Saco do Mamangua Speedboat Tour from Paraty: Three Snorkel Stops

Zip across a fjord and drop anchor at three snorkel sites in one morning

A speedboat tour from Paraty into Saco do Mamangua, a 8 km fjord with 33 beaches and mangrove habitat, includes three stops for snorkeling with a professional guide, snorkel gear and mask. The five-hour trip departs daily; children from age 6 are welcome, and you'll need to pick up your voucher by 8:30am at the Paraty Tours agency on Avenida Roberto Silveira.

Step-by-step itinerary

Speedboat tour and diving stops

• Board high-speed flexboat
• Travel through Saco do Mamanguá fjord
• Stop 1 for diving and snorkeling
• Stop 2 for diving and snorkeling
• Stop 3 for diving and snorkeling
• Admire mangroves and beaches

The Experience

You arrive in Paraty with a free afternoon or a morning to spare, and the speedboat leaves the dock heading straight into Saco do Mamangua. The boat itself is the first part of the experience—a high-speed flexboat that cuts across the water fast enough to make the ride itself feel like the adventure. The fjord opens up around you as you move through it, bordered by 33 beaches and the mangrove forest that lines the deeper water. The guide navigates to three separate snorkel stops, each one chosen for what lives in the water there and what the seabed looks like when you drop down into it.

At each stop, you slip into the water with the snorkel gear provided—mask and snorkel included—and spend time exploring the marine life and the underwater landscape of Saco do Mamangua. The guide is with you and speaks Portuguese, so if you have questions about what you're seeing, they can answer them. Between stops, the boat moves again, and you get to see the fjord from the water rather than from shore. The whole outing runs five hours from start to finish, which gives you time to snorkel at all three sites without rushing and still be back in Paraty by early afternoon.

Voucher pickup happens at the Paraty Tours agency by 8:30am on the day of your tour—that's the only logistics you need to handle before you arrive at the dock. The tour suits all fitness levels, and children from age 6 can come along. Bring a towel and a change of clothes; food and drinks are not included, so eat before you leave or pack something to have on the boat.

What’s included

• Snorkel mask and snorkel.
• professional guide who speaks Portuguese.
• three snorkel stops in Saco do Mamangua.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Tangol

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to cover multiple snorkel spots in one morning—the speedboat gets you between three locations quickly, so you see more reef and marine life than a single-beach visit allows.

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Top questions

What is Saco do Mamangua like when you get there?

Saco do Mamangua is a fjord 8 km long and 2 km wide, lined with 33 beaches and bordered by mangrove forest. The water is deep enough to snorkel in, and the marine life and seabed change at each of the three stops the tour visits.

Do I need to know how to snorkel, or is this for beginners too?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, and snorkel gear is provided with instruction from the professional guide. You don't need prior experience—the guide will show you what to do at each stop.

How much time do I actually spend in the water snorkeling?

The tour is five hours total, and you stop at three separate snorkel sites. The exact time in the water at each stop depends on conditions and what the guide finds, but the schedule is built around giving you time at all three locations without rushing between them.

Can I bring my kids on this tour?

Children from age 6 are welcome on the speedboat tour. Children under 6 are not permitted.

What do I need to do before the tour starts?

Pick up your voucher at the Paraty Tours agency (Avenida Roberto Silveira, 479) by 8:30am on the day of your tour. Bring a towel and a change of clothes; the tour does not include food or drinks.

Is the boat ride rough, or is it smooth?

The speedboat is a high-speed flexboat designed to move quickly across the water. The ride itself is part of the experience, and the boat is built for this kind of travel, but if you're sensitive to motion, let the guide know when you arrive.