Chapada Diamantina, Brazil
Refugio na Serra
Boutique hotel in a historic Bahia town with wellness and private dining
Located in Mucugê, one of the most picturesque towns in Chapada Diamantina, Refugio na Serra boutique hotel is surrounded by gardens and mountain views. The hotel is small and quiet, with just 13 rooms, including several suites and three standalone bungalows. Most of the suites have balconies with hammocks overlooking the verdant Serra do Sincorá mountain range, while the bungalows are tucked into the gardens for extra privacy.
Dining is a central part of a stay here. At Restaurante Paraguassu, Chef André Chequer draws on regional ingredients from Bahia and further afield in Brazil to create menus that range from octopus rice and slow-cooked lamb to Amazonian pirarucu, a freshwater fish, and regional cheeses. The hotel’s signature Conexões experience pairs a multi-course tasting menu with stories and ingredients from Chapada Diamantina. You may also opt to have a candlelit private dinner or a picnic surrounded by the landscapes of the national park.
Refugio na Serra works well as a base for exploring the region, with hiking and excursions to local waterfalls, such as Cachoeira do Buracão, Cachoeira da Fumaça and Poço Azul, a cave pool known for its intensely blue water. You can also visit the sandstone caves of Gruta da Lapa Doce and Pratinha easily from here. At the hotel, yoga classes, massage treatments, a Jacuzzi and sauna, and evenings around the fire pit all make Refugio na Serra a relaxing luxury hotel in Chapada Diamantina.
Highlights
Stay in a garden suite or bungalow, with a hammock overlooking the Serra do Sincorá
Dine on Chef André Chequer’s menus at Restaurante Paraguassu
Book the Conexões tasting experience or a private candlelit dinner
Hike to stunning Chapada Diamantina waterfalls, like Cachoeira do Buracão and Cachoeira da Fumaça
Visit Gruta da Lapa Doce and Pratinha, two of Bahia’s best-known cave systems
Join a yoga session or relax with a massage treatment after a day in the mountains
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Places to combine Refugio na Serra with
Ibitipoca
Far from commonplace in the Brazilian interior, this elegantly restored farmhouse, nestled among the green, set in the foothills of the Mantiqueira mountain range, offers a uniquely enchanting stay. At Ibiti Project (formerly Reserva do Ibitipoca), guests can indulge in the understated luxury of its hotel and spa while enjoying diverse wildlife expeditions, horseback riding, water rafting and bespoke excursions to waterfalls and white sandy river beaches.
The hotel’s rustic chic décor is beautifully reflected in its rooms, which are elegantly simple yet exude modern comfort. This is brilliantly juxtaposed with the use of antiques and restored furniture. Vibrant wall hangings and religious icons hint at the farmhouse’s history and local artisanship.
A fenced veranda wraps around one corner of the farmhouse, furnished with inviting rocking chairs, armchairs, and sofas where guests can relax, enjoy breakfast, and take in the views of the surrounding hills and lake. A short stroll across the lawn leads to the hotel’s spacious spa, housed in a converted outbuilding that maintains the main farmhouse’s style. Another lodge within the garden features a sauna and heated outdoor Jacuzzi.
The service at Ibitipoca is exceptional, and the staff’s extensive knowledge of the parkland’s rich flora and fauna, including red deer, jaguars, pumas and many native tree species — is sure to impress. Ibiti Project features several lodges for travellers, each designed around unique concepts: Engenho Lodge, Mogol Village and Remote, all offering different experiences of rural life in this stunning part of Brazil.
