Praia de Guarajuba, Guarajuba, Camacari, Brazil | (888) 962-8097
Choice of three on-site restaurants serving Brazilian and Mediterranean fare
Sprawling cluster of pools includes bridges and swim-up bars
Room options include luxurious private bungalows on the beach
Kids' club area includes separate pool, playground, and daily activities
Game-room fun for all ages with billiards and table tennis
On-site tennis courts and soccer field
Spa and salon with huge array of massage, hair, and body treatments
Business center with private cubicles and meeting/convention spaces
Live music and entertainment at blues lounge
Free Wi-Fi in public areas
Isolated from the city of Salvador and commercial areas
Can get crowded with long lines in restaurants and at buffet
Buffet items could be more varied and of higher quality
Fee for Wi-Fi access in rooms
If an all-inclusive luxury resort experience is what you’re after, Vila Galé Marés might not measure up to the posh Iberostar Praia do Forte just up the road, but for about half the price,Vila Galé Marés is well over half as good. As evidenced by the sizable crowds -- mostly middle-class Brazilian families with young children -- the more affordable value isn’t exactly a secret. If you're in Brazil to explore the culture and architecture, this resort is not ideal, considering that it's situated about an hour outside of Salvador. But because it’s located on a quiet beach with a beautiful expanse of swimming pools and tennis courts, along with a special kids’ club and plethora of on-site restaurants, it’s suitable for relaxation, with a chance to explore the outdoors.
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Scene
Low-level buildings on expansive grounds; more natural looking than most resorts
Situated among palm trees, cacti, and grass huts, Vila Galé Marés is a series of one- and two-story Polynesian-style buildings that do a decent job of blending into the landscape. The expansive grounds are lined with stone canals, ponds, and fountains. There are three on-site restaurants, all brightly painted and featuring unique elements such as exposed brick ovens. The on-site blues club is adorned with guitars and bright original paintings. The kids’ club area has a small pool of its own along with a plastic playground, huge green lawn, and rope bridge.For adults, there’s a full-sized soccer field, several tennis courts, and the massive regular pool area, with shallow wading areas, foot bridges, and grass-hut swim-up bars. The greenery and vegetation that surround the resort stretches into the private beach area, where lawn chairs are set under wood and grass-woven umbrellas.
Location
Remote, along quiet stretch of Guarajuba Beach
In Brazil’s Camacari region, Vila Galé Marés is isolated on its own stretch of Guarajuba coastline with the public Guarajuba Beach about a mile-and-a-half down the sand and the only place within walking distance. Genipabu Beach is a short drive away while Salvador’s airport is about 50 minutes south. The historic downtown area is more than an hour away. But for nature lovers, the resort is ideally located near educational facilities and conservation programs, including Sapiranga Ecological Reserve, the Humpback Whale Institute, and Project Tamar Turtle Sanctuary.
Rooms
Apartment-style units or large, well-outfitted private bungalows
There are nearly 450 rooms of different varieties at Vila Galé Marés, ranging from standard motel-looking units to spacious bungalows on the beach. The Bungalows are replete with king-sized canopy beds, two massive rooms that sleep up to six people, full-sized kitchens with ovens and stainless steel ranges, and enormous bathrooms with separate glass showers and private hot tubs. Even the basic rooms are brightly painted with large, comfortable beds and have hammocks on spacious balconies or patios. All spaces have modern flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, safes, and air-conditioning, unlike many hotels in Brazil. There is a fee for Wi-Fi access.
Features
Three restaurants and a blues lounge, large outdoor pool area, and spa with wide array of treatments
Because Vila Galé Marés must function as its own village, it has everything guests need. There are three on-site restaurants. Those offering full-service, a la carte items are much better than the inclusive buffet options, but you must book a table early. A blues lounge offers live entertainment, music, and dancing. There are a number of interconnected swimming pools with ample lounge space and swim-up bars as well as a private beach with loungers and umbrellas. Kids have a large area of their own with a smaller pool, playground, nursery, crafts studio, and equipment offerings running the gamut from bikes to mini-dune buggies.A large spa and salon with a sauna offers massages as well as hair services and body treatments. Athletically-minded visitors have access to soccer, tennis, and a fitness center with a variety of treadmills, bikes, and weight equipment. For large organizational gatherings, there’s a massive presentation and convention area as well as a business center with computers and cubicles. Guests are brought to their rooms or bungalows on golf carts and airport transfers can be arranged. Laundry and babysitting services are also available upon request. Wi-Fi in public areas is free.
