18 Best Hotels in The South, Brazil

Name: Pedra Afiada Refúgio
Address: Estrada da Vila Rosa s/n, Parque Nacional de Aparados da Serra, Rio Grande do Sul, 88990-000, Brazil
Telephone: 048-532–1059
Price range: $$$

The South has a great variety of hotels and inns. Except for in the smallest towns and most remote areas, however, you shouldn't have a problem finding comfortable accommodations. Pousadas in historic buildings are common, particularly in beach towns. Hotel-fazendas (farmhouse hotels) are popular in rural areas. Southern beaches attract many South American tourists, and seaside cities might become crowded and highway traffic nightmarish from December through March. Make advance reservations.

Pedra Afiada Refúgio

$$$ | Estrada da Vila Rosa s/n, Parque Nacional de Aparados da Serra, 88990-000, Brazil Fodor's Choice

The most comfortable lodging at the end of the canyon valleys, this pousada has established its niche among adventure tourists, who depart from here to explore the Malacara and other canyons beyond. All northwest-facing rooms have balconies with views of the canyon walls. Every room has a different color scheme, and all have comfortable, queen-size beds. A handful of chalets and glorified sheds dotted about the pousada's jungle garden make for an even more remote sleeping option.

Quinta do Bucanero

$$$$ | Estrada Geral Praia do Rosa s/n, Praia do Rosa, 88780-000, Brazil Fodor's Choice

The ultimate in barefoot luxury, this stunning hotel in Praia do Rosa is carved in and around the hillside some 100 feet above the beach, with rooms perched on wooden supports and vast slabs of rocks in the sitting area. Popular with honeymooners, the hotel has 12 rooms, decked out with plush furnishings and rustic touches—think bamboo, shells, and marble—and all with the same panoramic view of the lagoon and ocean below. Take a dip in the infinity pool, or head downhill to the pontoon where your own boatman awaits to take you across the lagoon to the beach and back.

Estaleiro Guest House

$$$$ | Avenida Interpraias 3987, Balneário Camboriú, 88334-000, Brazil

A well-manicured hotel with direct access to a clean, quiet beach, Estaleiro Guest House has 21 rooms, split across a trio of colorful, three-story buildings. The hotel is a good choice for serious relaxation, the only decision being whether to lounge seaside or around the palm-lined pool. The richly furnished rooms all come with flat-screen TVs and modern conveniences, while the bistro serves lunch and dinner. Add to the mix the massage hut and the beachfront bar, and it's easy to while away a few days here without ever needing to leave.

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Felissimo Exclusive Hotel

$$$$ | Rua Ales Blaun 201, Balneário Camboriú, 88331-430, Brazil

What started as an upmarket guesthouse in a quiet, residential suburb is now a self-styled “exclusive hotel,” with a vibe that's design-conscious and hip. Expanses of white walls, glass, and wood give a minimalist feel to each of the 10 rooms, all of varying sizes. An excellent bistro ($$$$), with artfully mismatched furniture and lanterns in the trees, is at the heart of the space, and draws a young, well-dressed crowd at weekends. Hire one of the hotel’s bicycles (R$25 for the day) for the five-minute roll downhill to Praia Brava.

Hospedaria das Brisas

$$$ | Caminho do Alto do Morro s/n, Praia do Rosa, 88780-000, Brazil

A solid midrange option for families, Hospedaria das Brisas has ample outdoor space and is a five-minute stroll from the beach. The only letdown is the outdoor pool and hot tub, neither of which are aging gracefully. Sparsely decorated, whitewashed rooms, equipped with both air-conditioning and a fireplace for the changing seasons, are set in two-story blocks in the garden; book ahead to nab the one that boasts a sea view. The guesthouse’s nautically themed Refúgio do Pescador restaurant ($$$) is famed for its seafood paella.

Hospedaria Ponta da Piteira

$$$$ | Estrada Geral de Ibiraquera s/n, Praia do Rosa, 88780-000, Brazil

The six glass-fronted rooms that make up this boutique hotel overlook the expanse of lagoons and sandbanks that make this spot so unique. Perfect for those in search of peace, quiet, and acres to explore, Ponta da Piteira is self-contained, with a pool, a chef, and outdoors entertainment—from kayaks to beach volleyball—at guests’ disposal. The nearest civilization is a good 15-minute drive away down a maze of dirt roads, making this a place to arrive and stay put until it’s time to leave.

Pousada Borghetto Sant’Anna

$$$ | Via Trento 868, Bento Gonçalves, 95700-000, Brazil

Hosts Rubens and his wife, Gisele, provide an exuberant welcome at this magical location, which was their weekend home before it became their business. Mad about wine, they’ll happily plot you a course around their favorite wineries, all less than a 15-minute drive away. The pousada comprises a cluster of two-story stone houses wedged into the hillside—two of which are split into two rooms, with three rented whole, complete with kitchen and sitting room. They all have antique furnishings, mod cons, and big windows that are perfect for admiring the sweeping views down the vine-covered valley.

Pousada das Corucacas

$$ | Cambará do Sul, 95481-970, Brazil

Immerse yourself in the region's rugged landscapes by staying at this inn on a working gaúcho horse-and-cattle farm: the 1,200-acre Fazenda Baio Ruano. This pousada is a wooden building made with Paraná pine wood. Rooms are no-frills and downright rustic, but beds are comfortable, and there's central heating (rare in these parts). The ample lounge with a fireplace has great views of the surrounding hills covered with native grass meadows and dotted with Paraná pine trees. There are waterfalls and woods in the area; consider exploring them on horseback and perhaps trekking into the canyons beyond.

Pousada Don Giovanni

$$ | Linha Amadeo, Km 12, Bento Gonçalves, 95700-000, Brazil

Remote and rustic, this eight-room guesthouse is an old-world gem in a whitewashed 1930s building adjacent to the Don Giovanni winery. A good base from which to explore the wine region, or simply soak up the scenery, the accommodations here are simple, spacious, and comfortable, with faded furniture and stunning views, though the minimal service (with no staff on-site for parts of the day and in the evening) can make even the most basic requests a logistical challenge. To eat out, there are limited options within driving distance, though you can book ahead to dine in the pousada restaurant, with a set menu ($$$$)—made with homegrown produce—served in an atmospheric basement dining room.

Pousada dos Chás

$$$$ | Rua Francisco Gouveia 54, Florianópolis, 88053-645, Brazil

Despite the interior design overload—blue sofas, blue walls, blue everything—Pousada dos Chás is one of the best guesthouses on Jururê Beach. Just a couple of blocks from the beach (albeit with no sea view), it’s split in two: the main house with 20 en suite rooms, each with its own color scheme and optimized feng shui; and a pool across the road, with stylish daybeds and a barbecue. A perfect end to a hard day's bronzing is the complimentary afternoon tea, with homegrown infusions and an impressive spread of cakes.

Pousada Estaleiro Village

$$ | Av. Interpraias 3996, Balneário Camboriú, 88334-000, Brazil

Simple and rustic, this pousada is one of the few on this stretch of coastline to have direct access to the beach. Brightly painted two-story buildings, dotted about a wild jungle of a garden, are split into 24 rooms; all have air-conditioning, a fridge, and TV, and a handful have kitchenettes. The furnishings are basic, with some rooms starting to show their age, but what this pousada lacks in luxury it more than makes up for in the warm welcome of the family that runs it.

Pousada Isadora Duncan

$$$$ | Rod. Jornalista Manuel de Menezes 2658, Florianópolis, 88061-701, Brazil

Hidden away above the bistro of the same name, with great views out over Lagoa da Conceição, this guesthouse is packed with personality. It's a great choice for those happy to forego amenities in favor of something a little different. With a name that pays homage to the American dancer, expect a flamboyant approach here, from the mismatched furniture, to the red lights in the roomy hot tub, and wall-to-wall windows looking out over the lake. On a busy road skirting the lake, you’ll need a car to get around.

Pousada Solar Mirador

$$$$ | Estrada Geral do Rosa s/n, Praia do Rosa, 88780-000, Brazil

Indulge in the extraordinary views of Rosa Beach while sitting, drink in hand, by the pool at this luxurious pousada. Silk drapes, bamboo-weave baskets, and expanses of dark, stained wood lend this upmarket guesthouse a Balinese feel. Its restaurant, Urucum ($$$$), specializes in the Brazilian seafood stew, moqueca. The dozen rooms, as well as two hot tubs, a steam room, sauna, and indoor swimming pool, are scattered about the thickly forested hillside and connected by wooden walkways and steps that are best suited to youthful legs. A highlight of each room is the veranda, strung with a hammock.

Recanto das Flores

$$$$ | Estrada Geral da Costeira 120, Governador Celso Ramos, 88190-000, Brazil

Popular with Brazilian families, this simple, beachfront pousada has 19 sparsely furnished en suite rooms that, while lacking natural light and privacy, are nonetheless clean with all the basic modern conveniences; go for the larger rooms with verandas facing the sea. Ample outdoor space, a football pitch, indoor swimming pool, and games room mean kids can run wild. Breakfast and dinner are included; you can sizzle up your lunch at the communal barbecue.

Refúgio das Galés

$$$$ | Av. Aroeira da Praia 2001, Porto Belo, 88215-000, Brazil

Aimed squarely at couples, this upmarket guesthouse is one of the few accommodation options on the relatively unspoiled Mariscal beach. Well located, with its own boardwalk connecting the garden to the beach, the guesthouse has eight smartly furnished rooms, all with their own verandas and sea view, and plenty of bright, airy communal space, kitted out with expanses of white marble and wood decking. Mariscal beach flanks a 4-km-long (2½-mile-long) bay and is popular with surfers, though not so good for swimmers, with strong currents. Note that no children under 15 are allowed.

Regina Guest House

$ | Caminho do Alto do Morro s/n, Praia do Rosa, 88780-000, Brazil

Set in one of the manioc flour mills that were once common in Santa Catarina, Regina Guest House is steeped in rustic charm. Cogs, weighing scales, and other remnants from its former incarnation decorate the family-run pousada along with homely furniture and a pool table. The best accommodations can be found in the garden, in one of three log cabins that includes en suite bathroom, TV, minibar, and air-conditioning; two have a sea view while the third overlooks the Ibiraquera lagoon.

Vila Tamarindo Eco Lodge

$$$ | Av. Campeche 1836, Florianópolis, 88063-300, Brazil

A 10-minute stroll from Praia Campeche, Vila Tamarindo is a clean and tidy pousada with a manicured garden where kids can splash about in a fenced-off swimming pool. The 15 rooms, split across two blocks, are in excellent condition, with rustic, wood furniture and a small private balcony strung with a hammock in each. Expect the typical Brazilian feast of fruits, cakes, and cold cuts for breakfast. The only downside is the modern condominiums being built on three sides of the pousada, encroaching on what would otherwise be a tranquil spot.

Villa Valduga

$$ | Km 6, RS 444, Bento Gonçalves, 95700-000, Brazil

Casa Valduga winery maintains four redbrick houses with large, comfortable rooms overlooking the vineyards. Decor is contemporary, and each room is different. The breakfast is almost a full café colonial, served at the winery near the wine vats. The restaurants ($$$$), which are open to nonguests (reservations essentials), are a touch impersonal, but serve hearty Brazilian-Italian fare, such as cappelletti soup, roasted pork and chicken, and polenta. As unlikely as it may sound, there are no Valduga wines available by the glass.

The South

The South

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