Snorkeling in Paraty: Schooner cruise to three islands

Sail and snorkel instead of watching from the deck

A schooner cruise through Paraty Bay with stops at three islands where you snorkel in the water instead of swimming from the beach. The boat crew is Portuguese-speaking; snorkel gear and fresh fruit are included. Specific islands vary by weather and crowds, but typically include Comprida, Algodão, and Cotia. The tour runs about five hours, with roughly an hour at each stop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sail and explore Paraty islands

• Board schooner in Paraty Bay
• Sail 40 minutes to first island
• Anchor and snorkel at first island
• Sail to second island
• Anchor and snorkel at second island
• Sail to third island
• Anchor and snorkel at third island
• Enjoy fresh fruit onboard
• Return to Paraty Bay

The Experience

The day starts with a 40-minute sail across Paraty Bay on a wooden schooner, then the boat anchors at the first of three islands. You get in the water with a mask and snorkel — the crew has already set up the gear — and spend about an hour exploring the reefs and fish around that spot. The islands visited shift depending on weather and how many people are there that day, so you might see Comprida, Algodão, Cotia, Praia Vermelha, or one of the smaller beaches like Lulas or Saco da Velha. The crew knows the bay and picks the calmest, clearest water available.

Between snorkeling stops you swim, sunbathe on deck, or stay in the water. Fresh fruit comes out during the breaks — the only food included is what the crew brings. If you want lunch, you choose that option at checkout; without it, the fruit and the snorkeling are what you get. The boat itself varies day to day depending on how many people book, so you cannot pick which schooner you'll sail on when you reserve.

You need to pick up your voucher at the Paraty Tours agency (Av. Roberto Silveira, 479) by 10am on the day of the tour. The crew speaks Portuguese, and the itinerary can shift if the weather turns or the captain decides a different route makes sense. Children must have an adult with them. Public buses run near the agency if you don't have a car.

What’s included

• Snorkel mask and snorkel for all three islands.
• fresh fruit during the breaks.
• five-hour schooner cruise with a Portuguese-speaking crew.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Tangol

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to spend most of the day in the water rather than on a boat watching others snorkel — you're the one with the mask on, moving through the reefs at your own pace at each stop.

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Top questions

What islands will we snorkel at on this cruise?

Paraty Bay has over 65 islands, and the three stops shift based on weather and crowds. Typical islands include Comprida, Algodão, Cotia, and Praia Vermelha, along with beaches like Lulas and Saco da Velha — the crew picks the calmest, clearest spots available on the day.

How much time do we actually spend snorkeling at each island?

The schooner anchors at each of the three islands for about an hour, which covers snorkeling, swimming, and sunbathing on deck or in the water.

What's included in the snorkeling gear?

Masks and snorkels are provided; you bring your own fins or swim without them. The crew fits the masks before you enter the water.

Is lunch included, or just the fruit?

Fresh fruit is included on every cruise. Lunch is an optional add-on you choose at checkout; without it, fruit is the only food provided during the five-hour day.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the boat?

Hotel pickup is not included, so you arrange your own way to the Paraty Tours agency on Av. Roberto Silveira, 479. Public buses serve the area, and you must pick up your voucher by 10am on the day of the tour.