Brazil Fitness, Yoga & Adventure Retreat in Paraty

Paraty sits where the mountains of the Serra do Mar meet the Atlantic, roughly four hours south of Rio de Janeiro. The town itself is a UNESCO-listed colonial grid of cobbled streets and whitewashed buildings, and the retreat uses it as a base for a week that mixes training with the coast and rainforest around it. You sleep at O Portalzinho, a nine-room pousada a five-minute bike ride from the centre, with a pool and garden and cooked-to-order breakfasts.

The training structure is consistent: an energising morning workout, then a softer Vinyasa yoga session as the sun goes down. The morning sessions rotate through dynamic circuit training, core-strengthening Pilates and high-energy boxing, so nothing repeats too often and different fitness levels get something to work with. The evening yoga is Vinyasa — flow-based, breath-led, aimed at stretching out whatever the day's hiking or surfing has done to you.

The middle of the day is where the week earns its "adventure" label. Depending on the day you might be hiking to a waterfall or a coastal viewpoint, taking a surf lesson, kayaking, or heading out on a boat along the coastline. A day trip to the islands of Angra dos Reis and time in Paraty's own colonial streets are also on the schedule, along with samba and capoeira classes and an evening of painting with local beer.

What separates this from a generic beach fitness week is the two instructors and how long they've been doing this. Tiana started dancing at two years old and has spent her life around movement; Brandon came through track and field, competing in high school and college before coaching. Both are certified personal trainers, yoga teachers and life coaches, and they've taught classes and trained clients for over 10 years — long enough to run a room with mixed abilities without leaving anyone behind or bored.

The setting does a lot of the work too. You're between the mountains and the sea, with rainforest, waterfalls and beaches within reach, and a town with real character to walk through in the evenings. The retreat runs April 3 to April 10, 2026, over Easter, which is why one of the optional hikes is to the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio.

Rooms are single or double, both with private bathrooms and either air conditioning or ceiling fans. Some rooms have private balconies. A $500 non-refundable deposit holds your place, and payment plans can be arranged after booking.

What's included

- 7 nights' stay at O Portalzinho - Daily morning workouts (circuit training, Pilates, boxing) - Daily evening Vinyasa yoga - Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day - Alcoholic drinks with dinner - Transportation to and from Rio de Janeiro airport

What's not included

- Flights to and from Rio de Janeiro - Optional excursions and activities (hiking, surfing, kayaking, boat day, Angra dos Reis, samba, capoeira, sip and paint) - Extra food and drinks outside set meals - Souvenirs - Travel insurance