Tauana Hotel

Mr & Mrs Smith have an anonymous review trip to this Bahia boutique resort in the diary, and just as soon as they've unpacked their beach bags, a full account of their stay in Brazil will be with you. In the meantime, just to whet your wanderlust, here's a swiftly penned postcard from eco-resort, Tauana Hotel…

Tricky to get to – and even harder to leave – Tauana must be one of the most idyllic places on the Brazilian coast. Built by a Portuguese architect with strong green leanings, it’s accumulated some substantial eco credentials since it first took shape in 2005 – not least the fact that the owner planted 30,000 trees to compensate for building it in the first place. Occupying a cliff-top spot in coastal Corumbau, the hotel’s nine cabañas all boast 20-foot ceilings and a stunning modern design scheme that contrasts dramatically with the wildness of the setting. Everything from the wood of the walls to the thatch of the roof is sourced from sustainable local materials, and the organic garden provides all the ingredients for the restaurant’s gourmet cuisine that the area’s farmers and fishermen can’t. It’s a tech-less, TV-less paradise where you can hone your scuba skills, scan the sea for whales, explore the two neighbouring national parks, or simply sway the day away in a hammock taking in the surrounding nature…