Casa Macaco

Settled quietly among the trees a few minutes from natural pools and waterfalls, this house sits inside a retreat center in the mountains above Paraty. A rooftop terrace built as a lounge observatory looks out over the forest canopy, and the property gives guests access to a sauna, massage area, jungle gym, nature trails, agroforestry areas, gastronomy, and natural spring water, all woven into the site rather than added onto it.

Inside, one bedroom holds a double bed, and the living room's Ortobom sofa converts into a second double when needed, making the house flexible for a couple or a small group. The kitchen and bathroom are fully equipped, Starlink covers the connectivity, and the entrance is independent from the rest of the retreat. Upstairs, the rooftop terrace opens up for yoga or simply taking in the view, while the lower level holds a dining table, a gas grill, and a firepit, built for the kind of evenings that stretch on. The construction itself blends Brazilian vernacular architecture with fine wood craftsmanship and lightweight, technologically advanced materials, settling into the forest with minimal disruption to it.

The property sits along the Paraty-Cunha road, roughly 15 to 25 minutes from the historic center, and guests move freely through the retreat's shared spaces, including the gym, waterfalls with natural pools, trails, agroforestry, forest temple, and sauna (booked separately), with optional therapeutic, ecological, and astronomical experiences available too. Because the house sits inside the Atlantic Forest, encounters with wildlife, including venomous species, are part of the setting: closed shoes, a flashlight after dark, and leashed dogs are the practical response. Insects are simply a fact of rural life here.

The retreat runs on solar power with an automatic generator as backup, spring-fed water, gas-heated showers, and 220V outlets, with 110V points clearly marked. The sauna runs R$280 with advance booking, small pets are welcome for R$250, and check-ins after 8pm carry a R$210 fee, rising to R$350 after midnight. The house is for accommodation only, photo or film work requires a separate contract, and any damage to the property is charged accordingly.