Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
Hotels are plentiful throughout the Northeast. Prices range from moderate to pricey, depending on season. Many hotels are sleek and modern, comparable to those you'd find in tourist destinations around the world. Pousadas tend to have a bit more charm and personalized service. Making reservations is advisable during high seasons. Keep in mind that prices listed at the hotel reception are often considerably higher than those that can be found online. Many business hotels will also drop their rates on the weekends.
A calm oasis tucked away near Praia do Amor, this well-run pousada offers friendly service, charming rooms, and a beautiful swimming pool surrounded by tropical trees. Rooms come with hammocks and air-conditioning, although if you are looking for privacy, request one of the newer rooms on the second floor, which have private balconies. The breakfast buffet is one of the best in town, with endless homemade cakes, yogurts, and granola—the perfect fuel for spending a day surfing or soaking up the sun. Keep an eye out for the little monkeys that hang in the fruit trees, waiting to share your banana.
This beach-chic pousada stands out for its exceptional food and bungalows that open directly onto beautiful beaches. Fresh ingredients sourced from the organic garden and local fisherman are used for the innovative Italian dishes served in the pousada's restaurant, from lobster and avocado carpaccio to shrimp risotto. Special request? The owner can cook pretty much whatever you want, especially for kids. The service and amenities, including plasma TVs, keep this pousada continually booked throughout the year.
On the outskirts of town, the Caruaru Park's colorful rooms and chalets are sparsely decorated but neat and clean. Balconies have hammocks and decent views of town.
True to its name, which translates as "house on the beach," this intimate pousada opens right onto the sand and has one of the best views in town over the dune. This is a good choice for couples looking to relax over sunset caipirinhas by the pool. For breakfast, the friendly staff serve up freshly cooked tapioca and crepes alongside the usual fresh fruit.
One block from the beach, this small hotel is a great option if you're willing to forgo ocean views and stylish design for a friendly staff and competitive rates. Apart from the elevator, the three-story hotel seems more like a guesthouse. Rooms are well equipped and comfortable. The two small pools help compensate for the lack of sea views.
On a small side street three blocks from the beach, this laid-back hotel offers some of the best value for money in town, with friendly service and a charming rooftop terrace. While some of the rooms are a bit dingy and bathrooms small, all come with comfortable double beds and fridges, and some have small balconies.
In a converted mansion, this pousada has rooms that vary considerably in size, quality, and price; the suites, with hardwood floors, rival those at the best hotels, but the standard rooms are just average. The individually decorated deluxe rooms are considerably nicer. Carnival decorations enliven the lobby—a hint that this pousada is the place to be during the celebrations, when the patio becomes a sort of VIP area from which guests can watch the parade.
The four-star rooms at this hotel are highly incongruous with the two-star-quality lobby; luckily, prices are more representative of the latter. The small hotel is a block from the beach, with a pool in front. All rooms have balconies; request those with direct sea views, since they cost the same.
Perched on a deserted white-sand beach, this pousada is a contender for Brazil's most tranquil place to unwind. The nine simple yet sophisticated bungalows come with comfortable beds, double hammocks for two, and hot water provided by solar panels. Some come equipped with Japanese ofuro tubs, while others can host up to four people. The excellent restaurant serves fresh seafood, organic salads, and Brazilian classics with a healthy twist. Rates include breakfast and either lunch or dinner in the restaurant.
Wind chimes, candles, a verdant garden, and swimming pool help create a sense of peace and tranquillity at this well-priced, no-frills pousada. Colorful duplex apartments have windows looking out into the garden and hammocks in front. Breakfasts of fresh fruit and homemade whole-grain bread are served in the dining area, which is decorated with a mix of modern art and antiques.
