Jardim Secreto

The accommodation itself was very good and everything was in order. But it’s at the top of an endless, difficult staircase with 126 steps. We’re both over 60, and going up and down was a real ordeal for us.

The location is excellent, close to everything, though that's not hard on an island this size. The hostess sent us clear directions for getting up there as soon as we arrived in Morro. Claudia, who lives a little farther down, welcomed us warmly. We never met our hostess, but she gave us all the support we needed over WhatsApp. Since we checked out very early, no one was there to take the keys, but we were told what to do. There are mango trees outside the Pousada, and even the pizza delivery person picked a few on the way up. I used the hammock outside every day and would have slept in it all night if not for the mosquitoes. It took us a while to find Globo on the TV because the channel goes by another name, I think it was BATV. The place looks bigger in the photos, but that wasn't an issue for us. There really is a staircase, as people say, about 128 steps by my count. I didn't mind going up and down as often as needed, but it was hard for my mother-in-law, who has limited mobility at 64, especially carrying a lot of luggage on that first climb. Unless you're sedentary and have very poor habits, the stairs won't kill you, and they might even help you lose weight.

The place is lovely and just like the photos. Madalena and Mara gave us such a warm welcome. The AC is really powerful, the shower was great, and the kitchen had what we needed. There are a lot of steps to get up there, but a couple of breathing breaks do the trick. I’d love to come back!

The loft was clean when I arrived, and it’s beautiful and really cozy. I’d consider coming back if it weren’t for the 115 steps. If you have rhinitis, be ready for a moldy smell, since the loft gets very little sun. We also went almost three full days without internet, despite the host doing everything she could to fix it. It's an island, so outages are quite possible. Be prepared.