The Rio-Santos highway twists and turns, goes up and down and around the hills of São Paulo State's North Shore, and sometimes you see the ocean, sometimes you don't. Most of the coast's houses and pousadas are hidden from view; one of them is Ilha de Toque Toque Boutique Hotel.
Jutting out from a hill overlooking Toque Toque Grande - which is a 20-minute walk away - with ample ocean views from common areas and some of its 12 suites, the pousada owned and managed by husband and wife Edson and Renata Pavão reveals itself to the traveler little by little: every suite has an ofuro, hot tub or private pool.
Some suites have a private sauna. I'ts easy to spot hummingbirds and other birds from the restaurant serving gourmet food.
On a coast that has been severely deprived of much of its original Atlantic rainforest cover, the pousada stands out with more than 5,000 square meters of preserved native vegetation within its limits. Not a single tree was cut for construction: many of the materials used were salvaged from an old chácara, and the bricks used to build the guest rooms are mostly the ecological kind which doesn't need to be baked. They don't require mortar either.
Other material used: treated eucalyptus and wood from old lamp posts which were replaced with concrete ones by the São Sebastião administration.
The water is collected from a nearby waterfall and treated at the pousada. A great part of it is solar heated.
The pousada, which like the beach itself is named after the island across the northern end, is the only one on Toque Toque Grande so far. This is a destination in itself, but you can easily go beach-hopping by car or Ecobus.
A pool, a wet sauna, a mini lounge with game tables, and a fitness room are some of the amenities in what is a great choice for a romantic getaway about 115 miles from São Paulo.
Staying in Toque Toque Grande means that there aren't restaurants nearby, but the pousada serves all meals.
Breakfast includes homemade cakes; the menu served from noon to evening has a variety of seafood dishes, from more elaborate ones like moqueca or grilled salmon with puréed arracacha to portions of fried fish or squid. The owners especially recommend Peixe da Ilha de Toque Toque, dourado filet in white wine and heavy cream with a truffle aroma, served with rice in its own sauce.
Another perk is the beach area for guests. On weekends and holidays, it has beach umbrellas and chairs. On regular weekdays, guests can still use the parking area, restrooms and showers.
It's no wonder the getaway is highly recommended by Alison McGowan's Hidden Pousadas Brazil. Read more about it here.
Jutting out from a hill overlooking Toque Toque Grande - which is a 20-minute walk away - with ample ocean views from common areas and some of its 12 suites, the pousada owned and managed by husband and wife Edson and Renata Pavão reveals itself to the traveler little by little: every suite has an ofuro, hot tub or private pool.
Some suites have a private sauna. I'ts easy to spot hummingbirds and other birds from the restaurant serving gourmet food.
On a coast that has been severely deprived of much of its original Atlantic rainforest cover, the pousada stands out with more than 5,000 square meters of preserved native vegetation within its limits. Not a single tree was cut for construction: many of the materials used were salvaged from an old chácara, and the bricks used to build the guest rooms are mostly the ecological kind which doesn't need to be baked. They don't require mortar either.
Other material used: treated eucalyptus and wood from old lamp posts which were replaced with concrete ones by the São Sebastião administration.
The water is collected from a nearby waterfall and treated at the pousada. A great part of it is solar heated.
The pousada, which like the beach itself is named after the island across the northern end, is the only one on Toque Toque Grande so far. This is a destination in itself, but you can easily go beach-hopping by car or Ecobus.
A pool, a wet sauna, a mini lounge with game tables, and a fitness room are some of the amenities in what is a great choice for a romantic getaway about 115 miles from São Paulo.
Staying in Toque Toque Grande means that there aren't restaurants nearby, but the pousada serves all meals.
Breakfast includes homemade cakes; the menu served from noon to evening has a variety of seafood dishes, from more elaborate ones like moqueca or grilled salmon with puréed arracacha to portions of fried fish or squid. The owners especially recommend Peixe da Ilha de Toque Toque, dourado filet in white wine and heavy cream with a truffle aroma, served with rice in its own sauce.
Another perk is the beach area for guests. On weekends and holidays, it has beach umbrellas and chairs. On regular weekdays, guests can still use the parking area, restrooms and showers.
It's no wonder the getaway is highly recommended by Alison McGowan's Hidden Pousadas Brazil. Read more about it here.
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