Kayaking To The Mangroves & Capivaras

Very much debated whether to actually leave this review but on reflection had we read one similar to our experience we wouldn’t have booked this tour. Firstly, it’s not relaxing at all, my husband and I are pretty fit and active people but we were taken out on to the open water against the wind and our kayak was constantly filling with water making it really difficult to kayak and keep up with the group. Then I started to feel quite sick due to the rough seas against our Kayak, something which I later mentioned to the guide once we got to a shore. We were then taken down a waterway which had a lot of waste pipes flowing in to it and our kayak kept getting stuck as there wasn’t enough water, this meant we constantly had to get out and pull it whilst sinking in to the mud which was actually really difficult to get out of when you’re waist deep in it and when you’re not expecting that, quite scary and not ideal when you’re already feeling sick. Why take people down such low water ways? Bizarre. When we were back on actual water we could kayak on we were again left behind as our kayak was again filling with water and becoming difficult to get anywhere. I was feeling like I needed to throw up so we went to a shoreline and I got out and we were then screamed at by the guide to get back in and she wouldn’t listen to us that I was feeling unwell. My husband and I decided that I would walk back and he would get the kayak back but the guide then started calling us “horrible gringos” (nice!) and grabbed the ore from my husband and again carried on calling us names. It was at that point we simply walked away from her and went home, we are sorry for leaving the kayak on the shore but she was not understanding at all and screaming at people to get back in the kayak when they’re not well was a most unenjoyable experience. She also made a remark about it “making sense” when we said we were from London… she was just really condescending and rude. It takes a lot for us to make any kind fuss at all, we are simply not those kind of people and would rather grin and bare something over making a scene but this tour was unbearably bad. I really do think there was something wrong with our kayak as I cannot fathom how children would be able to do this tour my husband is a very strong man so for him to struggle was very very strange. Anyway I am sure they will likely reply back to this review with more rudeness but I just wanted to prewarn other travellers.

I thoroughly enjoyed this guided kayak tour. The guide, Brenda, was very informative and started with a good safety briefing and warm up. The trip itself and a great range of sights. We launched from the beach, paddled out into the bay, around a small island, then came back inshore & entered the mangroves. The channel through the mangroves joined up with the canal in the township, which lead us back to the starting point. This made for a great circuit.

We loved it! Relaxing tour of around 2 hours. No prior experience necessary. Our son (10 years) also managed it in his own kayak.

We went as a family of 5 so we shared two double kayaks and our older daughter was in a single. The sea kayaking might have been a bit tricky if we were beginners. We kayaked out into the sea and around an island before heading into the mangrove area which was very quiet and calm. We saw some capybaras which was great!

We had a wonderful kayak trip with our guide Mila - nice activity and great way to see other parts of Paraty.

Kayaking the mangroves with Brenda was extremely enjoyable: so relaxing and easy, even for inexperienced kayakers like us. What a beautiful, quiet way to start the day. We first went around a little island and then through the mangroves. So very peaceful. Along the way, Brenda explained things and told us the names of the many birds and tress we saw. Highly recommend.

Brenda was a great guide, she had a good knowledge of the area and a really great personality! I highly recommend the experience.

Must do! Fun experience kayaking on the beach and then in the mangroves. Saw some capybaras along the way.

Amazing tour in beautiful Paraty with Brenda, 5/5 would do it again.

Amazing. Good mix or sea, mangroves/nature and the canals. A great way to see Paraty from a different angle. The kids and I loved it and felt very safe. Our guide spoke good English

Had a lovely circular route from the old town beach, passed the fort, and around through the mangroves - returning to the start point via the Perequê-Açu River. We were very fortunate to see a whole herd (apparently the appropriate collective noun) of capybaras on both sides, complete with two adorable babies… our guide Milla was thoughtful and looked after us very well. They can provide dry bags, have camera bags (for sale maybe) or you can leave valuables behind safely. If you’re looking for a bit of outdoor exercise, I would recommend. My wife and I had a double kayak… get your rhythm going and enjoy!

I did this activity solo and ended up being the only one who booked, so the guide took me out privately! She did a great job tailoring it to my skill level and interests, and we even attempted to spot wild capybara! Unfortunately due to rainy/cloudy weather the sunset wasn’t visible, but it was a great trip regardless

Matteo our guide was great company and we had a delightful time paddling along the mangroves of paraty. We saw capybara! Then went out to sea a little way and around a small island. Matteo really made it a lovely trip and actually managed to get my husband to paddle properly which he’s never managed before. Highly recommend.

This was a brilliant experience in Paraty despite the overcast weather. I can only imagine how amazing it would have been with some sunshine. Our guide was extremely friendly, patient and knowledgable, and provided us with pictures afterwards. We saw all sorts of birds and even a bright blue crab. Would fully recommend

The views on this tour were amazing! We saw a blue egret, some capybaras, and lots of other wildlife, in addition to the beautiful views of the mountains and beaches. Our guide was very knowledgeable and kind, and even took some pictures of us during the experience.

Pricier than most other activities we did in Brazil but well worth it! It is run by a husband and wife who are super friendly. We had a fabulous time with our fantastic tour guide who spoke English, Spanish, and Portuguese and was great fun! We paddled around the bay and then up the canals at a lovely leisurely pace, with time to chat, learn about the region, and she stopped regularly to point out wildlife including birds, crabs and capybaras! The equipment was in good condition, we were provided lifejackets and a choice between single or double kayaks. They also had secure storage for our belongings to be kept while we were out on the water.

Staff were so friendly, knowledgeable and made me feel comfortable. Highly recommend. One of the highlights of my time in Paraty! Thank you

The guide Brenda was very experienced and sharing us the local knowledge on animals, plants and fruits.

This was a wonderful experience and a great way to explore the beautiful areas around Paraty with an excellent guide!

I enjoyed the trip a lot. As a novice the kayaking was tricky at times, particularly at the start when we were rowing against the current but the views were worth it. The guide was not great however which was a pity. He was impatient and had very little solid information or stories to enhance the experience. We still enjoy it overall but in another guide's hands it could have been wonderful.

We had a wonderful morning with Brenda, our kayak guide, enjoying the beautiful water of the sea, and mangrove, and river. The circular route took about 2 hours and we were fortunate enough to have very still waters. Brenda told us about birds and animals and plants along the way (in English, Spanish or Portuguese). The row around the island has some spectacular views across Paraty and the islands, with the mountains in the background. The mangrove was my favourite stretch, we carried the kayaks a few metres from the sea into the river and it was very gentle rowing while watching crabs, birds and fish jumping up. The atmosphere was magical - a really unique experience with dense foliage either side and mountain views in front. The final part was along the river and round back to the beach where we started, where there were lots of bright red crabs on the walls either side. Brenda went at our pace, took some nice pics as we went (which she later sent on to me) and was a kind and informative guide. Bit recommendation!

Excellent kayak tour that took us to the islands and mangroves near Paraty. It was fun kayaking with Brenda who shared interesting information about birdlife and animal life in the place.

It's an easy ride, not too difficult, with a few breaks. Enjoyable nonetheless. Mateo was fun to talk too.

Beautiful tour which includes kayaking on both the sea and in freshwater down Paraty’s canals. Were able to see lots of birds and even a capybara in the mangroves!

Great time!!Brenda was a wonderful guide. We even saw a capybara in the mangroves! One of the best things we have done in Paraty!

Had an amazing time! Brenda is a fantastic guide it was such a nice adventure one of the best things I did in Paraty. Saw so many plants and fruit trees and also a few animals and birds

It was a very nice two and half hour tour with Brenda who explained a lot about the local flora and fauna. We even manages to see capibara. The kayaking was very pleasant and easy for everyone.

Great experience with a friendly tour guide that spoke sufficient English. I recommend you to go for a single-seated kayak, even if you are a beginner. It's easier for maneuvering. And I totally recommend the tour with mangroves. I had never experienced something like that before and I really liked the environment and the vibe a lot. There are no toilet breaks, you spend 3 hours in your kayak. So just count with that fact. Even if there is no visible sun, use sunscreen lotion. Despite being completely surrounded by a thick fog, I got serious sunburn.

The tour was amazing. The group was very small so everyone got a lot of attention. Brenda was an excellent guide and was very knowledgeable and encouraging. The journey through the mangroves was particularly special.

My husband and I had a great time with Brenda! We were the only ones signed up so were lucky to get a private tour. Brenda is super knowledgeable of the history and nature of the area and let us go at our own pace. She makes you feel at ease right away. The tour started at 9am and lasted three hours, which was a perfect start to the day and gave plenty of time to squeeze in other activities in the afternoon. Brenda also gave us a lunch recommendation that was really good and we would not have found on our own. Thanks Brenda!

I enjoyed the tour with Brenda a lot! She explained the area, helped seeing animals and was a great accompany. Definitely recommended.

Paulo from São Paulo had a great sense of humour and made a rainy day for more enjoyable! We were considering cancelling due to the weather but ended up having a great time :)

Very fun kayaking trip! The guide was great. We got to see a bunch of wildlife in a very chill setting.

A nice, tranquil way to start the day and see Paraty from a different viewpoint. I have not kayaked much, and not a lot of upper body strength, and was OK!

Great trip, with good kayaks and nice views where we saw lots of wildlife including flying fish and capybara! Brenda was also a really friendly guide:)

I'm a novice kayaker, and I really appreciated the technique tips, laid back attitude, and gentle pace of our tour. I also really loved that the tour leader and group spoke English - as a solo traveler with minimal Portuguese this was a welcome treat! This tour lets you see numerous ecosystems and review over a relatively short period of paddling. Such a great way to see Paraty from a new angle!

Definitely one of our highlights during our trip in Brasil! The water in Paraty is very calm, it was super quiet and peaceful. We even saw one capybara in the Mangroves. Although it was quite cloudy, it was just perfect. Thanks a lot for this experience!

A nice leisurely way to spend the morning exploring Paraty from a different view. Definitely suitable for beginners to Kayaking.

Beautiful Tour around the Ilha dos Pombos and in the Mangroves of Paraty! The guide was very nice and told us interesting facts about the locations we visited.

Incredible tour we went to an island and then through the mangroves and the historic center of paraty. We saw lots of birds and other animals which was great. The tour guide is also very fun. Would totally recommend it.

Super experience - views are beautiful, the guides very nice & helpful, quiet nature experience in the mangrove / would definitely recommend it when in Paraty

Matteo was an amazing guide - very considerate and helpful to our family of all abilities and physical capabilities. The tour was perfect - the island was beautiful and going through the mangroves was amazing - we saw monkeys and capybaras. Would 100% recommend - thank you Matteo!

We had a great time on the water with Matteo. Super friendly reception in the morning and clear explanation in English which is not a given as not all the locals speak English. Very nice activity to do when it is a bit cloudy so you are not suffering from the sun. Added bonus was seeing capybara in the mangroves!

We were greeted very enthusiastic by Matteo when we arrived. He helped us pick the right kajak and after a small intro we were off to the first island. After paddling around the island, we went into the mangroves where we spotted lots of capybara's! Top guide with a lot of knowledge about the region! Love his energy!

Beautiful tour with a nice guide! Definitely worth the money--> friends of us did approximately the same trip for twice the price :o

Brenda was a lovely guide and we had an amazing time! We booked last minute but they were able to accommodate and we super friendly. We saw crabs and capybaras, highly recommend!

Mateo was an excellent guide for this adventure. We had a small group and began with some kayaking basics before heading into the ocean to tour around an island and through the mangroves. It was very nice and peaceful, though it does take some effort to paddle consistently for 2+ hours, so be prepared for a bit of a workout. Would recommend as solo, couple, or group, and a very nice casual ocean experience. Don't forget the sunscreen!

The tour was amazing! We saw beautiful plants, birds, and trees. Matthaeus was a terrific guide. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone - it was the best way to see Partay!

We had a great morning out kayaking around Paraty bay & in the mangroves with Mateo. The views of the surrounding mountains were amazing! We enjoyed the chance to have a quick swim & the beach stop for a drink, and it was fun to kayak along the canal through town on the way back. Our guide was a bit late arriving, which was a little worrying as we didn’t know if we were at the correct meeting point, but after that it all went smoothly. Mateo gave us some useful instruction on kayaking at the start which we enjoyed, and as there were only 3 of us on the tour it felt very personal. We are not pro-kayakers and found the distance/time on the water ideal for us. We were disappointed not to see any cabybaras in the mangroves, but you can’t plan that! On the whole we would recommend this trip :)