Picture elegant native décor and a real sense of personal service to plan a myriad of trips and activities. Lounge by the hotel's white marbled pool or ask the accomplished chef to cook up something delicious from the kitchen. Its private terraced beach area lies beneath shady palms where you'll find the bar, a uniquely crafted wooden gym and waterfall showers. The sun shines more often in these parts and at full moon a stroll along the shore is unforgettable.
Highs
- Exclusive unspoilt beach location with miles of coast to explore
- Only a mile from Trancoso's Quadrado with its laid-back restaurants and funky boutiques
- Charming owners and staff who can help to plan your activities
- Spacious and comfortable - you could easily spend days just relaxing at the hotel
- Private setting amidst tropical gardens
- Ideal for honeymooners, groups of friends or families (up to 29 people), who can request exclusive use of the whole place
Lows
- The secluded spot means the nearest nightlife is a bumpy but short taxi ride away in Trancoso
- During or after heavy rains, roads can be muddy
- Getting there requires more than just one flight, but is worth the effort
- The Suites lack the privacy of the villas
Best time to go
Our top tips
You'll also have use of all the facilities, including the central cabana building. Here you'll find the pool, intimate restaurant and snug attic lounge (complete with music, DVDs and games). It's a great spot for everyone to be together.
- Boutique Hotel
- 10 bedrooms
- Restaurant and bar (open daily)
- All ages accepted
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
- Bicycles Available
- Laundry Service
Rooms
Strolling through the tropical gardens, just a couple of hundred yards from the beach, you'll find a collection of suites and 1- or 2-bedroom villas.
Villa Sky VIP is the largest. Having just one bedroom, it's ideal for honeymooners. The open design sees sunlight shaft down over two floors, traversing hand-carved columns as it does. There's a raised private dining area, a bar and a living room with a fireplace. Upstairs you'll find a kingsize bed, a Jacuzzi, and a deck area where you can gaze out to the distant ocean, beach, pool and gardens.
The thatched Two-Bedroom Villas come with a small living room, a master bathroom with a dressing area, and double showers, as well as a second bathroom with a shower (no bath). Great for families, the bedrooms can be configured as doubles or twins, with one able to fit an additional single bed. As well as air-conditioning, they also have fans.
The comfortable One-Bedroom Villas have large bathrooms with showers (no bath), plus verandas where you can lazily swing in a hammock. The Suites, which we're yet to see, also come with 1 bedroom. These are smaller than the villas, but are a great option for couples on a budget.
The villas are built using Brazilian wood and palm thatch and are decorated with fine white linen, romantically draped mosquito nets, local crafts and colourful rugs. The owners refer to it as "elegant simplicity". Each has air-conditioning, WiFi and a safe for your valuables.
Features include:
- In-room treatments available
- Minibar
- Mosquito net
- Safe box
- WiFi
Eating
All paths lead to the poolside thatched cabana restaurant, where you can expect tasty dishes made with fresh local ingredients, including a plentiful supply of seafood. It's friendly and informal, but romancers can try a candlelit dinner in their villa for a sense of occasion. There's also a great little beach bar, perfect for sundrenched cocktails between swims.
The restaurant has an extensive and reasonably priced lunch and dinner menu made up of local and international offerings. Try traditional favorites such as seafood moqueca, baked lobster, shrimp bobo, mushroom risotto as well as special dishes of fish, shrimp, chicken and beef.
Breakfast is buffet style and in keeping with the surroundings: seasonal tropical fruits and juices along with a selection of baked breads, pastries, cheeses and omelettes of your choice.
If you wish to venture further afield, there are several good restaurants in Trancoso's Quadrado, but you'll need to take a taxi.
Features include:
- Bar
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
Activities
- Make sure you visit Trancoso for its atmosphere. Take a short taxi ride to the village Quadrado - a large grassy rectangle dominated at one end by a simple white colonial church overlooking the cliffs to the ocean. You'll find horses grazing and locals playing football or practising capoeira all surrounded by brightly coloured one storey dwellings which are home to boutiques and restaurants
- Trancoso has some of the best beaches in Brazil; you can explore the area yourselves or seek advice from the knowledgeable hotel staff. Itaporoca, Curuipe and Espelho (20km) are all highly recommended
- Go shopping around Trancoso's Quadrado, home to chi-chi boutiques selling hot Brazilian labels rather than global designer names
- Go bicycling or horse riding up and down the beach
- Kayak on one of the many rainforest river tributaries or amongst the mangroves
- Golf at the world-class Terravista course (2km away) - a beautiful setting overlooking cliffs and ocean, jungle and lakes
- Borrow a board and go body surfing
- There's an on-site gym and access to nearby tennis courts can be arranged
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Cycling
- Golf
- Horse riding
- Kayaking
- Shopping / markets
- Snorkelling
- Surfing
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Well being
Kids
Children of all ages are welcome.
Family friendly accommodation:
The Two-Bedroom Villas have a good amount of space and the option of twin bedrooms.
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available
Baby equipment:
Baby cots available on request.
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Villas de Trancoso is located 2km from the village of Trancoso, south of Porto Seguro in the Brazilian state of Bahia. It's an hours' drive from Porto Seguro airport.
By Air:
Porto Seguro (80km) is the nearest airport and has good domestic links from São Paulo, Salvador (in Bahia) and Rio de Janeiro. From here the hotel offers airport transfers for the hour-long drive to Villas de Trancoso. We recommend using them as numerous guests have got lost en route in the past. Alternatively you can take a taxi or hire a car.
By Car:
If you are interested in hiring a car, please see our car rental recommendations. Avoid travelling at night due to pot-holes and badly signposted roads.
By Bus and Ferry:
If you're feeling a bit more adventurous, you can take a short bus or taxi ride from the airport to the ferry in Porto Seguro, which crosses to Arraial d'Ajuda. The ferry (which takes pedestrians and cars) leaves every 15-30 minutes and takes about 10 minutes to cross the Buranhém River. From Arraial d'Ajuda you can take a taxi for the last 15km.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to Brazil and getting around
Airports:
- Porto Seguro 80.0 km BPS
Other:
- Beach 0.0 km
- Shops 1.5 km
- Restaurant 1.5 km