Paraty Walking Tour: Scavenger Hunt Through Colonial Streets

Solve riddles through 300 years of colonial architecture at your own pace

This self-guided scavenger hunt takes you through Paraty's cobblestone streets using phone-based riddles to navigate from one landmark to the next, with no guide and no fixed start time. You'll search out Igreja de Santa Rita de Cássia (Paraty's oldest church, built in 1722), the Cais de Paraty (the stone quay where gold once shipped to Portugal), and the Casarão dos Símbolos (a colonial mansion carved with cryptic Masonic symbols). The app is available in 24 languages. Plan around 2 hours at an unhurried pace. You'll need a fully charged smartphone with active mobile data and the Explorial app downloaded before you start.

The experience

What makes this different from a walking tour with a guide is that you're solving the puzzle yourself. You download the Explorial app, enter a 6-digit game code sent to you by text and booking-platform message, and set off from Travessa Santa Rita in Paraty's Centro Histórico whenever you want. The app feeds you riddles and trivia challenges tied to each landmark, and you move through the town at your own rhythm: pausing as long as you like, taking detours, or sitting down for a coffee without anyone waiting. The scoring system lets you compete between players in your group and try to beat the city's high score, which turns the walk into something between a game and a history lesson.

The route itself is built around three stops that anchor Paraty's colonial past. Igreja de Santa Rita de Cássia rises above the cobblestones with its bright white facade. The app walks you through the stories of its 1722 founding and what the architecture reveals. The Cais de Paraty is the old stone quay at the water's edge where gold mined in Minas Gerais once passed through on its way to Portugal: the app unpacks that history as you stand there. The hunt ends at the Casarão dos Símbolos, a mansion whose walls are covered in Masonic carvings and cryptic imagery that historians are still debating. It's one of Paraty's most curious sights, and the app turns the symbols into a puzzle you're solving, not just looking at.

You'll walk for around 2 hours at an unhurried pace, but there's no timer and no pressure. Paraty rewards slow walkers and curious eyes. The app is designed to bring out both. All the puzzles relate to public areas of the sights, so no entrance fees are required. Bring a fully charged smartphone with active mobile data, wear comfortable walking shoes, and disable any VPN before you start (it can cause the app to disconnect). The weather and health guarantee means if bad weather or illness stops you, you can reschedule for another day, switch to a different city, or request a refund.

What’s included

• Free download of the Explorial app (iOS or Android).
• self-guided walking tour with interactive riddles, trivia challenges and photo tasks.
• points and scoring system to compete within your group.
• live location navigation on the app map.
• stories and history of Paraty's colonial landmarks and local legends.
• total flexibility to start anytime, walk at your own pace and take as many breaks as you want.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (10 to 90 years) · Child (under 10): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Cantonese, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Swedish, Turkish and Ukrainian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Explorial

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to move through Paraty at your own pace with riddles guiding you between landmarks, rather than a guide narrating as you walk.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Romanian, Danish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Ukrainian, Czech, Norwegian, Hungarian, Cantonese, Greek, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Finnish, Swedish, Hindi and Turkish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 10): free.

Can I start the scavenger hunt whenever I want, or is there a set time?

You start anytime you want with no fixed departure. After booking, you'll receive a game code by text and booking-platform message. Download the Explorial app, enter the code, and begin whenever suits your day in Paraty.

What is Igreja de Santa Rita de Cássia and why is it the first stop?

Igreja de Santa Rita de Cássia is Paraty's oldest church, built in 1722, with a bright white facade that rises above the cobblestones. The app reveals the stories behind its founding and what its colonial architecture tells about the town's history.

What was the Cais de Paraty used for historically?

The Cais de Paraty is the old stone quay at the water's edge where gold mined in Minas Gerais was shipped to Portugal during the colonial era. The app walks you through this remarkable history as you stand at the waterfront.

Do I need to pay entrance fees to visit the landmarks on this hunt?

No entrance fees are required. All the riddles and puzzles relate to public areas of the sights, so you can complete the entire hunt without paying to enter any building.

What do I need to bring to do this scavenger hunt?

Bring a fully charged smartphone with active mobile data and the Explorial app downloaded before you start. Wear comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing for around 2 hours of light walking. Disable any VPN before opening the app, as it can cause the app to malfunction.

Can I do this tour with a group, or is it just for individuals?

You can do it with a group of up to 15 people per booking. The app includes a scoring system so players in your group can compete and try to beat the city's high score together.