By Alison McGowan
May 29, 2012
You could easily miss Pousada Praiagogi as you pass by on the main road between Maragogi and Japaratinga, but that would be a real shame, as very few pousadas in Brazil can rival this one for beach front location combined with hospitality, and gourmet food. Run by a Dutch/Brazilian couple, Sandrijn and Fernanda, both with a background in hotel management, there are 5 very comfortable and stylish suites, with verandas and hammocks and freshly cut bouganvillea and hibiscus flowers gracing the beds and towels. Downstairs the main room adjoins the kitchen so you can see dinner preparation and chat to host and fellow travellers round the huge communal table at the same time. With books and DVDs around, excellent music on the CD player and a good bottle of wine, I for one felt immediately at home. The bi-line of Pousada Praiagogi says it is a place where life just tastes better”. I could not agree more!
I must admit to having had a prejudice against Maragogi in the past, mainly due to its reputation of being home to a large number of mediocre pousadas, hotels and resorts. And the town itself is indeed pretty non-descript. But the Pousada Praiagogi is 2 kilometres south, on the road to Japaratinga, right on Praia do Camacho beach, and a world away from anything I had imagined. For starters you just step out of the pousada onto the sand – some 23 kilometres of it – all totally deserted except for the odd fisherman. And the stars at night need to be seen to be believed – something you never get in a town. There are moves afoot to get more tourism to Alagoas, and certainly the local businesses need it in low season. One can only hope they will never start building highrise hotels here, though, to spoil the peace and tranquility which reigns at present.
Not To Be Missed
– snorkelling/diving off the coral reefs
– boat trips in the pousada jangada (except May to August)
– walking in the Atlantic rainforest with guide
– visit to the Peixe Boi (manatee) sanctuary
– chilling out overlooking the sea
Starpoints
* Great gourmet food
* Beachfront location
* Loungers overlooking the sea
* Dutch/Brazilian hospitality
Try a Different Place if…
… you prefer to be in a village or don’t have a car and want to eat in different restaurants every night.
Alison is a British writer, musician, and marketing consultant, based in Rio de Janeiro. She can be contacted on alison@hiddenpousadasbrazil.com. Visit her site at http://www.hiddenpousadasbrazil.com/.
Previous articles by Alison:
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Pousada Calypso, Trancoso, Bahia
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Pousada Maris, Paraty, Rio de Janeiro
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Casa Cool Beans, Rio de Janeiro
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Pousada Chez les Rois, Manaus, Amazonas
Brazil: Relaxation and Rejuvenation in Bahia’s Eco-paradises
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Pousada Tanara, Itacare, Bahia
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Vila dos Orixas Boutique Hotel, Bahia
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Casa da Carmen e do Fernando, Rio de Janeiro
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Pousada Lagoa das Cores, Chapada Diamantina, Bahia
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Pousada Naturalia, Ilha Grande (Abraao), Rio de Janeiro
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Ilha de Toque Toque Boutique Hotel, São Sebastiao, São Paulo
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Eco-Rio Lodge, Bahia
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Amazon Tupana Lodge, Manaus, Amazonas
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Pousada Luar do Rosario, Milho Verde, Minas Gerais
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Pousada Chal Oasis, Galinhos, Rio Grande do Norte
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Pousada Beijo do Vento, Bahia
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Artjungle Eco Lodge & Spa, Itacare, Bahia
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Pousada 0031, Cumbuco, Cear
Brazil: Maguire’s Guesthouse, Manaus, Amazonas
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Hotel Casa do Amarelindo, Salvador, Bahia
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Hotel BeloAlter, Alter do Chão, Par
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Fazenda Santa Marina, Santana dos Montes, Minas Gerais
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Casarão da Amaznia, Soure, Ilha de Marajo, Par
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Casa Mila, nr. Ubatuba, São Paulo
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Casa Beleza, Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Bambu Bamboo Pousada and Spa, Parati, Rio de Janeiro
Random Ramblings on the Weather in Brazil
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Pousada Beijamar, Bahia
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Hotel 7 Colinas, Pernambuco
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Pousada dos Quatro Cantos, Pernambuco
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Pousada Estrela do Mar, Bahia
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Pousada Vivenda, Rio de Janeiro
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Pousada da Terra, Minas Gerais
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Pousada Mirante de Pipa, Rio Grande do Norte
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Pousada do Caju, Alagoas
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Pousada da Amendoeira, Alagoas
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Estalagem Caiuia, Alagoas
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Lagoa do Cassange, Bahia
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Ponta do Muta, Bahia
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas – Santa Clara, Boipeba, Bahia