Pousada O Canto do Francês

We'd seen the high ratings, so the stay was a letdown. Major renovation work was underway, with so much dust and noise that it was hard to stay there during the day. The owner never apologized for the disruption. Breakfast didn't impress us either, it was average in both quality and variety. There's a lot that could be improved. I've told my travel agent to reconsider this place when planning future trips to Marajó.

We came from Radisson Belem and are happier here, without missing a thing. It's a lovely spot for someone like me who enjoys nature and a simple way of life. The food is wonderful, like home cooking, and it's within walking distance of "Golfinho" place. The rooms are clean, and the staff are friendly and helpful.

It's called Pousada Canto do Francês. The place is simple, like everything in that region, and the location is okay, though not the best. The rooms have good air conditioning, which you really need in summer, and they rent bikes for riding around the village or heading to the beaches. The attendants are very polite and helpful, and can suggest tours or arrange transport. The owner, a Frenchman, is unfriendly and barely speaks Portuguese.

The garden is nice, the rooms are basic but clean, and the owner and one staff member speak English and French, which helps if you don't know Portuguese. They can also arrange tours. But I wouldn't book this hotel. I reserved two nights and had contacted them twice beforehand to say I needed to cancel the second night. Since their policy said a no-show meant charging the first night, I thought canceling one night in advance would be fine. They refused before I arrived and again at check-in, when I asked to stay just one night. A staff member first agreed, but the owner overruled her, saying she would lose business because the hotel was fully booked. That wasn't true: Booking still showed availability, and breakfast was sparsely attended. I took a screenshot and showed them, but they still wouldn't refund the second night, which I'd paid at check-in. Booking agreed my request was fair, but its refund request was denied too. The bike they gave me had two brakes, but neither worked. I found out when I hit a tree trying to stop. I returned the bike, then at checkout the next morning they charged me 25 BRL (about 5 EUR). I refused to pay. The hotel is also about 20’ on foot from the center, where the restaurants and supermarket are, so it feels isolated. Breakfast is basic, just sweets, with no eggs, ham or anything like that. The rooms are clean, but the service is more like a * at a *** price, with worn sheets and towels and no shampoo. I also booked a “Fazenda safari” through the hotel to see a buffalo ranch, and it was a big scam. It was half an hour riding buffalos through the forest, then another 15 minutes on them in the water. The animals looked unhappy, and most seemed skinny and old. They were dragged into the water by the rings in their noses. Horrible. Please think about animal welfare and do NOT book this tour with the hotel. Check what other providers offer. From what I saw elsewhere, you can get much better value for your money than at this hotel.