Do you want to spend a nice day at the beach? Looking for some ideas? Guaratuba will provide you all of that.
On this post I will describe our visit to a town called Guaratuba in Paraná. I will highlight what to do in this charming coastal town.
While in Brazil last April, we went to visit my brother in Pontal do Paraná. (See my post “Ilha do Mel and Pontal do Paraná“). One day we decided to visit a nearby town called Guaratuba. The town is famous in the area as a summer destination for people from Paraná, Santa Catarina and even São Paulo states.
We were travelling independently with a hired car as we are confident travellers and speak the language. However, if you prefer to be part of a tour and to have everything organised for you, I advise you to book a complete tour with Tourradar.
They have different kinds of tours that will fit your time and budget. If you book it via my links you can get a discount by using this code: RoseG50.
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A LITTLE BIT ABOUT GUARATUBA
Guaratuba is a coastal town located in the state of Paraná, known for its stunning beaches, lush nature, and rich historical significance. Founded in 1771, it is one of the oldest towns in the region. Its name comes from the Tupi language, meaning “many herons,” reflecting the abundant birdlife in the area.
Because the town is part of the “Serra do Mar” (mountain range by the coast) region, the area is home to a diverse ecosystem, making it a hotspot for ecotourism.
The beaches of Guaratuba are among its major attractions, popular for their clean waters, soft sands, and family-friendly atmosphere.
Tourism is the main economy, fishing and agriculture come after.
Tourists are drawn not only to the beaches but also to the area’s vibrant festivals, local cuisine (especially seafood), and outdoor activities like hiking and fishing.
The town’s natural reserves, like “Parque Nacional Saint-Hilaire/Lange”, protect the Atlantic Forest and its diverse flora and fauna, creating a perfect environment for trekking and guided eco-tours.
VISITING GUARATUBA
We left Pontal do Paraná in the morning and drove south. We passed through Matinhos, another town on the coast and headed to the ferry boat to cross the Guaratuba Bay. The crossing is short, about 15 minutes and from the ferry boat you can see the beautiful mountains in the background.
Below is a map showing the places we went in Guaratuba:
Once on the other side we drove to “Praia de Guaratuba”, (Guaratuba Beach) one of the most popular beaches in town. We drove the whole extent of the beach until “Morro do Cristo de Guaratuba”(Christ’s Hill).
The “Morro do Cristo”, is a hill with a statue of Christ the Redeemer, offering panoramic views of the town and coastline.
We walked around, bought an ice cream and sat on a bench in front of the beach watching the people. It was a hot day, and nobody was keen to climb the hill to see the Christ and the views from the top. So, after spending some time in the area we drove to the centre of the town.
In the centre you will find the “Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Bom Sucesso”, the town’s main church. The church is dedicated to Our Lady of Good Success, who is also the town’s patron saint, and it serves as the centre of religious festivities during annual celebrations like the Festa do “Divino Espírito Santo” and the feast of “Nossa Senhora do Bom Sucesso”.
In the centre, we looked at the shops and explored the town for a while. Once we were happy that we saw everything we took the car and drove back to Pontal do Paraná. We only had a quick visit there, but if you like beaches, you can stay on the beach for the day and enjoy the warm waters and the sun.
If you want to stay for lunch you should try “Restaurante San Remo” at Caieiras Beach. Caieiras Beach faces the Guaratuba Bay and you can see it from the ferry boat. The restaurant is on the beach and serves simple food but so good it is worth trying. We went for lunch there on our way back from our trip to Santa Catarina and we loved it.
If you are a nature lover and is staying in Guaratuba to explore the national parks and trails in the area, I can recommend the following SITE that has a lot of information on hike, bike, trail run and outdoor activities.
Besides its beaches, the town offers several options for nature lovers. The “Serra do Mar” region provides hiking trails through dense rainforests, waterfalls, and scenic viewpoints. For birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts, the surrounding wetlands and forests provide ample opportunity to observe wildlife.
In conclusion, Guaratuba is a charming coastal destination that offers a mix of natural beauty, rich history, and vibrant culture worth visiting.
When we were back at Pontal we went for lunch in a very nice restaurant facing the beach. It was called “Canto das Pedras” and was located at the boat’s terminal that go to Ilha do Mel. The restaurant faces Pontal do Sul Beach and is in a very nice location. On that day they had live music and we had a lovely lunch there. We had “Moqueca de frutos do Mar” (a type of Seafood stew) and it was delicious. See photo below:
Check out the video of our lunch at “Canto das Pedras” on the Travelling Surveyor Instagram:
I hope this post will give you some idea of what can be done in one day in Guaratuba and will help you plan your own visit there.
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TRIP
Below you will find a list of what to visit, where to stay and where to eat in Guaratuba. I classified each place as follows:
BOLD – Visited, tried and recommended
NOT BOLD – Not visited or tried, but planning to visit or try and heard very good reviews
RED – Visited and tried but do not recommend, avoid or be cautious
*** – Excellent
** – Good
* – OK
£££ – Expensive
££ – Fair and affordable
£ – Cheap
PLEASE NOTE: Every hotel, restaurants and attractions I mention on my blogs are not sponsored reviews and we always paid the full price when visiting. We give our own opinion of the place and detail our experience, good or bad.
WHAT TO SEE
ATTRACTIONS
1 – Guaratuba Beach – ***
2 – Morro do Cristo de Guaratuba – ***
3 – Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Bom Sucesso – ***
4 – Trekking and Eco-tours
WHERE TO STAY
ACCOMODATION
1 – Hotel Cabana Suiça – 3* – ££
2 – Hotel Villareal Guaratuba – 3* – ££
3 – Hotel Pousada Porto da Lua – 3* – ££
4 – Spazio Marine Hotel – 3* – ££
5 – Hotel Santa Paula – 3* – ££
6 – Kaakupe Praia Hotel – 3* – ££
If you prefer to look for your own accommodation, search and book via the below widget:
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WHERE TO EAT
RESTAURANTS
1 – Restaurante San Remo – *** – £
2 – Oceano Restaurante ae Choperia – ££
3 – Restaurante Convés – ££
4 – Carangueijo no balde – £
5 – Al Mare Petiscaria – ££
6 – Spazio Restaurante – ££
If you tried any of my recommendations above, please send me a message and tell me about your experience good or bad, so I can update the list accordingly. Thanks!
If you enjoyed reading this post you might also like to read:
On this trip to Brazil:
1 – Itu – São Paulo State
2 – Guaratuba – Paraná State
3 – Balneário Camburiú – Santa Catarina State – Coming soon
4 – Blumenau and Pomerode – Santa Catarina State – Coming Soon
5 – Florianópolis – Santa Catarina State – Coming Soon
6 – Caverna do Diabo – Eldorado – São Paulo State – Coming Soon
7 – Guarujá – São Paulo State – Coming Soon
8 – Aparecida do Norte – São Paulo State – Coming Soon
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