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Which is better: Bombinhas or Paraty?

Short answer

Bombinhas is on the Santa Catarina Coast (SC), while Paraty is in Rio de Janeiro and its surroundings (RJ): different regions of Brazil. Bombinhas: a small peninsula of transparent green sea on the Santa Catarina coast, with dozens of beaches between rock outcrops and Atlantic Forest and the best diving in southern Brazil; Paraty: a colonial historic center and a bay of islands. For this month's weather, Bombinhas has the edge.

Sources: INMET (updated 2026) · ANP · OpenStreetMap
Most reviewed activity in BombinhasBombinhas Beaches Day Trip★ 10 · 6 reviews · from US$ 18 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Most reviewed activity in ParatyParaty Islands Tour★ 8.9 · 47 reviews · from US$ 24 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Bombinhas Paraty
Best time to visit Apr → Nov Jun → Aug
Weather this month 24° · 13 days of rain 28° · 14 days of rain
By car R$ 51 · from Florianópolis R$ 155 + tolls · from São Paulo
Ideal stay 3–4 days 3–4 days
Best for Adventure, Relax, Family Romantic, Food, Adventure, Relax
Choose Bombinhas if

you want a trip for adventure seekers and relaxation: a small peninsula of transparent green sea on the Santa Catarina coast, with dozens of beaches between rock outcrops and Atlantic Forest and the best diving in southern Brazil.

See guide
Choose Paraty if

you want a trip for couples and food lovers: uneven cobblestones, whitewashed houses and craft cachaça on the Costa Verde.

See guide
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Where to stay

Where to stay: Bombinhas or Paraty

The average nightly rate is around R$ 331 in Bombinhas and R$ 507 in Paraty; what changes in practice is each place's season. Check current prices for your dates before deciding.

Compare hotels and places to stay in Bombinhas on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

Residencial Casa Flora in Bombinhas 9.8 ★★★★★ · 42 reviews Residencial Casa Flora See on Booking → Pousada Vila do Bosque in Bombinhas 9.4 ★★★★ · 36 reviews Pousada Vila do Bosque See on Booking →
See all hotels in Bombinhas

Compare hotels and places to stay in Paraty on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

Pousada Porto Imperial in Paraty 9.5 ★★★★ · 11 reviews Pousada Porto Imperial See on Booking → Pousada das Pedras in Paraty 8.4 ★★★★ · 412 reviews Pousada das Pedras See on Booking →
See all hotels in Paraty

Rates change with the dates: confirm the price on Booking.com.

Frequently asked questions

Bombinhas or Paraty: which is better?
Bombinhas is on the Santa Catarina Coast (SC), while Paraty is in Rio de Janeiro and its surroundings (RJ): different regions of Brazil. Bombinhas: a small peninsula of transparent green sea on the Santa Catarina coast, with dozens of beaches between rock outcrops and Atlantic Forest and the best diving in southern Brazil; Paraty: a colonial historic center and a bay of islands. For this month's weather, Bombinhas has the edge.
What is the best time to visit Bombinhas and Paraty?
The best time to visit Bombinhas is from April to November; for Paraty, it is from June to August, based on INMET's climate normals (temperature and rainfall for each month). If your trip already has a date, check each destination's page for your month.
Which of the two is cheaper to get to?
By car, leaving from Florianópolis, Bombinhas is 79 km (49 mi) and costs about R$ 51 each way (fuel plus tolls); leaving from São Paulo, Paraty is 280 km (174 mi) and costs about R$ 155 each way (fuel only, tolls not included). The calculation assumes a car that gets 11 km/L. Lodging and activities vary with each place's season.
Where does it rain less, Bombinhas or Paraty?
Averaged over the year, Bombinhas has 12 rainy days a month and Paraty has 14. Bombinhas is the drier of the two over the year as a whole, but what decides the trip is the month: the rainiest month in Bombinhas is January and in Paraty, January. For temperature, Paraty is the warmer one (average high of 28° versus 25°).
How many days should you spend in Bombinhas and in Paraty?
To see the main sights without rushing, Bombinhas calls for 3–4 days and Paraty, 3–4 days. These are distant regions: with a week or less, it is usually better to pick one of the two and make the most of it.
Bombinhas or Paraty with kids?
Bombinhas (diving capital, peninsula of beaches, and crystal-clear water) is the better pick of the two for families. Paraty (colonial historic center, boat trip, and waterfalls in the mountains) is geared more toward adults or couples. With small children, weather matters: Bombinhas has fewer rainy days over the year.
What should you not miss in each?
In Bombinhas: Bombas Beach and Praia Central, Mariscal Beach, Sepultura Beach. In Paraty: Colonial historic center, "Pé de moleque" streets, Paraty Bay and boat trip. These are the sights that show up most in first-trip itineraries for each destination; the full guide to each has the whole list.