Lifelong lover of all things Brazilian, Swedish-born Petra fulfilled her fantasy of running her own pousada (small hotel) when she founded Villa Balthazar with husband Felix in the coastal town of Búzios 10 years ago. A one-time fishing village, Búzios was discovered by Brigitte Bardot in the ‘60s, followed by the international jetset, leading to its nicknames ‘Búzios Aires’ and reputation as Brazil’s coolest resort. Nestling a mere 30m from Canto Beach and only 400 from the bustling Rua das Pedras, Villa Balthazar is a surprisingly quiet haven. There are just five guest rooms, each designed with a Scandinavian influence, surrounding a beautiful tropical garden and central pool and sun terrace.
The emphasis here is on unfussy luxury and next-level service, but with a comfortable family feel (Petra, Felix and their two children live onsite in the main house). After a breakfast featuring bread and pastries from the family’s nearby bakery, you can laze by the pool, lounge on the beach, relax in your own hideaway or mingle with other guests in the main house. Then take yourself off to sample the upmarket delights of fashionable Búzios with its maze of chic shops, elegant restaurants and trendy bars. Warning: those caipirinhas are strong!
Highs
- Fantastic location – if nearby Canto Beach isn’t to your liking, there are 22 others in Búzios, plus shopping and nightlife in walking distance
- Very family friendly – and children of all ages are welcome
- Extremely competitively priced for such an exclusive and trendy resort
- Exquisite service that has received phenomenal reviews on public forums. Petra’s own villa is an open house for guests to relax and mingle; we can't wait to do so
- Eco-credentials include being entirely powered by solar panels, all food items are organic or produced locally, environmentally friendly cleaning products and toiletries
Lows
- The pool is small and unheated – although this won’t be too much of a factor given the number of sandy beaches nearby
- There are no sea views, which is unusual for hotels in Búzios
- Búzios gets very busy, particularly at weekends when it’s a magnet for escapees from Rio de Janeiro, three hours’ drive away, but the immediate vicinity is calm and tranquil
- Rooms cannot be set up with twin beds
- No other meals except breakfast (but what an amazing spread!) and there are plenty of eateries nearby
Best time to go
November to February are the hottest and busiest months. However, most people recommend March/April and October/November when it’s less oppressive in terms of both temperatures and crowds. Villa Balthazar is normally closed June-August.
Our top tips
Try to spend a day at Praia da Tartaruga beach – where the water is calm and the sands are unspoiled and it’s the best place in the region to snorkel and see turtles. There are plenty of seafront kiosks selling simple snacks and chilled beers (and very strong caipirinhas), and most of the locals reckon it’s the best place to watch the sunset – and heaven knows there's plenty of competition.