Recanto da gipoia

What a beautiful view!

Duda and his wife were lovely, great to talk with, and told us stories about the island, its residents, and its millionaire owners. We agreed on an affordable price for him to take us to a beach reachable only by water, and he also took us all the way around the island. Duda even picked us up on the mainland in his boat, Sequoia. It's not a speedboat, but it did the job nicely. Going slower let us take in the scenery, the little islands, and how clear the water is. Pousada Recando do Gipóia is one of the few inns on Ilha da Gipóia, just 50 meters from the beach. Really, everything on the island is close to the shore. The inn isn't luxurious, but it has what you need. Our room was clean and had no musty smell, with a hot shower, air conditioning, a fan, and a balcony overlooking the sea. Breakfast was good and simple, with fruit, cheese bread, toasted ham and cheese sandwiches, fried eggs, juice, and milk. The pool was the best part for us. Somehow the water stayed warm all day. After a day at the beach, we'd relax there around 5 p.m. while waiting for dinner. Dinner was another highlight: simple and tasty, with rice, beans, fries, steak, tilapia, or chicken, and salad. My kids loved it. The one downside we noticed was a lack of maintenance. There was a loose tile, and the outdoor area and the rooftop where breakfast was served needed cleaning. It was still acceptable, since they were reopening after being closed for almost a year because of the pandemic. The island still feels quite untouched. There are lots of trails to beaches and a few restaurants, but the beaches have no restaurants or bars, so it's worth bringing drinks and snacks. Carrying everything to the island is a bit of work, but it meant we could stay longer at the beach without going back for lunch. There are fish, turtles, starfish, and more to see in the water at practically every beach, so bring a snorkel, preferably a good one. Be sure to arrange with Duda to take you to Ilha da botina, the best place to see marine life. Once you're in the water, it feels like swimming in an aquarium. Ilha da Gipóia is a paradise everyone should see.

It's a clean, well-organized place with great service. The shrimp portion was the tastiest I've ever had, though I expected a bigger serving. Wi-Fi didn't reach the rooms farther from reception. At meals, dishes weren't promptly refilled when they ran out, and we had to ask for things like more coffee sugar.

Duda and Paola made us feel at home from the moment we arrived. Paola cooked everything from scratch, and the pizza was delicious. It's a lovely spot for relaxing, with easy access to some of the island's prettiest beaches, including Dentista and Piedad.