Pousada Recanto Almeida

Pousada Recanto Almeida has 36 rooms divided between a four-floor main lodge and an annex building. Buildings are done in Swiss- chalet-style, with reddish-brown exteriors with white trim. The interiors are not exceedingly luxurious, but the pousada is elegant and well constructed, with rustic elements like wood-beamed ceilings. The pousada's relaxed and intimate environment makes it great for couples, while families and outdoor lovers appreciate the scenic setting near hiking and climbing. Guests gather in the breakfast room in the morning, at afternoon tea, and in common areas such as the elegant TV room with a small bar. 

Pousada Recanto Almeida is located in a pleasant residential neighborhood on a hilltop overlooking the the Mantiqueira Mountains. Although it’s a bit far from the Capivari tourist action, it offers the benefit of a peaceful and quiet wooded setting. Capivari is about a mile north as the crow flies, but it's a 12- to 15-minute drive due to the winding mountain roads. Capivari has a German and Swiss alpine ambience and includes restaurants, bars, shops, the historic Sao Benedito Church, and a cable car up to Morro do Elefante (Elephant Hill) and its amusement park. The Campos area has plenty of places for hiking, highlighted by Horto Florestal park, located a 35-minute drive northeast. Campos do Jordao town is an 18-minute drive southwest, Baden Baden brewery is a 20-minute drive west, and Palacio Boa Vista (the winter home of the Governor of Sao Paulo) is a 22-minute drive west. The pousada is two hours northeast of Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport, and two hours and 15 minutes northeast of the city of Sao Paulo.    

The Recanto Almeida has 36 clean and quiet rooms divided between the main building and an annex. Decorated simply but elegantly, the alpine-style rooms have whitewashed walls, art, floral-print or cream-colored bedspreads, splashes of red in the furniture and bed throws, and lots of natural wood in the ceilings, doors, paneling, trim, and flooring. Rooms range in size from 230 to 450 square feet and come in a variety of configurations. Most rooms have views of the mountains, woods, and Capivari, and many have balconies. All rooms come with hairdryers, minibars, surround-sound stereos, free Wi-Fi, 32-inch or 40-inch flat-screen TVs (some rooms have a second 22-inch set) with satellite HD channels. All bathrooms are shower only, and rooms do not have coffee/teamakers. The main building has an elevator, but the annex does not. 

With its small pousada size, the Recanto Almeida has few on-site facilities -- there's no swimming pool, sauna, steam room, fitness center, or full-service spa. It does, however, have an ample free breakfast buffet served in an attractive room with a wood-beamed ceiling. The high-quality spread offers coffee, tea, juice, breads, cold cuts, cheese, fresh fruit, and cakes baked fresh at the inn. Guests can get breakfast earlier than 8 a.m. if requested. A free afternoon tea offers tea, coffee, milk, toast, and cakes. Lunch is not available on-site, but the Recanto serves all-day snacks and pizzas, and a special evening menu of pasta and soups. The inn also offers kitchen access for those who need to prepare meals for infants and young children. Guests can hang out in an elegant TV room with sofas, a 52-inch flat-screen TV, and DVD player with a 300-DVD movie library. There's a small bar with wine, beer, and cocktails, and a balcony with a good view of the mountains and surrounding area. A combination game room/computer room has a TV viewing area, card table, and several PC stations with free Internet access. Also on-site are free parking and 24-hour front desk with tour advice.