Hotel Pousada Colina de Pedra

The cabins are properly rustic, which I personally like, and I heard the new management, which took over less than a week ago, plans to renovate all of them soon. It’s right out in the woods, so expect frogs at reception, a praying mantis in the bathroom quietly minding its own business, and a cup-sized spider in the bedroom. The caretaker came out in the middle of the night, put it outside without killing it, and explained that it’s a kind that doesn’t attack people. This isn’t the spot for trips into Gramado or a wild time downtown. You come for the stunning views over the hills, the rich wild landscape, and a generous breakfast before heading out on one of the trails beyond the inn. There’s honeycomb honey and grape juice made on the property, too. The cabins are arranged so you still have privacy with the windows open, and every staff member gave us unusually attentive service around the clock. For future renovations, I’d suggest better thermal insulation and some attention to the inn’s bikes. There are lots of ecotourism spots nearby to explore by bike, if you’re used to struggling up a hill, and maybe later on with a 4x4 run by the inn under the new management. My girlfriend and I rode the inn’s bikes to ponte do raposo, which is beautiful and worth seeing, but getting back was tough. The inn is quite isolated, and I wouldn’t recommend driving there at night if you don’t know the area or have good headlights. If you’re coming from the capital or heading south to north, put Gramado into GPS first and then the inn, or you’ll end up doing a real rally through the mountains. There’s a restaurant fairly close by at night, about 200 meters away, with mid-range prices, around 50 reais for a decent plate. The inn’s kitchen is always open and well equipped, though, so you can cook if you’re up for it.

We had a great stay and left wanting to come back. The inn is a bit out of the way, which means you’re closer to nature, with a lovely view over the valley. Our cabin was spacious and comfortable, with a fireplace, AC, minibar, and TV. The staff were friendly and available throughout. They have a menu for lunch and dinner, so we ate there. My parents loved the capeletti soup. Since nothing on the menu suited my lactose intolerance and ovo-vegetarian diet, they kindly made me an omelet with rice and salad.

We stayed in a lovely chalet with air conditioning and a fireplace to keep warm, and the reception was available at any hour. A big hug to the night receptionist, who welcomed us right away when we got back from downtown Gramado at 1:00 a.m., replaced the gas for the heater when it ran out, and brought us more firewood after we’d used ours. It’s a wonderful place for a family trip, with beautiful nature and plenty to do: trails, bikes, a tennis court, pool, and a fishing pond. Service was excellent from the owners through to the staff. Breakfast is simple but generous, with the kitchen team making things fresh from the menu as we asked. The grape and orange juices were great, along with the scrambled egg, jam, and cakes. The 3 km dirt road is in good shape, better than plenty of paved roads around here. The rough stretch is the uphill entrance to the hotel, where it’s hard for two cars to pass in opposite directions. We hope to return after the pandemic and try the heated pool too!

We really enjoyed our stay, got some proper rest, and felt good about everything there. The inn and its surroundings are well cared for, the room was clean and tidy, and the reception team was very friendly. There’s also a large shared kitchen and a spacious breakfast area, and breakfast was great. It’s a wonderful place to get away from the noise of the city and be surrounded by nature. I’d recommend it to anyone looking to relax and enjoy the natural beauty Gramado and the region have to offer. Congratulations!