UXUA Casa is a hotel that’s been on our bucket list for a while. Located in the northern coastal village of Trancoso in Brazil, the hotel was the first boutique property in the area and really put Trancoso on the map. Its initial success was in no small part down to the fact that its founder is ex-Diesel Creative Director Wilbert Das, which drew a celeb crowd from the early days. There wasn’t much else around in terms of notable hotels when it first opened in 2009 but now it’s one of the hottest beach destinations in Brazil.
Trancoso has changed a lot since UXUA opened nearly fifteen years ago then, but it’s still the place to stay in the area, and in fact, is still one of the most famous hotels in Brazil. The hotel is spread out over several different casas, old fisherman’s cottages that have been absolutely beautifully restored and decorated. There are only 10 of them so UXUA retains a very intimate exclusive feel. Each one is different too, all with unique artworks and style so there is an incredible soul and character throughout the whole property.
We stayed in Casinha, which is actually located just next door to the main cluster of buildings. It has its own entrance directly into a pretty garden that leads down to a private pool and eventually to the house. There’s two bedrooms, connected by an outdoor living area / veranda, plus a kitchen area should you want to get cooking! In keeping with the rest of UXUA, the rooms have a rustic charm to them – rickety coloured tables and chairs, pastel coloured walls, and up-cycled furniture. It’s all impeccably put together and whichever way you turn, you can see the care and thought that’s been put into every detail. The whole place could be straight out of the pages of a high-end interiors mag.
The main part of UXUA features several guest rooms as well as a big pool, a spa, gym, and open-air restaurant that serves breakfast each morning. We loved tucking in to the fresh juices, breads and açai bowls, as well as slabs of the hotel’s own cheese, which they make on-site. For lunch and dinner, there’s a restaurant that sprawls out on to the Quadradao (the open traffic-free square at the heart of Trancoso) that’s open to the public too. It makes for a romantic and peaceful dinner spot and a great place to try the local fish stew moqueqa.
About a 10-minute walk down to the beach, UXUA also has its own beach club, and you are guaranteed a beach bed if you are staying at the hotel. It’s a nice spot, but it does get a little party-party and they have regular late night DJ sets here (which you can hear miles away) so if you’re after more chilled vibes you might want to head to neighbouring beaches.
We had just one night at UXUA and it was the ideal place to end our three-week trip around Brazil – but it would be a great place to hole up for a week at least. For us, it was all about spending as much time soaking up the charm of the property itself, admiring the artworks and beautiful interiors, swimming, and enjoying the peaceful character of the place. Sometimes hotels as hyped as this can’t quite live up to the expectations, but UXUA certainly is a special place indeed.
Praça São João Batista – Trancoso, Porto Seguro – BA, 45810-000, Brazil
uxua.com