Pousada Terra Encantada

It’s a very simple pousada, but the staff were attentive and cheerful, and I was happy with the cleaning. They changed the towels and sheets. My main complaint is the bathroom: there’s no shower screen, so the whole floor floods when you shower. We asked for a squeegee to keep things manageable. Breakfast was simple, but the scrambled eggs and tapiocas were great. The pousada is far from Praça dos Remédios, but close to Praia do Boldro, so one balances out the other. We took the bus, which gets you to several beaches quickly. We only used a taxi to Praia da Cacimba do Padre, thanks to the staff’s helpful tips. I came back from there on 22/10, during a staff change. The former staff who looked after us were very good, and I’m grateful to everyone.

The place was awful. Service and cleaning were poor, and it was extremely noisy. Towels and sheets were changed only every three days. Breakfast was limited and seemed to depend on the host’s mood. I also didn’t feel very safe: the place faces the street, anyone can get in, and when you leave your room to be cleaned, the key is left in an easy-to-reach spot. There were gaps around the door, bugs could get in, and there was no window. We ran out of toilet paper and it wasn’t replaced.

Honestly, I can’t understand anyone saying this place is good. It was filthy and awful. People came and went without anyone knowing whether they were guests, so there was no security. The room and bathroom smelled of mothballs. A thick pipe ran through the room, and rain falling through it made a horrible noise. I managed one night because I had no way to move elsewhere right away, but spent the night looking for another pousada. In the morning, I went to look for another place and saw a dirty boot on top of the fridge, which was full of ice cream. The kitchen was disgusting, and the laundry area beside my room was full of debris. I was close to losing it when I arrived. I couldn’t even look at breakfast. I disappeared the next day without telling anyone. Taxi drivers told me the pousada had even changed its name because nobody was going there, and that it had caught fire due to poor maintenance and terrible electrical work. The internet was awful, and men wandered around the property talking loudly. Don’t stay here. I’m a lawyer and a public figure, and I’m only posting this warning. Look into who’s commenting and decide for yourself. I found another pousada that was very clean, had decent staff, and cost very little.

Here’s a recent account for anyone considering Boldro Surf House. It’s a very simple pousada, or hostel, for people who aren’t after luxury. Our room description said a double bed for two, a minibar, and no TV. When we arrived there were three extra beds taking up space in an already small room. There was also a cable TV and working Wi-Fi, along with the minibar. Cell service didn’t work around the pousada, though it did higher up on the island. We stayed five days. The towels weren’t changed, and they didn’t provide soap, shampoo, or conditioner. The toilet paper on the first day was poor, but after I told Sabrina, she replaced it with better quality. Alex was kind and made our days on the island much easier, helping with tours and the stay. Breakfast was basic but enough. The pousada is far from the town center, so you’ll need the bus, which costs 5 reais per person, or a taxi you can call, usually around 50 reais. I’m sharing the photos for anyone with questions.