Lyn Hughes | 16 April 2019
Dream Sleep: Casa Cairuçu on Brazil's Green Coast
Discover the golden-sand beaches, colonial heritage and wildlife of the Costa Verde in Brazil, with a stay in a beautiful bay-side house…
Discover the golden-sand beaches, colonial heritage and wildlife of the Costa Verde in Brazil, with a stay in a beautiful bay-side house…
A view of Casa Cairuçu from the outside (Casa Cairuçu's official website)
Brazil’s Costa Verde is a mountainous coastline stretching between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, a land of lush forest and beautiful Atlantic beaches. This is a weekend playground for city folk – but head away from those urban behemoths and you can still find your own little bit of paradise.
However, the jewel in the crown of the ‘Green Coast’ is the gorgeous colonial town of Paraty. The cobbled streets of this UNESCO World Heritage-listed site are lined with pretty, whitewashed restaurants, shops, galleries and guesthouses.
Paraty’s old centre has some enticingly characterful accommodation, but for a more exclusive escape, head across the bay to Casa Cairuçu, a private house on a car-free peninsula, built with love by an Anglo-Brazilian family. The three wood-floored en-suite bedrooms open onto a sea-facing veranda, and a housekeeper is on hand to prepare simple meals.
Explore Paraty's historic old centre (Shutterstock)
This is a place to relax and recharge, with board games, books and DVDs available for guests. But if you can tear yourself away from your hammock, the surroundings are a dream to explore aboard the house’s paddleboards and kayaks.
Activities in the area include guided wild-food foraging excursions and bird walks – there are some 470 avian species to spot here, along with endangered golden lion tamarin monkeys on a nearby island. Or join a boat trip chugging past porpoising dolphins to discover hidden beaches, fine seafood restaurants and snorkelling spots where you can fin alongside dazzling fish and sea turtles.
One of the beautiful rooms inside Casa Cairuçu (Rafael Paixao)
British Airways flies direct to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo from London Heathrow; the flight takes under 12 hours. Paraty is a four-hour drive from either city. Casa Cairuçu is 20 minutes by boat from Paraty.
Audley Travel includes Casa Cairuçu in tailormade itineraries visiting Rio and the Costa Verde.
Casa Cairuçu sleeps 6 to 8 people and includes a housekeeper and boatman. You can stay for a minimum of three nights. To book, click here for more information
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