Capela House

Stunning Sand Casa

The newest addition to the As Casas group’s portfolio of Brazilian houses inspired by the fishing village lifestyle and immersed in the wildly lush tropical landscape, this beach villa has a service team that includes a concierge, chef, two kitchen assistants, four chambermaids, a bartender, gardener and pool staff, with 24-hour security and a small, independent event space with a yoga studio space to host massage treatments and other wellness therapies.

What is notable here, beyond its deserted, house-in-the-dunes location, is the property’s vast piassava-palm topped, traditional thatched roof. It soars high over the common living area and opens onto a deck with an oceanview swimming pool. The five bedrooms are independent bungalows connected to the living area via bamboo-covered walkways, and each sleeps two. An unobstructed mirante (viewpoint) offers an ocean panorama, and the beach is set with sun loungers and a shower, a great spot to catch sunrise or be awed by the starry night sky. An independent wellness space can host small events and yoga and massage sessions.

Around

Set on the sand of Praia do Pompilho in Serra Grande, south of the Tijuipe River, Pompilho Beach is one of a string of deserted beaches running for miles along the Atlantic. Backed by palms and the dense vegetation of a virgin Atlantic rainforest, the beach has no development, only a stretch of fine sand lapped by transparent waters warmed by currents. The closest beach with activity is Sargi beach, a three-mile stretch with pousadas, bars and restaurants. Traditional sailing rafts called jangadas are a frequent sight at the nearby Pé de Serra Beach. Pompilho Beach is accessed from Serra Grande town via a steep winding trail and via the property with its beach support staff. It’s a great swimming beach with coarser sand, though diving at the mouth of the River Tijuípe should be avoided. The beach has a lagoon by the sea and there is also a viewpoint trail high over the beach that offers views all the way to the Barra do Rio Tijuípe.

Serra Grande is a small, quiet town surrounded by dense tropical forest. Some 22 kilometers of sand and palms stretch from the village along the Atlantic coastline and the town’s inland area overflows with rivers, waterfalls and a huge Atlantic rainforest reserve and the State Park of Serra Conduru. The Contas and Almada Rivers form the Encantada Lagoon in State Park, and waterfalls, natural swimming holes and the Robalo Spring are all worth exploring.

Adventure tourism is at a prime here—emphasis on adventure—with rainforest trekking, mountain biking, rafting and even paragliding available via operators in town. Restaurants are of the casual and homegrown variety, with beach bars/cafes on Sargi and Pé de Serra beaches serving fish, shrimp, and crab, washed down by icy beers or tropical fruit juices. The town’s modest central square offers shops, a market, bakery, pharmacy, and other services as well as independent handicraft makers’ stands.

Location

Nearest airport: Ilhéus (45 minutes)

Best time to visit

Year-round

Photo credit: Bruno Pinheiro