Uxua Casa Hotel

Mr & Mrs Smith have just returned from a stay at this boutique hotel in Bahia, and just as soon as they've unpacked their bottles of Cachaça and bossa nova mix CDs, a full account of their luxury Brazilian break will be with you. In the meantime, just to whet your wanderlust, here's a peek inside Uxua Casa Hotel.

Situated slap-bang in the middle of the impossibly picturesque Bahian fishing village of Trancoso, the colourful Uxua Casa Hotel, designed and built in collaboration with local craftsmen working largely with traditional materials and techniques, epitomises the natural charm and beauty of its setting. One of just a handful of hotels sitting on the historic Quadrado – a grassy hilltop square overlooking the Atlantic Ocean – it offers all the luxury of a high-end, five-star resort combined with a deliciously low-key and laid-back ambience. Its beachside lounge, set between the water and the mangroves at the confluence of the Trancoso River, is the perfect place in which to try out a selection from the in-house cocktail menu, while watching sea turtles raise their heads above the waves. With its dedication to sustainable tourism – those turtles all live within the hotel's sanctuary – insistence on car-free living and an obsession with fresh, locally sourced food, the hotel offers one of the most guilt-free tropical breaks on the planet.