Monalisa Guesthouse Ilhabela

Monalisa and Marcelo were so attentive and helpful, always trying to make guests feel welcome. My wife and I loved our stay. The house is right on the sand and has a pool and heated Jacuzzi, with a calm, secure feel to the area. We could leave the car parked and enjoy the scenery, with shops nearby and plenty of good restaurants and kiosks. It's also close to Ilhabela's historic center. Ilhabela is naturally beautiful, and we definitely recommend staying here.

The house is spacious and comfortable, with a well equipped kitchen, a lovely pool, and a hot tub at just the right temperature. The rooms are good, though I'd bring my own pillows. The air conditioning worked very well, and we really liked the breakfast, which had the usual things we eat. The place is right on the sand with easy access to Saco da Capela beach. Engenho D'água beach is close enough to walk to as well, and its water felt more like pool temperature. The water at Saco da Capela was VERY cold, just so you know. It's not the part of the island with the most borrachudos, but bring repellent. There's a good market at the end of the street, and I found several lactose and gluten free products there. Portinho and Porto do Engenho are excellent nearby restaurants within walking distance. The house is close to the village center and the ferry too. Monalisa and Marcelo were lovely, polite hosts, and we'll definitely return.

We spent eight days at Monalisa Guesthouse, and it was a wonderful stay. The location is excellent, and Saco da Capela beach was really lovely. We borrowed the bikes and enjoyed a bit of exercise and a ride around the northern part of Ilhabela. Breakfast was very good, generously served, and replenished often. The pão de queijo was delicious! The rooms were cleaned very well, and I noticed the pool being treated and cleaned almost every day. Marcelo and Monalisa were warm and kind throughout, especially to my mother, who celebrated her 91st birthday there. From now on, this is where we'll stay in Ilhabela.

We felt right at home at this guesthouse, and they lent us everything we needed for a good day at the beach. The breakfast was tasty and clearly made with care, and having it beside the pool was especially nice. There's a great market on the same street, and the village and good restaurants are just a short walk away. The beach here was lovely too, with very clean, calm water despite the boats at the marina. We saw plenty of fish swimming under the pier. Marcelo's thoughtfulness really stood out: one morning my son slept in while I went down for breakfast near the end of service. Marcelo noticed he wasn't with me and offered to make him a sandwich to take back to the room. On arrival, Marcelo's friendly welcome and the cold bottle of water were a lovely start. Then we saw our suite, with an extra king size bed, Netflix on the TV, a huge bathroom, and a spectacular view of the pool and sea. The house itself was beautiful, with a clean Jacuzzi and warm water waiting for us in the late afternoon, plus a lookout where we could watch the sunset. After days exploring Ilhabela's beautiful beaches, that was a perfect way to unwind. The pool was lovely too. This was our first guesthouse stay, and the days will stay with us. I recommend it wholeheartedly and will definitely stay there again.