Paracambi Travel and Tourism Guide

Paracambi was born from the union of two districts: one from Vassouras, and the other one from Itaguaí. Formerly called Tairetá, which was the Vassouras' district name, the city is currently know by the other district's original name, which is the native-brazilian word for "monkey river".

The city used to be an important stop for royal troops and gold convoys en route from São Paulo and Minas Gerais towards the southern beaches in Rio de Janeiro state, like Parati - Brazil's main export ports of gold at that time. It also hosted the country's first textile factory - today, a beautiful historical building converted into a public college.

Paracambi still hosts an army base, and is known for a large number of psychiatric hospitals. It remains a small and quiet town, though, with lots of houses, parks, and green spaces, making for a safe environment for kids and families who want to shelter from the big cities' violence and criminality.

Although very little known by high-class tourists, Paracambi is a favorite among nature and adventure sports fans. The city has one the country's highest percentage of virgin Atlantic Rainforest, and due to its valley positioning and proximity to the Guandu river, some of Rio's best rafting tracks.