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Brazil: Hidden Pousadas - Pousada do Caju, Alagoas
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By Alison McGowan
May 6, 2008
The Pousada do Caju is only a 5 minute walk from the Pousada da Amendoeira, if you amble along the beach, and it is equally charming in a different way. Set in beautiful gardens, slightly back from the beach, the pousada is an eclectic mix of Alagoan design with Japanese and African inspired art and "city-chic" type suites. Outside there are shady places to sit and a beautiful swimming pool, with sunken bar and hidromassage.
Portuguese owners Alirio and Jose Carlos create a wonderfully welcoming atmosphere, and the result is a sophisticated informality where guests borrow bicycles to ride along the beach, chill out with a massage, dine on superb food served in the gardens, or just laze around in the pool.
About the location
Praia do Toque is one of the first excellent beaches you can stay on the Coral Coast of Alagoas, an area of environmental protection. The sea is crystal clear here, as warm as a hot bath, and natural swimming pools form at low tide which you can either walk to or reach by jangada.
110kms north of Maceio and a few miles from the nearest village of Sao Miguel de los Milagres, there is an abundance of space here, the beach goes on for miles and you will never see any more than a couple of fishermen actually on the beach at any one time.
The Pousada do Caju is accessible by road from the village of Sao Miguel dos Milagres, or walking along the beach from either the Pousada da Amendoeira or the more famous (and considerably more expensive) Pousada do Toque.
 Not to be missed
- visits to Praia do Morro, Praia do Carro Quebrado and the Mirante do Farol in Porto de Pedras
- the sunset from a jangada boat
- trips to the Rio Tatuamunha and the piscinas naturais (natural swimming pools)
Getting there without a car
The choice here is a 7 hour local bus from Maceio, which will drop you, along with the chickens, somewhere relatively close to the pousada, or a R$130 transfer direct from Maceio airport to the pousada, which takes a couple of hours. No contest in my book, unless you have lots of time, are really travelling on a budget, speak Portuguese, and know your way around.
Starpoints at the Pousada do Caju
*Wonderful atmosphere
*Great swimming pool
*Fabulous restaurant with dinner served in the gardens
*Designer-chic with eclectic mix of styles
Try a different place...
- if you prefer to be right on the beach
- if you prefer whitewashed rustic to designer chic
- if you want nightlife or loud music
- if you want shops and bars nearby
Alison is a British writer, musician, and marketing consultant, based in Rio de Janeiro. She can be contacted on alison@hiddenpousadasbrazil.com. Visit her blog at http://www.hiddenpousadasbrazil.com/.
Previous articles by Alison:
Brazil: Hidden Pousadas - Estalagem Caiuia, 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
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