Hotel Karapitangui

Getting here from Salvador was the one real downside. The trip is difficult and tiring, even if that remoteness may be part of what makes the place feel exclusive. Once there, we loved it. PATACHOCAS has the comfort and facilities of a resort without the huge Brazilian resort price. We enjoyed the beach, restaurants and beach bar, and could leave our things on a chair while we spent the day in the water, knowing they’d still be there when we came back. The staff are polite and the grounds are clean. It seems suited to couples, families, or solo travelers who enjoy that kind of stay. We’ll return with our child after they’re born.

This works well if you want a calm, self-contained beach stay. The beach is clean and private, and the resort has plenty to do, including paddle boards, a masseuse and a swim-up pool. The staff are friendly, too. Getting into town takes planning. It’s about a 40-minute walk along the beach, and the shuttle runs only 4-5 times a day. I wouldn’t recommend the place to foreigners or anyone who doesn’t speak Portuguese. There are also lots of children and few young couples, since it’s family-friendly. The restaurant is fine, though town has better dining. If you’re after nightlife, several restaurant choices, meeting people, exploring and partying a little, I’d stay at a pousada in town instead.

The breakfast was one of the best I’ve had at a hotel or resort, absolutely delicious, 10/10. I also had a wonderful massage and could hear the ocean during it, which felt like heaven. There’s lots to do beyond the pool, from beach walks to yoga. The resort coach is free and takes you to the other beaches and the island center about every 20 minutes, I’m not sure of the exact timing, but it comes often. The room was very comfortable with a lovely beach feel, the whole place is breathtaking, and the service was excellent. Best place to stay in morro de São Paulo!

The place is good for families with kids. There were lots of children around the pool, and the hotel has plenty of activities for them. Otherwise, I’d tell foreign tourists to avoid it. I came as a couple hoping for some fun and was disappointed. I paid twice what most hotels on the island cost and wished I’d booked somewhere cheaper. For that price I expected luxury, but this felt more like an upscale motel than a hotel or resort. The photos make the property look about five times better than it is. The rooms, staff, location and grounds all disappointed me. The lawn was patchy with dead grass and no flowers, and the beach wasn’t anything special. I saw much nicer beaches on the way here. The location is isolated, hard to find, and not near anything. Even so, it wasn’t peaceful: the house next door had a professional DJ playing extremely loud music for nine hours a day. The pool was nice, though less impressive than the pictures, and the music there was blasting too. Since the beach isn’t great here, I’d suggest foreign tourists stay in the livelier beach area. It would’ve helped to get check-in advice and shuttle information ahead of time, or to have someone at the boat landing. They charge twice as much as other hotels, so it would’ve been nice if they’d told us the shuttle times and meeting point, or had someone meet us. The front desk and staff weren’t very helpful or friendly. A few other things: towels are only in the room, not at the pool. There were insects in our room, which you can almost guarantee will happen. The lobby is hot and outdoors, and a welcome drink would be nice. You’re better off assuming there’s no internet. I didn’t enjoy this place.