Accommodation in Brazil has five new blog posts, with full listings of accommodation in Campeche and Praia dos Ingleses, both in Florianópolis, and Porto Seguro, Praia do Rosa and Trancoso.

Sooner or later, during your trips throughout Brazil (and in the North East in particular), you’ll have to cross a river. And more likely than not, there will be a strapping lad and its makeshift boat ready to take you across to the other side.

The two pictures here were taken near Jericoacoara, on the way to Tatajuba.

In Trancoso, however, the unofficial ferryboat doesn’t require its captain to stand on the boat.

A romantic candlelit dinner in the main square of a tiny village where there is no street lightning? That will be ultra-charming Trancoso, in the southern coast of the state of Bahia.

Come the end of the day, everyone comes together in the Quadrado, the main square of the village.

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destination: Trancoso

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NAME: pousada Capim Santo

WHERE: Trancoso, Bahia

WEBSITE: www.capimsanto.com.br

IN ENGLISH: no

PRICES ON THE WEBSITE: yes

LOCATION: unbeatable location, in a quiet cul-de-sac a few meters from the Quadrado, the historic square of Trancoso.

THE BUILDING: a number of houses and the pool are scattered in the middle of a lush garden.

THE ROOMS: the suite master where we stayed – the best room in the pousada – is a large room, really nice, very pleasant and quiet, all painted in white, with a very comfortable bed and an ample bathroom. The room has TV, DVD, air conditioning, a fan, a safe and a minibar. And a mosquito net with no holes in it! A real treat.

PRICES IN MAY 2007: During the high season the suite master costs R$300 per room and night. In the low season, R$250. As we got there in the very lowest season, a couple of days before the pousada closed its doors for its annual break, we ended up paying R$190 for the room. Add a 10% taxa de serviço to all the rooms.

BREAKFAST: included in the price. Great variety of savoury and sweet food. Some of the desserts weren’t as fresh as you would expect – no doubt a consequence of the low movement of clients during the low season.

FOOD: the pousada has a well-known restaurant (with a branch in São Paulo). We didn’t have a meal there.

RECEPTION: correct and a touch unfriendly.

OUR OPINON: there are cheaper alternatives in Trancoso, but we decided to make the most of the low season and give ourselves a treat. The room where we stayed is truly charming. But the pousada offers little beyond the lovely rooms. On the same cul-de-sac as the pousada there is another one that looked quite interesting.

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RELATED POSTS:
when to visit Brazil, month by month
Brazil 12 months 12 destinations
10 must-see places in Brazil
top 10 Brazilian beaches – 2009 edition

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I’ve just finished editing and uploading the first of a series of albums from our latest trip to the south of the Bahia state: Trancoso.

You will see images of the Quadrado square during daytime:

and night time (there is no public street lighting):

Snapshots taken at the Nativos beach:

And the presence of beach vendors, including this time a native from the pataxó tribe:

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[read the 2010 update: 10 must-see places in Brazil]

This is a list of my top 10 favourite places in Brazil. It only includes places I have visited – for that reason you will not find on the list potential jewels such as Ilha Grande. Click on the names of the places to find out more about them.

1. Fernando de Noronha (Pernambuco)

Noronha is where you will find the most beautiful beaches in the whole of Brazil, and crystal-clear waters of unparalleled beauty. A place like no other in Brazil.

2. Paraty (Río de Janeiro)

Atlantic rainforest, desert beaches and the best preserved colonial architecture in the country come together to make of Paraty a very special destination. On top of that, Paraty is close to Rio and São Paulo.

3. Lençóis Maranhenses (Maranhão)

While it’s not easy to get to the Lençóis, the reward more than makes up for the long journey. A unique landscape of dunes and lagoons where mass tourism hasn’t left its mark yet.

4. Jericoacoara (Ceará)

Another destination with a nearly-mythical status among travellers. Captivating sand dunes in a remote setting.

5. Iguazu falls (Paraná and Argentina)

The breathtaking beauty of the falls will captive you the moment you set your eyes on them.

6. Arraial d’Ajuda (Bahia)

Hard to believe you would find a charming place like Arraial d’Ajuda so close to Porto Seguro.

7. Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro)

Rio is a city like no other, not just in Brazil, but throught the world. Its serious problems do not allow for a higher place on the list.

8. Bonito (Mato Grosso do Sul)

In the southernmost point of the Pantanal lies Bonito, a mecca for ecotourism and fun in close contact with nature.

9. Trancoso (Bahia)

Trancoso is near Arraial d’Ajuda and shares with its neighbour a series of wonderful beaches and a relaxed atmosphere.

10. Ouro Preto (Minas Gerais)

In spite of the sorry state of conservation of its World Heritage, Ouro Preto makes it to the top 10 because of the truly mesmerizing historical riches found in its churches.

MyMaps!: mash-up that will allow you to locate of all the places listed above at GoogleMaps!

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Come the end of the day, and the Quadrado, the central square of Trancoso, that remained deserted during the day, becomes a meeting point for the young of the place, who gather to play their daily football/soccer game.

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1. Praia do SANCHO (Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco)
2. Praia dos PORCOS (Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco)
3. Praia da ILHA DO CAMPECHE (Florianópolis, Santa Catarina)
4. Praia do Forno (Arraial do Cabo, Rio de Janeiro)
5. Praia do CACHADAÇO (Trindade, Rio de Janeiro)
6. Praia da Conceição (Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco)
7. Praia de Domingas Dias (Ubatuba, São Paulo)
8. Baía dos Golfinhos (Pipa, Rio Grande do Norte)
9. Praia de Paraty-Mirim (Paraty, Rio de Janeiro)
10. Barra do Sahy (São Paulo)

Honourable mentions:

• praia de Pitinga (Arraial d’Ajuda, Bahia)
• Caçimba do Padre (Fernando de Noronha)
• praia dos Coqueiros (Trancoso, Bahia)
• praia do Félix (Ubatuba)
• praia de Copacabana (Rio de Janeiro)
• praia de Ipanema (Rio de Janeiro)
• praia de São Conrado (Rio de Janeiro)
• praia Azeda (Búzios, Rio de Janeiro)
• praia Azedinha (Búzios, Rio de Janeiro)
• praia do Amor (Pipa, Rio Grande do Norte)

Special mentions from my Brazilian other half (places I haven’t been to yet):

• praia de Lopes Mendes (Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro)
• Bombinhas (Santa Catarina)
• fourth beach at Morro de São Paulo (Bahia)
• praia dos Dois Rios (Ilha Grande)

brazil, travel pr

If Arraial d’Ajuda is Porto Seguro’s charming neighbour, Trancoso is the classy one. At a safe distance from that whirlwind of activity that is Porto Seguro, Trancoso is an oasis of tranquillity where the well-off from the south of Brazil seek refuge. Worry not, you don’t need wealth to enjoy the beauty of Trancoso and its beaches.

WE LIKE THE MOST: the tranquillity of the place, the beauty of its beaches, the Quadrado (main square)

WE LIKE THE LEAST: expensive prices, the elitist character of Trancoso

HOW TO GET THERE: from Arraial d’Ajuda there is an asphalt road that goes to Trancoso. You can get there driving a rented car or using the regular bus (less than R$10).

CAREFUL WITH: unfriendly prices, the high season

FAVOURITE SPOTS: the Coqueiros beach, the Quadrado

PIECE OF ADVICE:

• if you have the chance to stay and sleep in Trancoso, you will enjoy the little village in a different way: you will have the entire place for yourself; most tourists arrive in the morning and return to Arraial or Porto Seguro at the end of the day

ACCOMMODATION: complete listing of Hotels and pousadas in Trancoso

LINKS: Trancoso en Bahia.com.br, Trancoso Bahia.com.br

WEATHER FORECAST: The weather in Trancoso (Porto Seguro) for the next 10 days

GOOGLE MAPS: Trancoso

PHOTOS: Trancoso

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