Vila Ecco Cubo

My girlfriend and I loved the peaceful feel of this place. It’s leafy, calm, and has a heated pool. The container is spacious and cozy, and the Villa has some kitchen utensils so you can make your own food. It’s very close to Vale da Lua and dozens of other waterfalls, and 5 km from the town of São Jorge, where you can find bars and restaurants with lots of different food and drinks. Thanks to Gabriel, the employee at Villa Ecco Cubo, who greeted us with courtesy and empathy when we needed help. I have just two suggestions for the owners. The trail from the Vila to the property’s waterfall could be improved. We got lost and had to walk quite a bit before finding the right way. Also, the kitchen utensils could use an upgrade. They say it’s a fully equipped kitchen, but some things are still missing.

The setting is beautiful, with lots of nature and colorful macaws, and it’s close to Vila de São Jorge. But I came to rest for the weekend and ran into one hassle after another. There’s no reception, so on arrival we had to find a staff member, usually over at the neighboring inn with the same owner. He handed us the room key without explaining anything about the stay. We later learned that breakfast comes in a basket delivered to the room at an agreed time. We had to track someone down to arrange it, and the first morning it never arrived because they hadn’t written it down. We’d agreed on 8, but didn’t eat until 9:30, which disrupted a guided trip we’d booked in advance. We repeated the time for the next morning, but the basket was late again by over an hour. Messages on WhatsApp never got a reply, and the yogurt was 20 days past its expiration date. The pool was advertised as heated, but it was too cold to use and dirty. The outdoor sofas were filthy and had no cushions, so the otherwise pleasant spot for reading or relaxing wasn’t usable. The advertised private waterfall is hard to reach: the trail isn’t properly marked, we nearly got lost, and you have to go through the neighboring hotel. There were cockroaches in the bathroom, too. It’s a lovely place with potential, but the hospitality needs serious attention.

The location is great, very close to São Jorge, and the property has lovely trees, a beautiful garden, and a cozy pool. We stayed in a triple container with my two young children, and it worked well since they both slept on the sofa bed. A few things could make it more practical: there wasn’t a table for eating breakfast inside, and a small covered area outside the entrance would keep it dry and let you sit by the door in the shade. The kitchen had only one small frying pan, so more utensils and pots would help. The single burner electric stove was quite weak; a two burner induction stove would be much better.

Such a beautiful, peaceful place, just minutes from the tourist town of São Jorge. It’s close to Vale da Lua and Chapada dos Veadeiros park, where you can explore lots of trails. Definitely worth checking out!