Casa Turquesa Maison d’Hôtes – Paraty, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is a painstakingly restored 18th century townhouse in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Paraty, Brazil. From your luxurious base in the nine-room designer retreat, you can experience a total immersion in this fascinating historical enclave, while you explore the nearby ecological wonders of the “Costa Verde”, Brazil’s lush green mountainous coastal forest.
Paraty is a nearly perfectly preserved Portuguese colonial town dating from the 1600s, a port city built in harmony with the sea. Each day, ankle-deep tidal waters flood the city, in order to clean its cobblestoned streets. Every guest at Casa Turquesa is issued a pair of Havaiana flip flops at check in, so you may navigate Paraty’s streets like a local!
The staff at Casa Turquesa is eager to help you experience all the treasures of this extraordinary paradise, where culture meets eco-splendor. Have a gourmet picnic on your own private boat in the pristine, shimmering Paraty Bay, or trek through the “Caminho do Ouro”, where gold was transported over the mountains during Brazil’s colonial times. Learn the subtleties of regional Brazilian cooking at one of Casa Turquesa’s private classes, then paddle in a kayak or canoe through the emerald waters of Mamangua fjord.
Casa Turquesa is an extraordinary small hotel in an even more extraordinary setting. It is your launching point not just for your experience of Brazil, but for your experience of a lifetime.
ACCOMMODATION
The suites are divided into two categories: Master and luxury. Both spacious and with an intimate atmosphere: the hotel has nine luxurious suites and showcases many original features such as the stone and whale oil walls, a feature typical of colonial Brazil, and presents the rooms in elevated colour hues of blues, gold yellows and whites. All of the rooms are equipped with air-conditioning, ceiling fan, LCD TV, music docking station, digital safe, telephone, mini-fridge, wi-fi, and king- or queen-size beds with Trussardi sheets made of 600-count Egyptian cotton, and delicate mosquito netting made by artisans in southern Bahia.
The windows beautifully frame views of the inner courtyard, Paraty Bay, the tiled rooftops and mountains, or the dome of the Santa Rita Church.
You can choose one among these unique suites:
The Yellow Suite – Room type: Luxury
Orchids in a small patio predominate the view from the windows of the Yellow Suite. An original stone wall from the 18th century that sets off the wooden rafters is the highlight of the room (similar to the Pink Suite). Decorated with the pleasant parrots of artist and botanist Margaret Mee in green and yellow.
Area: 34 m² (366 ft²). This is the largest suite in the luxury category.
The Brown Suite – Room type: Master
The colourful parakeets and macaws painted by artist and botanist Margaret Mee are the highlight of this suite’s decoration. There is a spacious bathroom, separate closet, comfortable armchairs at the foot of the bed and a chaise longue at the window. The windows look out to the courtyard and to the rest of the hotel, with the surrounding mountains complementing the view.
Area: 45 m² (484 ft²).
The Pink Suite – Room type: Luxury
The windows look out onto the tiled rooftops of Paraty’s historic houses. An original stone wall from the 18th century that sets off the wooden rafters is the highlight of the room. Rounding off the décor are unique pieces embroidered by the local Sono Beach Embroidery Group, pink armchairs and lamp positioned for you to sit back and enjoy a book.
Area: 30 m² (323 ft²).
The Turquoise Suite – Room type: Luxury
Turquoise Suite is decorated with art from the French artist Jacques Rey and boasts a charming antique escritoire. The windows that overlook the hotel’s pool and gazebo bathe the room in beautiful ambient light. Area: 27 m² (291 ft²).
The Green Suite – Room type: Master
This is the perfect choice for families or groups of friends looking for some privacy. The large suite has two separate areas, each with its own bathroom. The village view shows you the typical tiled rooftops of Paraty. Two antique leather chairs add charm to the suite, which is decorated with one-of-a-kind embroidered artwork made by the local Sono Beach Embroidery Group.
Area: 47 m2 (506 ft²).
The Red Suite – Room type: Master
The bromeliads perfectly depicted rendered by artist and botanist Margaret Mee set the decorative tone of this room. The view from the window is to the mountains and tiled rooftops: a typical Paraty landscape. There is a spacious bathroom, separate closet, comfortable armchairs at the foot of the bed and a chaise longue at the window so guests can sit back and read a book.
Area: 44 m² (474 ft²).
The White Suite – Room type: Master
This is the hotel’s most romantic room, complete with a balcony view of the mountains and historic downtown (the charming Dona Geralda Street and the Santa Rita Church). The room also boasts a large closet and a whirlpool bathtub, and the walls are decorated by works from Tiacho Baenninger, José António da Silva, Valérie Chopin and Elesbão.
Area: 48m2 (517 ft²).
The Blue Royal – Room type: Master
The view from the windows of this room is nothing short of privileged: let your eyes wander about the docks of Paraty Bay from the comfort of your room. This is the hotel’s largest suite, located at the attic, the highest point of the house and designed as a studio. The room has an ample closet and a bathroom with a whirlpool bathtub and two sinks. The walls include works by local artist Noca. Area: 58 m² (625 ft²).
Guests can also count with charming straw hats and bags in the local fisherman’s style, crafted by the famous weavers of the Sleepy Beach area in Paraty; flip-flops by Brazilian brand Havaianas; wellie boots for the rainy and flooding season and beach towels for the boat trips at their disposal. The rooms are prepared to suit the guest’s agenda – there is nothing more satisfying than arriving back from a day of adventures in the region to find your bed laid, acclimatised ambience, the mosquito net ready for the evening and a little note by the bedside to wish you a good night’s sleep. Every single detail is thought carefully to embrace a bespoke experience.
DINING
Casa Turquesa offers a delicious breakfast catered to the client’s requirements and one is able to enjoy it at any time during the day. Five o’clock tea is available everyday with fresh cakes baked daily and fine tea from Harrods, Fouchon and Marriage Frères, the best Brazilian coffee and an offer of seasonal fresh fruit juices.
Feeling hungry at the poolside? The Casa Turquesa staff will prepare light snacks for you on demand like ceviche, carpaccio, salads, stuffed crab shells, quiche, ravioli or hearts of palm on mini-spoons. In the evening, try a Dry Turquoise, the hotel’s signature drink with colours to match the Casa.
EXPERIENCES
Experiencing Casa Turquesa goes way beyond just a comfortable luxurious stay – it provides the guest the platform to live the city, to feel like a local. The hotel is located close to the action. For instance it is next to the world famous Paraty’s puppet theatre. The back streets from the hotel are full of awarded restaurants, galleries, artists’ workshops and ceramic ateliers. One of the most famous churches in town – The Church of Saint Rita, from 1722 – is just around the corner and can be admired from the balconies of the hotel.
To create an even more exclusive guest experience, Casa Turquesa in Paraty has launched its own app (only available for iPhone for now). The idea is that the guests start their hotel experience before they arrive. At the time of booking they receive a password which gives them access to the hotel’s recommendations, and also allows them to book extra activities, restaurants and generally customise their stay – letting the concierge know about any special request, dietary requirement, allergies etc. or even what their preferences are for the mini bar.
Those who don’t have a reservation can still download the app and see what events are going on in Paraty, check on the local weather in real time and find out all sorts of local tidbits.
The stay at Casa Turquesa is a unique one, precisely because everything is made as unique and bespoke as possible – luxury after all is to experience life to the fullest, to have a chat with your hostess, with the locals, to be one with your surroundings. All these options provided to the guests with an unmatchable service that is attentive yet nonintrusive.
