white, stroll between the waterfront and the beach, buy drinks from the kiosks and street vendors, and find their spot in the half hour before midnight. The fireworks are a calm, contemplative show, and their beauty comes from the setting: the hills, the colonial churches and the bay all lit up for a few minutes.

After midnight, the music carries on into the small hours at Pontal, and many people head to the water's edge for the New Year rituals described in the next chapter. If you have children with you, the stretch between 11 pm and 12:30 am is enough to see the best of it and walk home happy.

The Réveillon traditions to join

Part of the joy of New Year's Eve in Brazil is that everyone, whatever their background, takes part in a handful of small rituals for luck. They are easy to join, nobody minds if you get them slightly wrong, and they give the night a warmth that a countdown alone does not.

The first is wearing white. Brazilians dress in white from head to toe on December 31 for peace in the coming year, and in Paraty you will see whole families, groups of friends and couples walking to the water in white linen and cotton. Bring a white outfit and you will feel part of the crowd at once. Some people add a touch of color through their underwear, which is traditionally new for the night and chosen for what you want from the year, red for energy being the classic choice.

The second is the sea. At midnight, or just after, people walk into the shallows and jump seven waves, making a wish with each one. The custom is linked to Iemanjá, the Afro-Brazilian goddess of the sea, revered as a protector of sailors and fishermen. On many Brazilian beaches people leave her gifts, such as white flowers, at the water's edge, and in Paraty the New Year has its own quiet offerings to Iemanjá around the waterfront by Santa Rita and at Pontal. The waves in the inner bay are small, so the seven-wave jump is gentle and suitable for all ages.

The third is food. Many families eat seven grapes or a few pomegranate seeds at midnight for abundance in the year ahead. Put a small bowl of grapes and pomegranate seeds on your table or in a bag for the beach and you will be ready.

Finally, there is the toast. Raise a glass with whoever is beside you at midnight, embrace the people you came with, and wish everyone around you a feliz ano novo, a happy new year. Do all of that in white with your feet in the sea, and you will have done Réveillon the Brazilian way.

Watching the fireworks from the water

Some guests want to see midnight from the bay itself, with the town and its fireworks in front of them and the boat rocking gently on the dark water. It is a beautiful way to welcome the new year, and Paraty, a port town with a long sailing tradition, is well set up for it.

If you would like to be on a boat at midnight, ask about it when you book your stay rather than once you arrive. Private boats are the right choice for this night: a captain who knows the bay, a set number of guests, your own food and drink, and a start and finish time agreed in advance. Captains plan their own New Year's commitments well ahead, so the best boats are reserved early. Our guide to chartering a private boat in Paraty explains how charters are priced, what is included and what to ask.

A good plan is to board around 10:30 pm, anchor off the waterfront with a clear view of the old town and Pontal, and have a light supper on board before midnight. After the fireworks, the captain brings you back to the quay at the bottom of Rua da Lapa, the main pier where the schooners tie up, and you can walk into the center or straight home. Agree all the timings before you go, including the return.

If you prefer to be on the water at a different hour, the evening of December 30 or the late afternoon of the 31st are also lovely times for a sunset sail, with the whole bay festive and the light turning gold over the islands. Our guide to sunset sails in Paraty has more on the best routes.

Whatever you choose, keep the night simple. White clothes, a light jacket for the breeze on the water, a waterproof bag for phones, and someone in the group who knows exactly where the boat will drop you off afterward.

A quieter New Year's Eve at home

Not every guest wants to spend midnight in a crowd, and one of the pleasures of renting a house over the holidays is that you do not have to. A long dinner at home, the table set in white, children allowed to stay up, and a toast at midnight with the people you came with is a very good way to see in the year.

Many families split the night in two. They eat at the house from about 8 pm, which suits younger children and older relatives, then those who want the fireworks head down to the waterfront around 11 pm while others stay behind. Settle in advance who is going and who is driving, and make sure the group heading to town knows where they will meet afterward.

If you are eating in, plan the menu for an evening that is warm and relaxed. A New Year table in summer suits lighter dishes than Christmas: grilled fish, prawns, salads, fruit, and grapes and pomegranate seeds ready for midnight. A private chef works particularly well on the 31st, because it frees the whole group to dress up, swim at dusk and enjoy the evening without anyone stuck at the stove.

Bring some of the traditions home too. Hand out grapes and pomegranate seeds before midnight, play some samba or bossa nova, and if your house has a pool, the jump of seven waves can become seven jumps into the pool, which children find hilarious. The point of Réveillon is to start the year surrounded by people you love and with a few wishes made, and that works just as well at home as on the beach.

If you would like help planning a New Year's Eve at the house, from a chef to the shopping list, mention it when you write to us through the enquiry page.

Dinner out on the big nights

If you prefer to eat out on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve, Paraty's restaurants offer some of the most atmospheric dining on the coast: candlelit rooms in colonial houses, seafood by the water and kitchens that mix caiçara traditions with contemporary cooking. The secret on the two big nights is simply to plan ahead.

Reserve as soon as your dates are fixed. The two eves are special nights for restaurants too, and the most popular tables in the center are reserved well ahead. When you book, ask what time service starts, whether there is a set menu and price, and whether the restaurant can hold your table if you would like to walk to the waterfront for midnight and come back for dessert.

For New Year's Eve in particular, an early dinner from about 8 pm gives you time to eat well and still walk to Pontal or to Santa Rita for the fireworks. Restaurants close to the waterfront are especially convenient. Our guide to fine dining in Paraty and our restaurant guide cover the kinds of places to look for.

On the other nights of the fortnight, the town is lively but easy. Lunch is the time for beach kiosks and long seafood meals, while evenings in the center often come with live music; our guide to Paraty after dark covers where to find it. If you are a large group, ask restaurants about a private room or a reserved section, and agree the menu in advance to keep the evening relaxed.

Tipping in Brazil is simple: most restaurants add a service charge of about ten percent to the bill, and that is generally considered enough. Our guide to money and tipping in Brazil explains the rest.

Getting around on the big nights

Paraty's historic center is pedestrian, which makes the celebrations pleasant to walk around and means you will want a simple plan for arriving and leaving. A few minutes spent on logistics on the 30th will make the 31st easy.

The most convenient parking for the waterfront and Pontal is in the public car parks at the edge of the center, by the tourist boat quay, at Pontal and beside the main church. On New Year's Eve they fill early, so if you are driving down, arrive in the early evening, have dinner in town, and stay until the party winds down. Better still, take a taxi or arrange a transfer, so nobody in the group needs to drive after the toast.

From the center, the walk to Praia do Pontal crosses the bridge over the Perequê-Açu river and takes only a few minutes. Wear shoes that grip well, because the old paving stones are uneven, and a pair of sandals in a bag lets you switch for the beach. After midnight, agree a meeting point in case the group gets separated: the steps of Santa Rita or the bridge both work well.

If you are staying up the hill, arrange your taxi or transfer for the return in advance. Drivers are in demand after midnight, and a booked pickup at 12:45 am or 1:30 am, from a place you have agreed, is the simplest way home. Our page on getting around Paraty covers taxis, transfers and driving in more detail.

For children, a light flashlight or a glow bracelet makes them easy to spot in the crowd, and ear defenders make the fireworks more fun for the very young. Keep phones and valuables in a zipped bag, as you would at any big public celebration, and carry some cash for the kiosks.

New Year's Day

January 1 is a national holiday and the gentlest day of the year in Paraty. The town wakes late, the beaches fill slowly, and the mood is happy and unhurried. It is a perfect day to do very little.

Start with a swim. The first swim of the year is a tradition of its own for many Brazilians, and the calm water of the bay is ideal for it. If you would like a beach with more space, head out early to Paraty-Mirim or one of the bay beaches reachable by a short boat ride, and leave the nearest town beaches to the late risers.

Lunch on New Year's Day is traditionally long and late. Kiosks at the beaches near town serve grilled fish, rice, salad and fried snacks, and many restaurants in the center open for lunch. If you are eating at home, leftovers from the night before, a big salad and a bowl of tropical fruit make an easy feast.

In the evening, the town often keeps the party going. In 2026, the stage at Pontal held another night of music on January 1, and the center is lively as the holiday weekend continues. Expect something similar for 2027, and treat it as a relaxed encore after the big night.

January 2 is a Saturday this season, which gives the holiday a natural long weekend. For many families it is departure day, but if you can stay a little longer, the first week of January keeps all the warmth of summer with a calmer feel, and it is one of our favorite times of the year in Paraty. Our guide to Paraty in the Brazilian summer covers January and February in depth.

The holiday fortnight with children

Paraty is a wonderful place for children at Christmas. The historic center is car-free, the nearest beaches have calm, shallow water, and the celebrations are family events from start to finish. A few small plans make the fortnight easier for everyone.

Keep Christmas Eve child friendly. A ten o'clock supper is late for small children, so many families serve the children an early meal, let them nap, then wake them for presents at midnight. Others bring the gift opening forward to the early evening and keep only a small surprise for midnight. Either way, a nativity scene, a Christmas tree and Papai Noel's sock by the window will feel magical in a summer house.

On New Year's Eve, go to the waterfront early. The music starts in the evening and there is plenty of space before 11 pm, when the crowds build. A picnic blanket, white clothes, a snack, a bottle of water, ear defenders for the fireworks and a meeting point agreed in advance are all you need. The seven-wave jump in the shallow water at Pontal is great fun for children, and the waves in the inner bay are small.

During the days in between, the beaches of Jabaquara and Pontal are easy outings with kiosks and shade, and a boat day to the islands is a highlight for children of every age. Waterfalls with shallow pools in the hills make another good morning. Plan outdoor activities for the morning and late afternoon, and use the middle of the day for the pool, lunch and a rest.

Our full guide to Paraty with children covers beaches, activities and practical tips for families, and it is worth reading before a holiday visit.

The holidays for couples and groups of friends

For couples, Christmas and New Year in Paraty are romantic in a way few places can match: warm evenings, candlelit streets, the bay at sunset and fireworks over a colonial town. Many couples choose the holidays for a honeymoon or an anniversary, and the fortnight is easy to shape around the two of you.

A couple's version of the season might include a private sunset sail, a long dinner in one of the restaurants in the center, a day at a beach reached only by boat, and New Year's Eve either at the waterfront or at home with a chef and a bottle of something good. Our guide to a romantic getaway in Paraty has more ideas, and the honeymoon guide covers longer stays.

For groups of friends, the holidays are the perfect time to share a house. Paraty works well for groups because the days can be split easily: some go surfing in Trindade, others take a boat or a waterfall hike, and everyone meets for dinner. Sharing a villa also makes the two big nights simple, with a long table for the Christmas Eve supper and a terrace for the New Year's toast.

A few tips help a group holiday run smoothly. Agree a shared kitty for groceries and drinks before you arrive. Book boats and restaurants for the whole group in advance, especially for the 24th and 31st. Set up the amigo secreto before the trip so everyone arrives with a gift. And decide early how you will get to and from the waterfront on New Year's Eve, so nobody has to think about it on the night.

Whatever the size of your party, the holidays in Paraty reward a slower pace. With two long weekends side by side, there is no need to fit everything in, and the best memories often come from the quiet afternoons in between.

What to pack for a Paraty Christmas

Packing for the holidays in Paraty is packing for a beach summer with two festive evenings. Light clothing does most of the work, and a few specific items make the celebrations easier.

• A white outfit for New Year's Eve for everyone in the group, plus new underwear in your chosen color if you want to join that tradition.
• Light, breathable clothes in linen and cotton, with one smarter outfit for Christmas Eve or a dinner out.
• Shoes that grip for the paving stones of the historic center, plus sandals for the beach and water shoes for rocky coves.
• Sunscreen and shade: a reef-safe cream, sunglasses and a hat, since the summer sun is strong from mid-morning.
• Insect repellent for the evenings near the forest and the water.
• A light rain jacket or umbrella, useful for a passing summer shower.
• A waterproof bag for phones on boats and at the beach on New Year's Eve.
• Small gifts for the amigo secreto and a few treats for Papai Noel's sock.
• Ear defenders for small children on New Year's Eve.
• Some cash in reais for beach kiosks, boatmen and street vendors.

If you forget something, the shops in town have most essentials, from beachwear to sunscreen. White clothes in particular are easy to buy in Paraty in late December, since every shop knows what visitors are looking for. Still, finding your New Year outfit at home and packing it saves you an errand on the 30th.

If you are bringing presents from abroad, keep them small and light. Many Brazilian families focus on the supper and the company rather than piles of gifts, and a beautiful bottle of local cachaça bought in Paraty is one of the most appreciated presents you can give at the New Year table.

The weather and the sea in late December

Late December is high summer on the Costa Verde, and the season is built around the water. The sea in December averages about 25°C, roughly 78°F, warming further through January, and daytime highs on land sit around 28°C, close to 82°F. Days are long, with sunrise a little after 5 am and sunset around 6:45 pm, which gives you more than thirteen and a half hours of light.

The rhythm of a summer day here is simple. Mornings are usually the brightest part of the day, ideal for boats, beaches and hikes. The middle of the day is hot and best spent in the shade, at lunch or in a pool. Late afternoons bring softer light and a breeze off the bay, and evenings are warm enough for dinner outdoors. Summer afternoons can bring a short tropical shower that clears by evening, so keep plans flexible and enjoy the cooler air that follows.

The forest is at its greenest, the waterfalls are full, and the bay has its summer colors, from emerald near the shore to deep blue further out. It is a wonderful time for snorkeling around the islands, for swimming at any hour, and for long evenings on a terrace.

Plan your active days early, keep water with you, and slow down when the heat peaks. The locals have it right: an early swim, a long lunch, a rest in the afternoon and a late dinner. By the second or third day you will find yourself living by the same clock.

For a deeper look at summer in Paraty, including what January and February bring after the holidays, read our best time to visit Paraty guide, which covers every month of the year.

A sample holiday fortnight

Here is a twelve-day outline that many of our guests adapt. It assumes arrival on December 22 and departure on January 2, and it alternates full days with easy ones so the two big nights never feel rushed.

• December 22, Tuesday. Drive from Rio or São Paulo in daylight. Settle in, do the big grocery shop, and walk the historic center at dusk.
• December 23, Wednesday. Beach morning at Jabaquara or Pontal. Buy fish and fresh produce for Christmas Eve. Full moon over the bay late that night.
• December 24, Thursday. Easy morning swim, a slow afternoon, then the ceia from about 10 pm, presents and a toast at midnight. Missa do Galo for those who want it.
• December 25, Friday. Late breakfast, beach in the afternoon, a walk through the decorated center in the evening.
• December 26, Saturday. Private boat to the islands with lunch on board or at a beach reached only by sea.
• December 27, Sunday. Trindade in the morning, pool and rest in the afternoon.
• December 28, Monday. Waterfalls in the hills and a cachaça distillery on the way back.
• December 29, Tuesday. A slow day at the house. Pick up white outfits and New Year provisions.
• December 30, Wednesday. Saco do Mamanguá by boat, then a sunset sail or the warm-up concert at Pontal.
• December 31, Thursday. Easy day, early dinner, then the waterfront at Santa Rita or Pontal, or a boat on the bay, for midnight. Seven waves, grapes and a toast.
• January 1, Friday. First swim of the year, a long lunch, music at Pontal in the evening.
• January 2, Saturday. Pack up and drive back, or stay on for the calmer first week of January.

Adjust it to suit your group. Families with small children may want more pool days, keen hikers may swap a beach for a trail, and couples may prefer two boat days to one. The important parts are the gaps: a fortnight with breathing space is what makes the holidays feel like a holiday.

For more itinerary ideas, our Paraty itineraries cover shorter and longer trips, and the satellite map shows where every beach, island and waterfall sits.

Booking the holidays

Christmas and New Year are the most requested weeks of the year on this coast, and the houses with the best views and space for families are the first to be reserved. If you are thinking about the 2026-27 holidays, now is the time to plan.

When you enquire, tell us your preferred dates, the size and ages of your group, and how you would like to spend the two big nights. Holiday weeks are often reserved as a block covering both Christmas and New Year, so ask about minimum stays and whether shorter stays are possible on either side. If you would like a private chef for Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve, a boat for the 31st, or help with transfers from Rio or São Paulo, mention it at the same time, since these book up early too.

A holiday stay at Château Portofino works best when the arrival day, the shopping and the two celebrations are planned before you leave home. Once that framework is set, the days in between can stay as loose as you like. Write to us through the enquiry page with your dates, and we will reply directly with availability and suggestions for the season.

If you are still choosing between the holidays and another time of year, our guide to Paraty's festivals covers the other big moments of the town's calendar, from Carnival in February to the literary festival in the Brazilian winter. Each season has its own character, and the Christmas fortnight, with its warm sea, family tables and fireworks over the bay, is one of the happiest.

Whichever dates you choose, come ready to swim on Christmas Day, wear white on New Year's Eve and jump seven waves at midnight. Paraty does the rest.

Sources

Dates, programs and figures in this article were checked against these sources in October 2026. The 2026-27 New Year program and church service times are announced locally in December.

• Réveillon Paraty 2026: programação, shows e onde ver os fogos (BlaBlaCar blog, December 2025)
• Christmas in Brazil (Why Christmas)
• Ano Novo, New Year in Brazil (Living Language)
• Feriados nacionais e pontos facultativos de 2026 (Movimento Econômico, December 30, 2025)
• Paraty and Ilha Grande, Culture and Biodiversity (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
• Phases of the Moon, 2026 (U.S. Naval Observatory)
• Sunrise and sunset for Paraty, December 31, 2026 (Sunrise-Sunset.org)
• Water temperature in Paraty in December (SeaTemperature.info)
• The historic center of Paraty (Frommer's)

Cover photo: Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios at dusk, by Filipo tardim, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions