The Gold Route (Caminho Velho)
Indigenous routes adapted during colonization connected the port of Paraty to the Paraíba Valley and the mining region. This section became known as Caminho Velho and is part of the network now called the Estrada Real.
- Late 17th–early 18th century
- Caminho Velho gold route
What happened
Indigenous paths between the coast and the interior predated colonial traffic. With the mining boom, the route through Paraty connected the goldfields to its port and then, by sea, to Rio de Janeiro. The Portuguese Crown established a gold registry in Paraty in 1703 to control cargo. The route was also tied to the trafficking of enslaved people and supplies sent to the mines. The opening of Caminho Novo in 1707 reduced Paraty’s central role.
Why it matters
The surviving section helps explain mobility, taxation, and the colonial economy. Its significance extends beyond gold: the route preserves Indigenous traces, stonework, and cultural landscapes recognized within the Paraty and Ilha Grande World Heritage property.
Related places
- Historic section in Serra da Bocaina
- Former port of Paraty
- Historic Center
Sources
- IPHAN — Baroque and Rococo in the Churches of Ouro Preto and Mariana
- IBGE — History of Paraty
- UNESCO — Paraty and Ilha Grande: Culture and Biodiversity
Monthly update
September 10, 2026.
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