Alquiler de casa Garopaba

with breath-taking panoramic views to take in: to the east, the fabulous Ferrugem beach, rated one of the top in the country for sunbathing, surfing, and swimming; to the south, the placid Ferrugem lagoon stretching across the valley below; and to the west, the dramatic Serra do Mar mountains...

We felt thoroughly at peace in this spacious and well-appointed home. The owners clearly have an eye for design, with great touches throughout: lovely colors, rich woodwork, and comfortable furnishings. The almost floor-to-ceiling fenestration in the living and sleeping quarters gives one the sense of airiness that might be associated with living in a tree house at the top of the world. The sliding door in the second floor master bedroom opens onto a most spacious front deck from which you can take in the marvelous views. We spent many a night right here, taking in the magic: the twinkling lights of Ferrugem village below, and those dotting the mountainsides in the distance. Each morning, we awoke to this lovely view again, of the beach and ocean, and the mountains beyond, beckoning us to get up and go!

The walk is about 5-10 minutes to the beach and takes you down a hill and through the sleepy village of Ferrugem. The locals are friendly and the town is wholesome, filled with families, which gave us a feeling of comfort and homeyness. At the beach, there is a wonderful sense of community, too, with a great "snack" bar which goes beyond the phrase: fabulous empanadas, batidinha de cocos (vodka, condensed milk, and coconut milk, sprinkled with cinnamon) as well as other great local Brazilian cuisine. Up and down the beach, other small restaurants offer very fresh and deliciously prepared fish caught right off the beach. There are also traveling merchants who offer clothing, hammocks, jewelry, and other crafts for sale on the beach. We spent many of our days just beach combing, while people-watching and eating along the way. Having a car is great, too, for exploring beyond and there is also good public transportation to Garapaba, a bigger town just up the coast where there are more shops, banks, etc. But we were content to just lounge in our lovely home and at the Praia (beach) da Ferrugem. All in all, this is a spot not to be missed for a most relaxing two-week vacation in Brazil!