Retiro Canto da Mata

The pousada sits in an Atlantic Forest area, so it could suit someone looking for quiet and nature. Our room was simple and rustic but reasonably comfortable, with air conditioning and a smart TV. Still, several things really annoyed us during our visit. We didn’t like being handed a long list of guest “duties” by the owner as soon as we arrived and told to read it. In our travels, which are at least twice a year, we’re used to someone simply explaining the main points. The poor service continued throughout our five nights. One day we asked for towels to use at the pool, and the owner said they didn’t have any in a very unfriendly way. Another day my wife asked whether there was a portable drying rack or some other way to dry our wet beach clothes. The owner was again quite unfriendly, saying our accommodation had no veranda so there was nowhere to dry them. From what we saw, even the units with verandas didn’t have a rack or anything similar for guests’ clothes. Breakfast was extremely basic, with very few options. On just one of our five mornings, a staff member asked if we wanted an omelet or scrambled eggs, and that was the only day breakfast was a little better. Every day my wife also had to ask for cold milk for our five-year-old son. After they’d seen on the first day that he liked cold milk, it would have made sense to leave some available. At virtually every hotel, both cold and hot milk are routinely available. In the end, the service ruined our expectations of this pousada. I don’t plan to return and wouldn’t recommend it.