Ilha de Toque Toque Boutique Hotel & SPA

We may go to São Paulo for a taste of Brazil but when the Paulistanos are in the mood to escape, some head east: to São Sebastião, a coastal enclave some two and a half hours away. It’s not a resort town, per se, nor is it the “humble fishing village” of Brazilian-tourism cliché — it’s a town whose inhabitants, some of them part-timers, privately carry on the business of enjoying the beachfront geography and (nearly) tropical climate. Which makes it ideal for a small and intimate getaway like the Ilha de Toque Toque.

Its situation just outside of town means it’s on the quiet side, which is entirely the point. The 14 rooms sit on a hillside fifty meters above the sea, with hammocks on their decks, overlooking a charmingly unfinished beach. Quite a contrast with the high-rise hotels of somewhere like Rio — here the activities are more on the sedate side, with guests lounging by the pool, in their room’s hot tub, plunge pool, or sauna, or in the spa (by L’Occitane au Brésil) — or else making their way down to the beach or exploring the jungle on foot or mountain bike. There’s nothing all that glamorous about it, aside from the glamour inherent in disappearing to the Brazilian seashore for a while — which, for many of us, is more than enough.

Travel advisory: Passport and visa requirements differ from country to country. Please check with your local authority before booking.

Please note: Weekend stays (all year) require a minimum of 2 nights. Stays in December require a minimum of 2 nights. Stays in January require a minimum of 3 nights.

How to get there: Ilha de Toque Toque is approximately 2 1/2 hours from Congonhas/São Paulo Airport. Most guests self-drive to the resort and take advantage of the free parking.