Paranaguá

Paranaguá is a port city in Paraná. The city preserves many of the oldest colonial remnants in Paraná. It also serves as a convenient departure point for Ilha do Mel.

Understand
Paranaguá means "big round sea" in the Tupi-Guarani language, a reference to the wide bay that affords the city optimal conditions to function as an important port. The city was founded somewhere around 1550 on the island of Cotinga, and later expanded onto the mainland.

By train

 * Serra Verde Express. On most days the scenic train from Curitiba stops only at Morretes but on Sundays it comes all the way to Paranaguá. The trains departs from Curitiba at 08:15 and arrives in Paranaguá at 13:15. R$39.

By boat
Paranagua is linked by passenger launch to Guaraqueçaba, Ilha do Mel, and Ilha do Superagui.

Do

 * ParanaHoe - kayaks and stand up paddle for rent. They also organize some tours (check their Instagram page)

Buy
Popular items to pick up here include handicrafts and black pottery casserole dishes made as in colonial times for slow cooking the local stews.

Eat
Sea food can be had fresh daily. As in much of Brasil the best/economical places to eat are the "por quilo" or all you can eat restaurants; these are sprinkled throughout the downtown area.



Drink
For the interested, there are many artesanal cachacas (sugar cane liquor) coming to market in Paranaguá.

Sleep
Several reasonable places downtown including a hostel right on the waterfront next to the passenger boat ticket office.
 * Hotel Camboa - Rua João Estevão, S/N. - Centro.
 * Hotel San Rafael - Rua Julia da Costa - Centro.
 * Hotel Palácio- Rua Correia de Freitas- Centro.
 * Hotel Lider - Rua Julia da Costa - Centro.
 * Hotel Monte Líbano - Rua Julia da Costa - Centro.
 * Ibis Hotel- Av. Cel. José Lobo, 136

Go next

 * Guaraqueçaba is home to a reserve for the Atlantic Forest which has been destroyed along most of the southern half of Brasil's coast. It is easier to get to Guaraquecaba from Paranaguá by boat than to drive there from Curitiba.
 * Ilha do Mel
 * Marumbi
 * Morretes
 * Pontal do Paraná - This town, on the coast opposite Ilha do Mel, has modern beach resort facilities.