Art Jungle Eco Lodge & Spa, Itacaré, Bahia - amazing tree & stilt-houses with beautiful views over river

This morning I woke up in paradise. In a beautiful tree-house overlooking luxuriant gardens. Gazing out towards the Rio das Contas, half hidden in the mist. Listening to the roar of the distant ocean, the birdsong, the lone cock crowing. Watching the beijaflor humming bird tap against the window.

ArtJungle Eco-lodge, with its park full of wooden and ceramic sculptures, is the "in"place for photoshoots, and many famous people have passed through here- Jade Jagger, Sean Penn, Al Gore, Gisele Bunchen to name only a few.  But this is not a place to be "seen" and definitely not  somewhere for those who see luxury in terms of material things like TV, airconditioning or internet access. Lodges are comfortable with good hot showers and mosquito nets, and an ice box instead of a minibar- but that's where it stops.

Itacare, and all the beaches, restaurants and bars you could want are only a couple of kilometres down the dirt track, but ArtJungle is where you will want to retreat to. This is a place for people who see luxury in nature, in art, in peace, and who support the idea of a social ecological cultural project which gives something back to the local community. I personally could have stayed for ever.

Watch video here

Itacare is situated on the Cocoa Coast of Bahia, the stretch which runs between Ilheus, 65km to the south and Salvador 230kms to the north, just where the Rio das Contas river meets the ocean. The town itself has indigenous origins but became known as Itacare as early as 1732 and countless grandiose mansions atest to the wealth of the town and region during the cocoa boom of the early 20th century.

Rediscovered some 40 years ago by surfers, the town has grown  rapidly and there are now countless pousadas, bars, restaurants and nightlife. But for those who prefer more peace  or who prefer more ecological tourism there are some wonderful trails and palm tree fringed deserted beaches nearby, many set in spectacular scenery, with mountains and atlantic forest as a backdrop.

• a canoe trip with Ney down the Rio das Contas at sunset
• trips to the waterfalls of Azevedo, Tijuipe, Pancada Grande, Tucleandro
• capoeira in Itacare at night
• beaches of Prainha, Engenhoca and Jeribucacu
• superb food at A Brasileira restaurant in the main street

• tree-houses and stilt houses
• carved wooden washbasins and freshly cut flowers
• park with wooden and ceramic sculptures
• large swimming pool
• views over the river

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Price Guide

Prices below are low season rates for two people in brazilian reais (R$). Standard double room, with en-suite shower room, breakfast included.

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