Praia Brava (Trindade)

Trinidade’s Praia Brava developed such a name for itself in the 1970s that big business tried to snap it up and turn it into a luxury resort. Thankfully the men in suits were unsuccessful, leaving this stunning stretch of the Costa Verde (Green Coast) free for everyone to enjoy.

Straddling the state border between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo states, Trinidade is a small fishing village. It first became a hideaway for pirates in the eighteenth century before becoming a hippy hangout more recently.

Praia Brava is one of Trinidade’s more isolated beaches, and is reached via a footpath through the jungle. Trinidade itself can be reached thanks to hourly buses making the 50 minute journey from Paraty, should you be dissuaded from making the journey by car because of the winding roads such a journey entails.

Those who make it to Praia Brava will be able to discover a beautiful stretch of sand popular with surfers and known to be a semi-official nudist beach too.