One of the best hostels I’ve ever stayed in, without a doubt. Steve and I arrived late in the evening and although the hostel is situated right in the heart of the main (only) town of Abraão, we struggled to find it. This was in the main part due to the fact we’d lost the name and address of the place, but it is a little bit tucked away. Once we found it though it’s charm was immediately clear (it’s also in a great spot). The simple and small main dorm is where we slept the first night – this room is ‘cosy’ in the extreme, with 10 beds packed into the small space. It’s got a nice private bathroom though and the beds are very comfortable.
Where this hostel really shines though is at breakfast. An amazing spread of fruits, juices, cereals, breads and cakes all set on one big table. The combination of the fantastic food and the intimacy of all eating together made for a wonderfully social start to the day and we met 6-7 people who have become genuine friends.
After the second day we moved into a 5 person room with our new Scottish travel buddy Levon. This room was incredible. With it’s own front door, kitchen (including a huge fridge) a nice private bathroom with a great shower and a mezzanine floor above it was like having our own apartment. The fact there were 3 great people sharing it with us made the experience even more special. I absolutely loved Ilha Grande and a huge part of that was Studio Beach Hostel. If you visit the island, don’t stay anywhere else!
10/10
Details
Studio Beach Hostel
Rua da Praia , Vila do Restaurante o Pescador, Ilha Grande, Brazil
1 comment
NhaiEz says:
Sep 3, 2013
Hi. Trekking the Inca Trail in August is going to be tough because there is a quota and rerovsatiens that fill up long in advance. Still, some agencies might be able to fit you in. Generally, those are the more expensive ones. I can recommend my friends at Solandino (www.solandino.com), who once fit me and a group in for an August trip on short notice. If you arrive in Cuzco without having previously arranged an Inca Trail hike, there are other great hiking options around Cuzco that can be organized on a moment’s notice. Salcantay is a nice hike, finishing in Machu Picchu. Also Choquequirao is becoming more popular, with a route that also finishes near Machu Picchu. My favorite hike in the area is Ausangate and Sibinacocha, but that doesn’t take you anywhere near Machu Picchu. There are dozens of agencies in Cuzco that can arrange these hikes for you for relatively cheap ($300). My friends at Solandino can do the same. The same agencies will also gladly arrange a jungle trip directly from Cuzco. Getting to Bolivia from Cuzco is not that difficult. You can bus or fly to Juliaca, then overland to the border (I recommend Copacabana), then on to La Paz. In La Paz, on Sagarnaga street, there are also dozens of trekking agencies and everybody sells that biking trip down the mountain. Just take a good look at the bikes before you depart, inspect the brakes, the tires, the chain. Make sure everything is tight. Beware that in Bolivia, there are frequent road blockages due to strikes. When I was there a few weeks ago, many tourists were stranded in Coroico for several days. I had problems getting out of La Paz and back to Peru. It can be a headache. If you have questions about particular agencies, or want to find recommendations, join the South American Explorer’s Club (www.saexplorers.org). They have a good clubhouse in Cuzco and are very helpful in assisting visitors with all of those questions, even before you leave.