Casa Milá is a small and charming hotel with 8 apartments. It’s located at the Almada Beach, in the sinuous coastline between Rio and São Paulo. It was projected in a 25 000 m2 hillside area of preserved Atlantic Forest. The proprietors, a couple of architects, transformed a private dream in reality, integrating an architectural construction with the environment natural beauty. Its atmosphere bring peace and comfort, with one of the most spectacular sea view. There is a living room with sofas for reading and watch TV, a billiard table, a terrace for drinks and snacks and a swimming pool with the sundeck.
Casa Mila, in the Northshore of Ubatuba, is owned and taken care of lovingly by Rafael and Mila. We stayed here as a couple in September 2012 and promised the owners that we would write a great review as we really enjoyed our time here. With amazing oceans views and set on a hill amidst the lush Atlantic rainforest on one side and the ocean on the other, Casa Mila blends perfectly into its surroundings and makes you feel like you are in the most special place in the world. The owners are very hospitable picking us up from our bus stop along the highway (do this at your own risk as if the bus is late or the bus driver does not know where to stop, then you will end up hiking for some time to reach the pousada) and driving us on our way back to Ubatuba. Breakfast was served at the Pousada but for lunch and dinner you may have to either drive to a some restaurant along the main highway or to Paraty or Ubatuba or hike/take the bus down to one of the eateries at Praia Almada.
The cottages are built of local materials and are very well kept, clean and have amazing views. There is even a clean pool if you want to cool off from the sultry weather. There are several walkable, hike-able beaches nearby. Praia Brava with its wild waves is specially suited for surfers, then there is Praia Alamada reached by hiking down the paved road, but our favorite was Praia Ubatumirim. Its a long, wide and flat beach, perfect for walking for a couple of miles. We hiked down the rain forest (its a moderately intensive hike) to reach this beach and enjoyed the seclusion. Although since this beach can be reached by cars and you can actually drive cars and bikes on the beach, I am told it could get very noisy and crowded at times. We crossed a river flowing through the beach into the ocean but the highlight was the little deserted beach cove at the end of Praia Ubatumirim reached by crossing a long stretch of shallow clear ocean water, along the rocks, where we spent almost half a day in total seclusion! Casa Mila will always have a special place in our hearts and when we look back on our travels! We had a fantastic three days and highly recommend this place!
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Date of stay: September 2012
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Great location if you are looking to be in middle of nature – halfway between Paraty town, which is definitely worth a visit, and Ubatuba town, which we did not visit.
Inn’s rooms, though ultimately comfy and meeting all basic needs, could perhaps do with a little upgrade – well, at least keys are a bit affected by sea air and seem to be fragile – one broke in our room’s lock, but that situation was solved very well. There are slight noise issues – if you are on bottom floor of chalets, can hear moving around upstairs and walls are not extremely thick, so can hear neighbors. Not all guests respect rules of 10 pm sound curfew as had one guest sitting on balcony above our room watching TV on his notebook (no TV in room, which we did not miss at all) until later than that. My wife moved from Room 21 to Room 24 because of what we found out was a bat (didn’t even see it and certainly not dangerous, as eats insects) walking around on the roof of 21.
A situation that attests to owners’ Mila and Rafael’s presence of mind and very nice service execution is that there was a blackout on first night and they quickly had gas lamps available for us to move around in the pitch dark.
Breakfast was wonderful – didn’t even miss my usual egg dish. Different fresh fruit every day, tasty freshly squeezed orange juice, several options of teas and coffee, homemade yogurt which was a bit different but delectable, nice bread options with really delicious preserves. And what a heart stopping view of pristine nature and beaches and a plethora of birds, of which I recognized hummingbirds, coming to feed at little feeders set up by hosts.
We were fortunate not to have trouble with mosquitoes or similar, maybe because it was cool.
A caveat for some: there are 2 very-well cared-for cats roaming freely around grounds and they are around main social area, where breakfast is served. My kids and I enjoyed their presence most of the time, but not all guests may like cats.
Also, I see no other way, given distance from closest town centers, for anyone to arrive without having their own or a rental car and you should be warned that last leg of access to hotel is on a tough dirt road that cannot be paved for it’s in a preservation area. We arrived on an afternoon where it just had rained and some of the stone pavement right at the entrance of the inn area was slippery, so that we ended up skidding and getting stuck in mud – but Rafael and his main aide (whose name I’m sorry to have forgotten) helped get us out with their pickup truck. At least I know I’m not the only one to have had trouble with that stretch.
Right off grounds, a 5 minute walk away, is a very simple, but very clean, little eatery called Mirante da Chica, that oversees part of the coastline in a stunning setting (I’m a bit afraid of heights, so I had to step back because of the height above ground). Had a basic chicken dish with rice, beans and salad that was a welcome meal after our tough drive down from Cunha, SP, and which we repeated 2 days later after a day at the beach.
We visited Almada, Brava de Almada and Ubatumirim beaches, all of which had their charm. Mila’s little booklet of hints and information, available in all rooms, is very well written and helps one choose among many local options of beaches along 90-km of shoreline of Ubatuba.
In Paraty, where we went for early dinner (6 pm) for 2 nights and which has shaped up wonderfully over the last few years, we highly recommend Thai Paraty for its top-notch version of Thai food, one of our favored and very hard to find in Brazil, and also Pistache ice-cream, found at least in 2 locations. Pistache, as we find out, is brand from Ubatuba.
Last, but not least, wi-fi access in common areas worked perfectly well and helped me stay connected, at no extra cost, to rest of world.
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Date of stay: July 2012
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â All pretty much on par
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
One place to keep on coming back. The first impression is that you're probably entering in the wrong way to the hotel until you find this little restaurant with the most amazing view you ever saw... when you're done looking remember to ask where is the Pousada Casa Mila and the guy will say: - next to the left!
Arriving at the hotel is the same as to arrive at your own house by the beach. People will make you feel instantly at home and you will find out that your room has the same unique vision that made you speechless some minutes before.
Explore the pousada but spend more time by the near beaches. Amazing spots, where nature is truly seriously taken. It's a place to be if you are looking for some quiet time.
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Date of stay: May 2012
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Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I chose Casa Mila for a 5-day stay this December based on the reviews here in Trip Advisor. It was the first time I did so regarding a place in Brazil.
The "pousada" is located in a hillside overlooking the sea. The access, out of the main street that leads to the Almada beach, is made of dirt and rocks, and is slippery when wet. Most cars will have a hard time passing through.
Once there, one notices that It's a steep climb from the farther room (the one I got, #34) to the "social area" of Casa Mila, where breakfast is served and the amenities are located: a very good swimming pool, a TV set (the rooms don't have one), a pool table etc. If you are booking a room, ask for one closer to that area and to the parking lot.
Our room (R$ 240/night, around US$ 115) was OK in terms of space and cleanliness, but the lack of air-conditioning would prove to be an enormous problem.
The Atlantic Jungle surrounds the pousada, and that is nice -- up to a point.
Although the mosquitoes were a lesser problem (considering that I took several pills of B vitamin previous to the trip, and also used insect repellent all times), no person of sound judgement would choose to sleep with open door and windows due to the potential visiting of insects, spiders, frogs, snakes and lizards (fauna acknowledged by the owners as effectively present in the area of the pousada), but at the same time the circulation of air is a necessary condition for the single roof fan to move some colder air onto the guests.
In a summer of daylight temperatures bordering 40 degrees Celsius -- that kind of humid heat that lingers through the night -- it was very difficult to sleep. I was literally drenched in sweat all times! A very simple and inexpensive solution would be to provide window screens. (Of course, the expensive and climate-unfriendly choice would be to install ACs. That would be the more guest-friendly option too.)
The owners of the pousada, Rafael and Mila, are very gentle (in a zen-like way) and sympathetic, but I had the impression that they are having more of a good time running the place than the guests staying at it. There is also a kind of DIY posture which can be annoying sometimes, specially for travellers that normally stay at world-class hotels (for example, you cannot dial reception from the room, simply because there isn't a line).
Nevertheless, breakfast is good (not wonderful: just good) and served in the company of zillions of hummingbirds and some few other species of birds in a balcony overlooking the pool, the whole of the pousada and with a splendid view of the sea. Wi-fi wouldn't run in my room, but in the social area it was OK.
That place, for me, is the nicest in the whole pousada, and the breakfast its finest moment.
The nearest beach, Almada, is just average stuff in the context of SĂŁo Paulo's northern coast. Moreover, it was crowded, most parking spaces are charged, and the restaurant to the right of the beach is pure trash, with small servings and incompetent waiters. I would recommend the nearby praia da Fazenda for more privacy -- and a one-day trip to the historic city of Paraty, including dinner and ice cream, is almost mandatory (it's less that 40 km). There's no restaurant at the pousada, but you can buy a light meal (sandwiches) between 7 pm and 9 pm. You can also load the room's refrigerator with your own choice of beer and food.
We had some noise issues during our stay at Casa Mila. Incredibly, at Xmas eve (!!), some mentally deranged people were doing construction/renovation job in a property nearby (invisible to us), and that went on until 10 pm... Most likely it was some unauthorized building, which is common in the coast due to difficult access and the jungle cover.
Overall, the stay at Casa Mila was OK. Dealing with the heat problem can make it very good in the future.
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Date of stay: December 2012
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My girlfriend and I had a wonderful experience staying at Casa Mila for New Years weekend.
The Pousada is set on a hill overlooking Alamada beach and is conveniently located near many of the best beaches in Ubatuba.
A special place. You truly feel one with nature in this peaceful and beautiful oasis.
The rooms were very nice, clean and well decorated and we were served a splendid breakfast each morning while sitting in front of the most beautiful ocean views. We also enjoyed being greeting by humming birds every morning!
Raphael and Mila make you feel right at home and are amazingly friendly hosts. We felt at home in the social areas talking to the other guests, watching movies, or playing pool and making new friends.
We highly recommend this inn for anyone looking for a tranquil getaway in paradise (even if it rains)...
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Date of stay: December 2011
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If you have been thinking of having a break far far away from any stress then Casa Mila is for you ! Situated close to Almada beach and around 40 km from pretty Paraty this pousada/B&B will certainly guarantee you a very pleasant stay in the middle of Mata Atlantica (atlantic rain forest) Excellent rooms, private parking and good swimming pool area with a paradisiac view of Ubatuba Bay. Gorgeous breakfast served until 11am, with fresh juice, fresh fruit, bread basket and different cakes every day. You can also have light sandwiches from 7pm to 9pm, once the place is not provided with a restaurant or so, but you will certainly find good options around when coming back from the beach, if you plan a romantic or gastronomic night out, Paraty will be a better option. The lovely hosts Rafael and Mila have welcomed us with open arms, making any of their guests feel like good friends. There are nice booklets with beach tips, birds catalogue, and some other useful info about the area. There is WI FI connection at the social area, but not in the rooms, the same for TV set, but seriously, who needs TV when you are in such a beautiful location... We enjoyed great 7 days stay this summer, and left the place promising ourselves to be back there soon.
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Date of stay: December 2012Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I was looking online and once I saw the pictures of Casa Mila, we decided we needed to check this place out even for one night...As soon as you walk it, you will be amazed by the beautiful building, pool and the stunning view in front of your eyes. Most importantly Rafael and Mila who are the owners make you feel at home the second you meet them. They are so wonderful and helpful. The rooms are clean, with all the facilities you would need and all of them with amazing views. Food is amazing, breakfast is served on the balcony of the main building with a breath taking view.
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Date of stay: January 2011
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Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My wife and me went to Parati and Ubatuba, from Rio de Janeiro. We discovered this pousada and spent four days there. Like a new honeymoon. A wonderful landscape, nice people and great beaches. We felt like in paradise. A romantic excursion close Parati.
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Date of stay: February 2008
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amazing experience, peaceful and filled with nature and good energy. Loved the breakfast! Very good location near the best beaches in Ubatuba. The owners are very welcoming and friendly. You feel at home. The rooms have good fans and mini fridge, nice warm shower!
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Date of stay: January 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed twice at Casa Mila in the past two months and really enjoyed it. Much is already mentioned in the other reviews, but my high-lights: - the owners Rafael and Mila who are very friendly and give useful tips on what to do - breakfast together with the birds and the beautiful view of the ocean, mountains and distant beaches - wild and deserted beach of Brava Almada
Almada beach is a quiet little place with some small restaurants on the beach. Since there are no large hotels at night there is not much to do, but that is exactly what I was looking for. All in all a great experience and I would love to go back there when life brings me back to this area.
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Date of stay: August 2013
Value
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
"There are only a handful of rooms, so it's easy, but if you are with someone that has some movement impairment, you can as for a room nearer to the main house"
There are more places to choose from in the Ubatuba area.
LOCATION
BrazilState of Sao PauloUbatuba
NUMBER OF ROOMS
8
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