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Which is better: Campos do Jordão or Paraty?

Short answer

Campos do Jordão is in the Serra da Mantiqueira (SP), while Paraty is in Rio de Janeiro and its surroundings (RJ): different regions of Brazil. Campos do Jordão: Brazil's highest town, at 1,628 m in the Serra da Mantiqueira; Paraty: a colonial historic center and a bay of islands. The weather is similar in both this month.

Sources: INMET (updated 2026) · ANP · OpenStreetMap
Most reviewed activity in Campos do JordãoCampos do Jordão Sightseeing Tour★ 9.1 · 72 reviews · from US$ 20 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Most reviewed activity in ParatyParaty Islands Tour★ 8.9 · 47 reviews · from US$ 24 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Campos do Jordão Paraty
Best time to visit Jun → Sep Jun → Aug
Weather this month 21° · 12 days of rain 28° · 14 days of rain
By car R$ 94 + tolls · from São Paulo R$ 155 + tolls · from São Paulo
Ideal stay 3–4 days 3–4 days
Best for Romantic, Food, Family, Relax Romantic, Food, Adventure, Relax
Choose Campos do Jordão if

you want a trip for couples and food lovers: the "Brazilian Switzerland" of cold weather, pine nuts and the Winter Festival.

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: Campos do Jordão or Paraty

The average nightly rate is around R$ 197 in Campos do Jordão 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 Campos do Jordão on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

Hotel Dan Inn Campos do Jordao in Campos do Jordão 8.5 ★★★ · 85 reviews Hotel Dan Inn Campos do Jordao See on Booking → Hotel Castelo Nacional Inn Campos do Jordao in Campos do Jordão 8.6 ★★★★ · 35 reviews Hotel Castelo Nacional Inn Campos do Jordao See on Booking →
See all hotels in Campos do Jordão

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

Campos do Jordão or Paraty: which is better?
Campos do Jordão is in the Serra da Mantiqueira (SP), while Paraty is in Rio de Janeiro and its surroundings (RJ): different regions of Brazil. Campos do Jordão: Brazil's highest town, at 1,628 m in the Serra da Mantiqueira; Paraty: a colonial historic center and a bay of islands. The weather is similar in both this month.
What is the best time to visit Campos do Jordão and Paraty?
The best time to visit Campos do Jordão is from June to September; 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 São Paulo, Campos do Jordão is 170 km (106 mi) and costs about R$ 94 each way (fuel only, tolls not included); 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, Campos do Jordão or Paraty?
Averaged over the year, Campos do Jordão has 11 rainy days a month and Paraty has 14. Campos do Jordão is the drier of the two over the year as a whole, but what decides the trip is the month: the rainiest month in Campos do Jordão is January and in Paraty, January. For temperature, Paraty is the warmer one (average high of 28° versus 21°).
How many days should you spend in Campos do Jordão and in Paraty?
To see the main sights without rushing, Campos do Jordão 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.
Campos do Jordão or Paraty with kids?
Campos do Jordão (Brazil's highest town, mountain cold, and Winter Festival) 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: Campos do Jordão has fewer rainy days over the year.
What should you not miss in each?
In Campos do Jordão: Campos do Jordão State Park (Horto Florestal), Morro do Elefante, Pico do Itapeva. 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.