Pousada Rancho Gostoso

We spent six days at Rancho Gostoso and had a great stay. The room was spacious and clean, and the facilities were good quality. Breakfast was excellent, and the women serving it were attentive and keen to do their best. Carlos, the owner, was very kind and thoughtful. The beach here wasn’t ideal for swimming. There’s a long stretch of sand before you reach the water, it’s very windy, and there isn’t much there for spending the day. We got our fill of swimming at tourinhos, on the parrachos trip, and during a day at Kauli. The pousada is near Rua da Xepa, which has plenty of great places to eat, so don’t write the town off as you first enter it.

From the pousada, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the avenue da Xepa, with excellent restaurants for different tastes and budgets. You can get around on foot, and the location is great. The service, room, and space were all very good on my first night. Maceio beach itself wasn’t great for staying at: it’s very windy, the sea is rough, and the sandy stretch is so wide that you have to walk a while to reach the water. I’d still recommend the pousada.

We stayed for a week and were warmly welcomed by the owner, sr Karlos. He was attentive and had lots of tips for good outings. The place is close enough to Rua da Xepa to walk there, but it’s on a small street, so it stays peaceful. I’d come back to São Miguel and stay here again. Incredible.

Getting into town is quick 👍, but the beach isn’t suitable for staying on, and the water is a long way from the shore.