Pousada Mata Nativa

The location is great, though a room facing the street may get noisy at night. The staff were always kind, and the breakfast they provide is amazing.

The pool and sauna were nice, and the location is good, with plenty of other places to stay in the same area. But for the high price, I expected much better. The biggest issue was the staff talking loudly about personal problems very early in the morning and disturbing guests. The tiny chalets had several problems: the entrance door didn't lock properly, and neither did the bathroom door, which also offered no privacy. Curtains left part of the window uncovered, so morning light came in. One side of the small bed had no bedside table, and it was uncomfortable for a couple. There was only one thin, small blanket, so we were cold the first night. It can get quite cold on the island at night, even in October. Breakfast was very basic, the toaster was always dirty, and the food was below average for the island. I've stayed in better hotels on Ilha Grande, so I have something to compare it with.

The outdoor clothes dryer was handy for drying towels and swimwear to use again the next day. The staff were friendly, mostly young workers, but the Argentinian clerk didn't know much about the island, its towns, or even the best way back to Rio. The cook was more helpful with that. There were also issues in the room: the TV woke me in the middle of the night, and you had to pay extra to watch anything, which I wasn't interested in. It seemed to be there just to make noise. The main door handle fell off, and there was a dangerous step in the bathroom. The pool wasn't refilled or treated with chemicals all summer. I got a virus after leaving the island and became sick, though I can't say for sure that it was from the pool. Breakfast was okay, with good cakes but poor protein options. For the price, I expected better, and the stay didn't feel worth the cost.

The chalets are packed along shared paths, so there's little privacy. Ours sat in a damp corner, with mold inside and a gutter full of standing water outside, a perfect breeding spot for mosquitoes. The chalets feel like garden sheds, with cobwebs everywhere and no deep clean in ages. The bathroom door had no handle and wouldn't close, and the toilet brush holder was dirty with old toilet water in it. Breakfast was good, but the stay was otherwise very disappointing and extremely overpriced.