Etnia Pousada & Boutique

Up north in Bahia is where you’ll find the wilder, rougher side of Brazil — which for anyone bored of the beach scene in Rio is not a warning but a positive enticement. Trancoso was one of the prototypical fishing-villages-turned-hideaways, and there’s still plenty of that mellow bohemian vibe about it. Which Etnia Pousada trades upon quite liberally.

Far-flung though it may be, Etnia is owned by a pair of Italian expat hipsters, who lend their creation a certain easy cosmopolitanism. Rooms are themed after classic destinations, from Goa to Marrakech to Kyoto, and incredibly they manage to be tasteful about it, getting the blend between kitsch and authenticity exactly right.

Ultimately though the style is somewhat beside the point. What counts here is the atmosphere (unrelentingly mellow), as well as the environment — surrounded by tall trees you’re comfortably secluded, with even the beach a good ten minutes away. Enjoy the silence at the poolside, or a massage in the Etnia’s mini-spa. Or else check out the old town of Trancoso — while certainly not a resort town it is a getaway for a lot of discerning Brazilians, and the Etnia’s antique store joins a number of surprisingly upscale shops in the old town center.

How to get there:

Etnia Pousada & Boutique is located in Trancoso, Porto Seguro which is a 2 hour flight from Sao Paulo. By bus the trip is nearly 26 hours. From Porto Seguro you can take a ferry followed by a short 40 km car ride or the hotel can provide a slightly longer ride by car only. Please contact customerservice@tablethotels.com to arrange airport transfers.

• 8 Rooms
• Style: Contemporary Classic
• Atmosphere: Quiet
• 1 Guest Review

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