Barrudada Tropical Hotel

We chose this hotel because we’d heard good things and it’s near the Polícia Federal. The staff were all very friendly, and I liked that the soaps in the rooms are made locally in Alter do Chão, biodegradable, and chosen with the nearby river in mind. The hotel is nice but older. Its rooms are the largest we’ve ever had in a hotel in Brazil, and the main pool is the nicest and biggest we’ve swum in here. There’s also a small children’s pool. It wasn’t as clean, but our two-year-old loved it. Some towels and sheets had stains, though, and a blanket costs extra. We asked several times for two blankets and were told they’d be sent up soon. After the third or fourth request, staff admitted they were out. They eventually found two, but we shouldn’t have had to keep asking. Our two rooms connected, but the door between them stayed locked, and staff said they couldn’t find the key. After the trouble with the blankets, I wasn’t sure what was happening with that door either. If they’d opened it, we would have stayed another night or two. We also never saw housekeeping during our two-night stay, which was disappointing. The hotel allows pets, and we saw several small dogs. We can’t comment on breakfast. There were signs saying masks were required at the buffet, but guests weren’t wearing them and the hotel staff didn’t enforce the rule. Hotel staff did wear masks. Restaurant staff didn’t, except for one employee I saw wearing one during our whole stay. Parking is limited. We arrived early on Thursday and found a spot easily, but I doubt we’d have found one on Friday night. Both balconies had hooks for a hammock, and I brought one from the car and hung it up. But neither room’s sliding balcony door could be locked. We were on the second floor, which would be the third in the US, so I wasn’t worried about theft. With a two-year-old who wanted to climb out there, though, being able to lock the door would have felt safer. We enjoyed our stay and will probably return to Santarem. Next time we’ll plan for a weekday, since it got busy by Friday night and people weren’t very good about masks or keeping their distance during the pandemic.

The hotel looked run down, and the room service ended at 9 PM. Breakfast was very basic, with few choices. There was no Wi-Fi, despite the listing saying it was available, so I had to use mobile data for work. The mattress was old and uncomfortable, and the refrigerator made a lot of noise. Worst hotel I’ve stayed in. If the pool doesn’t matter to you, look elsewhere.

Some longtime travelers may remember this as the old Tropical Hotel. There’s a wide selection at breakfast, and visitors can eat there for a regular fee. The staff and room maintenance both need to improve.

I spent a few hours there with my little daughter and a friend, swimming and having lunch. It was quite pleasant.