Villa Amari — Hotel in Região Geográfica Imediata de Nazaré – Maragogipe

I am not completely new to Brazil, I've seen most of the regions and major cities, but few experiences were as memorable as Villa Amari. The "pousada" is situated on the island of Itaparica- one hour ferry ride from Salvador da Bahia- within a few minutes stroll from the Tairú main square, a tiny village facing Salvador across the bay. Even though there are some big resorts on the island such as Club Med, the micro location of Villa Amari provides you with some proper Robinsonian vibe. If you want to seriously isolate yourself from the world and still be practically next to the regional capital- the place does not take forever to reach- I could sincerely recommend this resort. Villa Amari is located right next to a sand beach, so the all-season warm tropical ocean serves as its swimming pool. It has a beautiful garden and even an improvised mini-farm in the backyard- during our 5 day stay, we were served some delicious meals of this domestic origin. I must also mention an exceptional hospitality that we received at Villa Amari: Gabriele, Lin and Gal were always at our disposal, be it for a meal or coffee at weird hours, any advice or just a random chat. Even though it is relatively easy and cheap to travel across Itaparica- they have a decent service of public vans that connect all corners of the island- and there are indeed some other places worth seeing, I must say I had the best time just hanging around Itairú and Villa Amari, enjoying a perfect chill-out and having all kinds of discussions with our hosts and other guests (some of them happened to be fun company). All in all, this was an experience to repeat, I will revisit Villa Amari as soon...

I could start out talking about the beautiful house and stunning garden that Gabriele has built in a quiet corner of Tairu on the Island of Itaparica, or about how you go to sleep hearing the ocean, but first I'll describe the reception and atmosphere, since it's what really distinguishes this awesome bed and breakfast. ||||Gabriele and his partner Lynn make every effort to keep their guests comfortable and happy! The attention I've received there has always been very careful, personal, and warm. They truly make their guests feel at home, with big delicious breakfasts, tips on where to eat, and advice on what to see on the island. ||||The house itself is also stunning. It's rustically decorated, but completely well thought-out. The feel is really original - always something to see, whether it's their garden, the decor, or mini-farm in the backyard. At night, you'll be a one minute walk from the water, where you can walk on the beach, or just enjoy the sound of the ocean from your room. ||||I loved this place the first time I went, and have been back 4 times since. Highly, highly...

The Pousada is indeed a lovely place (it is actually Gabriele's home) but we found it a bit far out for our taste. Not just the fact that it is far out, I can deal with that, but there is really nothing around the town, a couple of supermarkets and a pizzeria that doesn't look that good. If you want to go to a restaurant you need to take the bus to some other more busy towns. It is, however, a great place if you want to escape civilization and get an impression of the deep and laid-back Brazil. It should also be mentioned that the breakfast was absolutely delicious, prepared by Lin who is really lovely. Gabriele, though, seemed to be a bit cranky during the time we were there. We also had his pasta one night but didn't think much of it, to be honest. If I go back to Itaparica I will be looking for a place with a bit more...