Home JOURNAL Why We Love: Boipeba, Brazil

Why We Love: Boipeba, Brazil

Before Boipeba, I?d never considered myself much of a beach person. I bore quickly and the crowds that tend to congregate on popular seasides have always seemed to me to defeat the purpose of a purportedly relaxing travel destination.

Visitors to Salvador de Bah?a who like more frenetic beaches head to Morro de S?o Paulo on the island of Tinhar?. I chose instead to spend a couple of days relaxing on the island of Boipeba, separated from Tinhar? by a small creek, yet (as the clich? goes) truly worlds away.

With no motorable roads and just one village of any size, the island remains practically unspoiled. Empty beaches rimmed with palm groves fringe the island, accessible only by foot or boat and all but entirely cut off come high tide. The broad grassy plaza at the center of town, which comes awake for evening games of soccer, seems to occupy more space than the buildings that surround it.

I arrived at Boipeba on a whim and wandered down the beach from the jetty, stopping at a simple pousada just steps from the water where I slept in a simple bungalow with a private hammock-slung verandah. I stayed days longer than I expected; I suppose I just never knew what kind of beach person I really was.

WHERE TO STAY: POUSADA MANGABEIRAS

This luxe pousada may be hard to find, but once you arrive, you'll know why it's worth the trek. Owned by a lovely English-speaking Brazilian couple, Pousada Mangabeiras is set atop a hill overlooking the ocean. Its nine bungalows, each with its own hammock and ocean view, all have access to the pool.

Images courtesy of Noticias.com, Trilhaseaventuras.com, MyHiddenGems.com, MochiloAndoAmerico.com, Magariblu.com

Pousada Mangabeiras

P: (75) 3653-6214 / (75) 3653-6153

Website: http://www.pousadamangabeiras.com.br/

E-mail: contato@pousadamangabeiras.com.br