Paraty waterfalls tour: Tobogan slide and cachaça distillery

Swim under two waterfalls and slide down a 20-meter natural rock in three hours

A private 3-hour jeep tour from Paraty takes you to Tobogan and Tarzan waterfalls in the Penha neighborhood, where you spend about two hours swimming and sliding down the famous natural waterslide, then visits Alambique Engenho D'ouro for a guided cachaça tasting and the Church of Penha. The tour includes transportation and a Portuguese-speaking guide; an English-speaking guide is available for an additional $50 paid at the end of the tour.

Step-by-step itinerary

Waterfalls and cultural tour in Paraty

• Visit Tobogan and Tarzan waterfalls
• Enjoy natural slide at Tobogan waterfall
• Stop for photos and bath at waterfalls
• Taste cachaça and sweets at Alambique Engenho D'ouro
• Tour Alambique Engenho D'ouro distillery
• Visit Church of Penha for photos and contemplation
• See Toten of the Royal Road and learn history

The Experience

You have a free afternoon in Paraty and want to get into the water without renting a car or figuring out the back roads yourself. The jeep picks you up and drives into the Atlantic Forest toward the Cachoeiras complex in the Penha neighborhood, where the two most famous waterfalls of the region are waiting. Tobogan is the one people come for — a natural slide carved into the rock face, roughly 20 meters high, that drops you into a clear pool below. Tarzan, the second waterfall, sits nearby. You'll have about two hours to swim, climb back up and slide again, take photos in the pools, and move between the two falls at your own pace while the guide stays with the group.

After the waterfalls, the jeep takes you to Alambique Engenho D'ouro, a cachaça distillery where a guide walks you through how the spirit is made and aged, then you taste the local varieties — including the region's famous Gabriela cravo e canela, a cinnamon-infused cachaça. The stop is short and optional if you'd rather skip it. On the way back, you pass the Church of Penha and stop at the Totem of the Royal Road, where the guide explains the history of the Gold Route that once ran through Paraty. The whole route stays within Serra da Bocaina National Park and crosses into Rio de Janeiro state.

A cash fee of 5 reais is collected on the day for access to the White Stone waterfall, one of the stops along the route. The tour runs three hours total and is private, so the group is just the people you book with. Portuguese is the guide's language; English-speaking guides are available if you arrange it at checkout and pay an extra $50 at the end of the tour.

What’s included

• Private jeep transportation from your location in Paraty.
• a Portuguese-speaking guide for the full three hours.
• a guided tour of the Alambique Engenho D'ouro distillery with cachaça tastings.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomeNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Jango Tour Paraty

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're traveling as a small group or family and want to spend most of your afternoon in the water rather than moving between many stops — the two-hour waterfall window and the private jeep mean you control the pace at Tobogan without waiting for a larger group to finish.

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Top questions

How much time do you actually spend in the water at the waterfalls?

The Tobogan and Tarzan waterfall complex is where you spend roughly two hours of the three-hour tour, swimming in the pools and sliding down the natural rock face as many times as you want before heading to the distillery.

What is the Tobogan waterfall slide actually like?

Tobogan is a natural slide carved into the rock, about 20 meters high, that drops you into a clear pool at the bottom — the most famous waterfall in Paraty and the main reason people book this tour.

Do you have to speak Portuguese to understand the guide?

The guide speaks Portuguese by default, but you can request an English-speaking guide at checkout; the extra cost is $50, paid at the end of the tour.

What happens at the Alambique Engenho D'ouro distillery?

A guide shows you how cachaça is made and aged, then you taste several varieties including Gabriela cravo e canela, the region's famous cinnamon-infused cachaça — the stop is optional if you prefer to skip it.

Is there a cost beyond the tour price?

A 5-real fee (paid in cash on the day) covers access to the White Stone waterfall, one of the stops on the route; an English-speaking guide adds $50 at the end of the tour if you choose that option.

Does the tour go into the national park?

Yes, the route passes through Serra da Bocaina National Park and crosses into Rio de Janeiro state, so you're driving through protected Atlantic Forest the whole way.