If you are not committed, look at Manaus on the Amazon. You can pack a city tour, a boat ride for flora & fauna including nighttime, see how the black & white river meet and flow without mixing for miles etc. I tis well served by GOL a LCC. I am glad you dropped Paraty. Nothing much.....
Just remember in places like Rio the crimes are crimes of opportunity meaning if you are an easy target you are advertising as IT and one who may not have planned it, can still be tempeted to...So no expensive looking jwelry, touristic clothing, cameras, maps or going down dark streets etc. But yes even beaches can be a prolem when lonely.