Big-city beaches, a car-free tropical island and one of South America's most beautiful colonial towns — linked by a coastal road that earns its name.
The Costa Verde is a stretch of Brazilian coastline running south from Rio de Janeiro — three hours of Atlantic rainforest, colonial architecture, and some of the country's most beautiful beaches.
Start in Rio. Two days is enough for the essentials: Copacabana and Ipanema, the cable car to Sugarloaf Mountain, and the Christ the Redeemer statue at Corcovado.
The city is extraordinary and genuinely intense. Book accommodation in Ipanema or Botafogo rather than Copacabana for a slightly calmer experience. Eat in the Santa Teresa neighbourhood on your second evening.
Paraty is one of the best-preserved colonial towns in Brazil, with a network of cobbled streets closed to most traffic. The historic centre floods gently at high tide — the water turns the streets into shallow channels.
The surrounding region is good hiking territory, with Atlantic rainforest trails and small waterfalls. Local cachaça distilleries are worth a visit.
Ilha Grande is a car-free island covered in Atlantic rainforest, with over 100 beaches. There are no motorbikes, no cars — just boats, paths, and the Atlantic.
Take the ferry from Angra dos Reis. Lopes Mendes is the most photographed beach and takes around 2 hours to reach on foot from the main village. Get there early.
Drive back up the BR-101 coastal highway and drop your car at the rental agency. The road hugs the coast through patches of forest.
April to October is the dry season and the best time to visit. July and August are busy with Brazilian school holidays. November to March brings heavy rain and heat, though Carnaval (February) is reason enough to visit out of season.
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The full route — stops, maps, and driving times — is on Routebook by Kington.
Big-city beaches, a car-free tropical island and a colonial gem on Brazil's Costa Verde.
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