Vida Sol E Mar

Rooms

Vida Sol e Mar's gorgeous 14 beach villas (sleeping 4-10) are carefully positioned on a grassy slope between the hotel's main restaurant-reception-pool area and the sea. They blend in with the natural surroundings but also come with a large dose of style and comfort.

Named after local birds, each villa has 2-5 double/twin spacious bedrooms and numerous sleek bathrooms. All are a mere stroll across the dunes to Praia de Rosa and have different views of the sea, some spectacular (Itadega), some more distant (Cardeal); some offer greater privacy (Sabiá, Gaviao and Itadega). Some have pools (Itadega), others hot tubs (Coruja, Sabiá, Fragata, Tucano, Atoba, Gaviao, Beija-Flor, Piru-Piru and Baleia), but whichever is chosen, their large floor-to-ceiling windows make the most of the coastal surroundings and we would be happy staying in any.

There's much use of local river stones and Brazilian hardwood, colour-washed furniture, contemporary halogen lighting and spacious living rooms. Villas wouldn't be complete without large barbecue grills (the owners are Argentinian after all!) and all have fire places, WiFi, phones, and very well equipped kitchens with washer-driers, dishwashers, ovens, microwaves, and even blenders and sandwich makers. Rooms have AC and the living areas come with TV, CD and DVD players. From all first-floor rooms you can walk out to wooden decks where there are hammocks, teak rocking chairs or loungers to laze in. There's also a daily maid service.

No matter the size of your group, there is a villa to suit you: Villas Golfinho and Coruja sleep 4, Villas Piru-Piru, Sabiá, Jerivá and the Vida Sol E Mar villas (Fragata, Tucano, Atoba, Gaviao, Beija-Flor and Cardeal) all sleep 6, Villa Baleia sleeps 8, and Villas Itadego and Gavota sleep 10. Villa Jerivá and the Vida Sol E Mar villas can be booked by the suite, too, and guests are able to share all of the living areas.

Features include:

• Fan
• Safe box
• Washing machine
• WiFi

Eating

To take the edge off your journey, look beyond the welcome fruit bowl in your villa to find a complimentary shot glass and mini bottle of cachaca. Not just any type: this comes from the need-to-know bar, "Box 32" in Florianopolis, (said to be the best Cachaca you can buy).

If you're in a villa or suite, you're able to be self sufficient: the spotless kitchens have all you need (cooker, microwave, toaster, blender, dishwasher and plenty of crockery and utensils etc). Ask beforehand and they will stock up the fridge for you (it will already come with soft drinks) or arrange a cook - ideal for larger groups or families. But most visit the hotel restaurant, and breakfast is included in the rates.

The main restaurant and bar (as well as reception and TV/library room) are set beneath a soaring wood and thatch roof at the top of the hill. An old wooden manoic press and 2 huge whale bones hint at local history. In low season they just use the smaller poolside restaurant but both have panoramic views over the bay. Sit outside on the deck when the moon rises from the sea and you won't forget it.

For breakfast there's a buffet. Catch owner Enrique holding onto his traditional mate tea canteen as he shuffles between tables. They lay on fresh juice, tropical fruit, hams, cheeses, breads, pastries, jams, cereal and yogurt. Help yourself to coffee and tea, and there's a hot tin with eggs. We loved the homemade chocolate cake and became addicted to making our morning misto quentes (simple traditional South American ham and cheese toasties).

Dinner and lunch are informal no-fuss affairs with a choice of dishes from Moqueca de Peixe (Bahian fish stew) or filet steak served with fries and fresh veg to a selection of simpler pasta dishes and healthy salads (grilled chicken with mango and palm heart hit the spot). They should be proud of their puddings - the hot chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream, passion fruit mousse and flambeed bananas with dulce de leche were all sufficiently decadent. The food, as well as the selection of wines and cocktails, are all reasonably-priced, but if you are staying a while in low season you may find the menu rather limited (it's the same every day for lunch and dinner).

If you want to eat out, it's a 5-minute drive or 10-20 minute walk over the hill and along the village dirt track to a handful of local restaurants offering simple Italian, Brazilian and Asian options. During the day you can get snacks and drinks down on the beach at the nearby wooden shacks.

Features include:

• Bar
• Barbecue
• Dishwasher
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• In-house cook
• Kids' meals
• Kitchenette
• Microwave
• Oven
• Restaurant
• Room service

Activities

• The Beach: the villas are just a 50-100m walk to Praia do Rosa, a large sweeping crescent of clean, soft sand backed by grassy dunes. The hotel provides simple fold-up beach chairs, parasols and towels at no extra charge (just ask at reception). For swimming, the warmer (and calmer) lagoon behind the dunes and the hotel pool are preferable to the sea
  
• Whale Watching: Vida Sol e Mar is the HQ for Brazil's Right Whale Institute so you couldn't be better placed to witness extraordinary migration scenes. Enrique's the true enthusiast and each morning fishermen from along the coast let him know where they can be seen. Boat trips are no longer allowed, but you may spot them from the shore or by van
  
• Surfing: Praia de Rosa has top class waves to suit all levels. Rodrigo manages the surf school and teaches groups of up to 4 people; wet suits and boards are provided. You can also rent boards by the hour/day or ask to be taken on surf trips to other beaches which lie to the north (Ouvidor, Barra, Ferrugem, Silveira and Garopaba) and south (Itapirubá and Ibiraquera - also good for windsurfing)
  
• Excursion to La Laguna - a 4-hour round trip with one of the hotel's driver-guides. You can see dolphins, savour a simple but super fresh Brazilian seafood lunch, visit the historic colonial town and stop off at the tiny Whale Museum at Imbituba
  
• Hiking: go for walks around the beaches, forests, dunes or cliffs. Local guides can be provided to show you the way.
  
• Horse Riding: trips on national criolos & mangas-larga breeds depart from a nearby farm and take routes through Mata Atlântica (Atlatic Rainforest), dunes, beaches, lagoons, lakes as well as buffalo farms
  
• Boat trips: boats typically leave from nearby Garopaba Beach and can take you on different length trips (1.5-5 hrs) to different beaches and islands. Snorkelling can also be included.
  
• Tennis: hotel and villa guests have access to gravel courts next door

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Hiking
• Private guided tours
• Snorkelling
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Whale watching
• Windsurfing

Kids

Children of all ages are welcome here and there's easy access to the beach and plenty of space to run around in. The transfer from the airport can take 2 hours, so be prepared, but we think it's a great spot for a unique family holiday.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

Villas range in size from 2 to 5 bedrooms, and most have at least 1 twin room. All can fit baby cots, too.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 1-2 hours
• Hospital: 30 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Vida Sol e Mar is on the Praia do Rosa beach, 80km south of Florianopolis, the stylish capital of Santa Catarina State.

By Air:
Florianopolis Airport (110km). Daily domestic flights operate from São Paolo (1 hr) and Rio de Janeiro (1.5 hrs), and international flights from Buenos Aires every Saturday and Sunday throughout the year and daily during the summer.

Rio Antonio Carlos Jobim and São Paolo Guarulhos. Several international airlines serve these airports. Please click on the links below for further information. Flight time from Europe is approximately 12 hours. There are no direct flights from the UK to Buenos Aires's Jorge Newbery National Airport; you have to go via São Paulo.

From the Airport
The hotel can arrange a transfer service - please enquire at the time of booking. The drive takes about 2 hours (mostly along the straight BR001 highway with the last 15 minutes on a dirt track).

By Car:
If you want to hire a car to get around and to explore the surrounding region, see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Brazil and getting around