5 Best Hotels in Praia do Rosa, The South

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.