Casa da Praia

Steps from the Surf

Steps from the surf and open to the lush tropical elements, this beach house compound offers five refined bedrooms for up to 12 guests across two standalone houses connected by an incredible rainforest garden. A pool hides under the palms, surrounded by thick green shrubs, and there’s a life-sized garden playhouse for little adventurers, all within steps of beach.

Built in the local vernacular, with an abundance of wood, palapa roofs, and breezily shuttered spaces set with sophisticated furnishings and thoughtful objets d’art, the property’s decks and terraces were created for lounging. Meanwhile the staff handles everything, from grocery delivery to cocktail mixing to tidying up and meal prep in house and at the private Bar Fogão, a bar and kitchen set right on the beach. The owners have more than 25 years of experience in creating lifestyle experiences at each of their properties, bringing together good food, great comfort and a deep connection to nature—with guidance from the orixás—that will foster new perspectives and enrich how we inhabit the world.

Cumaru House offers a the main king suite with an oceanfront balcony and hot tub, and an adjoining room ideal for families. The house’s “mega suite” is a double bunk room with four spots made with kids and teens in mind. Two living areas and a spacious terrace complete the design, and the outdoor deck is a great spot for alfresco dining overlooking the lush tropical garden.

Casa Pinus features three bedrooms, all king-sized, and one with a private pool. There’s a fully equipped kitchen, TV/living room, and a generous terrace.

In addition to the rolling surf, powdery sands, swaying palms, staff and private beach bar/kitchen, this little slice of paradise comes with a kayak and a life-sized “coquinho house” for the little ones. All bedrooms and living rooms are air conditioned and outfitted with mosquito nets, and the property is solar powered and equipped with a generator.

Around

Located steps from the sand and surf at Rio Verde, one of the Bahia region’s quietest beaches, the property is set on the last beach of Arraial on the coast towards Trancoso. The near-deserted sands are backed by coconut palms and thick, fragrant rainforest vegetation, and the waves are powerful, particularly at high tide. At low tide, natural pools form on the beach’s rocks, and the beach’s development includes only tents and umbrellas, with simple beach shack food and drink service nearby.

Stunning coral reefs can be seen at the nearby Praia dos Coqueiros, the colorful coral swimming with a kaleidoscope of fish. For water sports, the Praias dos Nativos, one the area’s most popular sands, offers two sand volleyball setups as well as beach clubs with discos/DJs and watersports.

Trancoso itself is a small beach town whose lack of resort development has made it a darling of the jet set crowd seeking simplicity and seclusion. The town is famed for its charming quadrado, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site, with its whitewashed wedding chapel and colorful houses surrounding the square. The town became a favored hippie destination in the late 1960s, yet today the town is more hipster than hippie, its stylish cobbled streets and candy-colored houses increasingly popular with international trendsetters. Set on a bluff overlooking the ocean, Trancoso was originally settled by Jesuit priests in the late 1500s, and it is still pristine and relatively undeveloped today. The nearby villages of Arraial d’Ajuda and Caralva are worth a day trip, and one of Brazil’s most beautiful beaches, Espelho, featuring remarkably warm swimming lagoons formed at low tide by the coral reefs, is easily accessible nearby.

Location

Nearest airport: Porto Seguro (20 miles)

Best time to visit

December to March

Photo credit: Bruno Pinheiro