Namatacabana

Our first stay at NAMATACABANA, and we loved it! We were in the Scandinavia chalet, which was clean, cozy, romantic, and quiet. The only sound was the nearby river. The inn is lovely, the owners are so friendly, and breakfast was set out under the trees beside the river, such a charming touch. We'll keep coming back. 100,000 out of 10!

Set on Estrada dos Artesãos in the Serrinha Environmental Protection Area, this charming pousada is next to Itatiaia National Park. Márcio and his wife, Inge, built it with a lot of care. Márcio worked as a carpenter in Switzerland and brought that talent to Namatacabana.

I'd stayed at the inn three times before the pandemic. Recently I booked again, but couldn't make the trip because my daughter had a high fever the day before we were due to leave. When I explained what had happened, all I got was the cancellation policy, which meant I'd lose the reservation money.

It's a secluded spot in the middle of the forest, managed and built by a very friendly couple, with a real sense of peace and contact with nature. With only three chalets, it feels quiet and private. Don't expect luxury, but it's very comfortable. The internet could be more reliable, though if you came looking for isolation, that's probably not your main concern.