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Loteamento da Costa, área SD6, Dist. de Barra Grande, Município de Maraú
45.520-000
Stretching out to sea on a sandy South Bahia peninsula, the thatched village-style resort of Kiaroa Eco Luxury Resort is fronted by powder-soft beach and encircled by palm trees and mangroves.
Need to know
Rooms
28, including 14 stand-alone bungalows.
Rates
US$434.74–US$1,366.20, including breakfast, dinner and non-alcoholic drinks; excludes five per cent tax and 10 per cent service. Stays of six nights or more include airport transfers.
Check-out
Midday.
Facilities
Private airstrip and helipad, spa, gym, gardens, tennis/volleyball courts, boutique store, bikes, DVD library, WiFi throughout (US$17 a day). In rooms: LCD TV, DVD player, minibar, Trussardi Egyptian-cotton bedlinen, Natura Eko toiletries.
Poolside
The pool is the shimmering centrepiece of Kia Roa, a bright blue freeform blob with a grassy island in the middle and a swim-up bar.
Children
Over-12s are welcome, (staying in their parents’ room for 25 per cent of the normal rate), although there are no dedicated children’s facilities. Babysitting can be organised.
Eco-friendly
Kiaroa’s eco-credentials go through the palm-and-eucalyptus-thatched roof: it’s located in an ecological sanctuary, makes use of solar energy, treats its own water and sewage, and employs exclusively from the local community.
Also
Minimum two-night stay.
In the know
Our favourite rooms
The bungalows definitely have the edge over the Tropical Luxury Rooms, thanks to their private setting, wooden four-poster beds and sense of lightness and space. We liked the Malindi bungalows on the edge of the resort, where you can almost feel part of the forest. These have big loft-style rooms with high peaked ceilings, modern interiors, verandahs with hammocks, and square Jacuzzi baths. If you can, book number 4 or 5 – the most private. The Bali Luxury bungalows are larger, each with two bathrooms and two private pools by the terrace.
Packing tips
Bring snorkelling gear to take advantage of the reef-filled waters a short swim from the shore. A stack of beach reading will pass any time you don’t want to spend gawping at the views.
Also
The hotel’s Armonia spa is a temple to relaxation, offering both a wet and dry sauna, an assortment of muscle-easing massages including Ayurveda, reflexology, Watsu water therapy, and the spa’s signature four-hander.
Food & drink
Hotel restaurant
All meals are served in Kiaroa’s glass-panelled restaurant overlooking the pool, with the beach as a backdrop. There’s a mix of Bahian and international cuisine (with a distinct fresh seafood bias), which is also on offer at lunchtimes at the Tetiaroa.
Dress code
Missoni swimwear for the beach bar; a touch more glam for the restaurant.
Top table
Take one of the glass tables close to the pool and admire the sea view.
Last orders
The restaurant serves its last meal at 10.30pm; the two bars pack up their shakers at nightfall.
Room service
A menu of small snacks and sandwiches is available until midnight.
Hotel bar
Ibiscus, the poolside bar, is located in an island in the middle of the water, allowing guests to swim up any time they fancy a caipirinha. Wooden beach bar Tetiaroa serves drinks on the sand.
If you're a member of Mr & Mrs Smith, you can get special privileges at every Smith hotel you book through us. Just show your Smith card at check-in to claim the offer featured on every hotel page (like the one above).
There are no restaurants within walking distance of the hotel, but Kiaroa does operate an evening shuttle service on the 10-minute journey to/from Barra Grande, the largest village on the Marau Peninsula. Here, you'll find an assortment of low-key beach-style bars and restaurants, serving up freshly caught seafood and Brazilian beer. Mancunaíma (+55 73 9977 0689) and Tubarão (+55 73 3258 6006) on the beach are both good options.
Worth getting out of bed for
Take a guided walk to the Taipus de Fora beach, where living coral reefs have formed natural swimming pools, or sign up for a 4x4 tour of the peninsula, taking in the forest, lakes, flora and fauna. Kiaroa’s nautical centre is 15 minutes away in a jeep. It has its own pool, restaurant and boats, and operates fishing trips (for marlin and tuna), island tours, and visits to the spectacular 30-metre Tremembé waterfall.
Smith card offer A bottle of champagne and a fruit platter