Darn Good Digs Review - Editors' Choice

Pousada Santa Clara, Boipeba Island, Bahia, Brazil
Nominated By: Alison McGowan, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, September '09

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Price Range: US$65-$120 (breakfast included) # of Rooms: 11 Kid-Friendly: yes

What makes Pousada Santa Clara so Darn Good? Your hosts, Charles and Mark, will make sure your stay is fabulous from start to finish. Their pousada’s eleven colorful rooms are scattered amongst tropical gardens with verandas and hammocks for relaxing. The pousada also has an excellent thatched restaurant serving super-fresh local food, a lovely massage space overlooking the ocean, and a library of books for exchange. I could never have imagined anywhere as wonderful as this, and I return as often as I can.

Location: Boipeba is a tropical island, with miles of deserted beaches situated south of Salvador, Bahia. If you need a break from lying on the sand, the pousada is just a short walk from the small village of Boipeba, or you can explore the rest of the island by canoeing the mangroves, hiking the coastal trails, or snorkeling the coral reef. Boipeba Island is a short boat trip across from Morro de Sao Paulo, or you can get the ferry from Salvador to Bom Despacho, then bus to Valenca and boat from there.

Rooms: Pousada Santa Clara has eleven simple rooms with good showers and mosquito nets for the beds. All rooms have fans, and one has an air conditioner.

Food: Food at Santa Clara is first class, and makes use of the best local produce, fresh fish, and seafood. A gourmet breakfast is included in the price, but it is also well worth dining at the Pousada’s restaurant whenever you get the chance. In high season reservations are essential as the restaurant only has a few tables.

Vibe: Pousada Santa Clara is an incredible place to chill out and meet fellow travelers.

Things to Keep in Mind: The island has no traffic, except for two tractors, and all access is by boat. You may need to paddle to the shore! Bring enough cash as there are no ATMs on the island, and keep in mind that your mobile phone probably won`t work on Boipeba, and internet access is intermittent at best.

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