Casa Mata Awé

A Coastal Brazilian Surf Shack-Styled Bungalow

Complemented by a wide yoga deck and an organically shaped swimming pool tucked into its leafy surroundings, this traditional Bahian house, with an independent bungalow in the works, features space for five (four adults + 1 child) in its breezy, wood-focused space about 20 minutes from the beach.

The home’s living room is purely open air, integrated with its modern, chef’s style kitchen. Décor takes the standard coastal styling up a notch, with artful accents adding to the rustic, woody, surf shack vibe. The bedroom is breezy and tropical, softened by light draperies and natural textiles. A small separate bungalow is in the works off the yoga deck to house a couple and a child, and there’s a garage for one car and an abundance of leafy, coastal tropical vegetation. There is one bedroom and bathroom in the house and one bedroom in the works in the bungalow, plus a single sofa bed.

Outside on the wooden platform deck tucked into the tropical woods, there’s outdoor dining by the pool, and a covered deck section for aerial yoga or massage, with an in home massage bed. The home opens fully to the outdoors in classic local style and, though walking distance from Trancoso’s central square, is insulated by its thick green surroundings. Local beaches are 20 minutes away. Two bikes are available for guest use.

Around

Located on Brazil’s increasingly well-known Bahian coast, a region of seaside villages and lush farmland separated by pristine sands, Trancoso offers a low-key beach town atmosphere mostly devoid of resort development. A darling of the boho jet-set crowd seeking stylish simplicity and seclusion, the community is bathed by dense rainforest and surrounded by beaches. At the heart of the town, Trancoso’s quadrado (near the house) has UNESCO-designated World Heritage status, with a whitewashed wedding chapel, antique stones, and dozens of colorful houses.

A favorite spot of the hippie generation back in the late 1960s, the southern Atlantic outpost of Trancoso has “grown up,” its candy-colored buildings now hosting artisans and wellness practitioners, artists and expat surfers. The town sits on a bluff overlooking the ocean, and the region is known for its warm swimming lagoons formed at low tide by the coral reefs at Espelho and its other beaches—Praia dos Nativos, Rio da Barra, Rio Verde, Itaquema and Ponta de Itapororoca. Worth a visit to the north, the historic town of Arraial D’Ajuda on the Discovery Coast was a landing spot of Portuguese explorers in the 1500s.

Location

Trancoso, Bahia, Brazil. Nearest airport: Porto Seguro (15 miles)

Best time to visit

Year-round