Located on the crystal clear beach of Ilha Bela, the site of Casa Maré Azul is a new retreat that entirely unifies nature wellness and the fine art of living. It is a tropical haven created upon the vision statement of renowned architect, Daniel Ribeiro, and wellness entrepreneur, Camila Duarte, regarding designing a living space that celebrates rather than merely an environment but also encourages living life engaged with balance and tranquility.
The couple has never managed to leave Ilha Bela after falling in love with the island during a visit in the early 2000s, much like every other visitor who has come. Last December, their dream came true when Casa Maré Azul opened to all, realizing the dream of a sustainable retreat that would pay homage to this fantastic island culture and nature.
A Heritage-Laden Eco-Conscious Sanctuary
Limited to but 18 guest suites, five beach front bungalows, and three private villas, Casa Maré Azul is designed to promote an intimate atmosphere that compels guests to slow down and reconnect with moorings with nature. From terracotta roofs to reclaimed wooden beams and walls decorated with handmade ceramic arts from local artisans in Paraty, the resort takes inspiration from Brazilian traditional homes.
This is Casa Maré Azul’s ‘overnight stinger’: although, to be inside, guests must indulge when they enter. They will find that casa maré azul uses only native timbers, allowing natural temperatures to be regulated, complemented by handcrafted palha de carnaúba light fixtures casting a soft golden glow in the evenings.
They could even engage with a world that is akin to where art and nature converge, from hammocks made by indigenous communities in the Amazon to furniture cured from cast-off pequiá trees, a species native to Brazil’s Atlantic rainforest. It was everything that could be captured within every detail to create a chaotic atmosphere of peace and mindfulness.
Sensory Delights: Gastronomic Experience
The very heart of Casa Maré Azul is defined as an open-air restaurant, managed by none other than the celebrated chef Renata Nascimento, Sabor das Ondas. Sabor das Ondas believes in the concept of slow food and uses organic and locally collected ingredients to feed the body as well as the soul.
A must-try is the moqueca de peixe-that fragrant coconut fish stew with seafood freshly caught from the sea-and the completely different taste of pão de queijo recheado, which is basically cheese bread filled up with seasonal fruits and nuts. The kitchen sources its produce from the island’s small-scale farmers ensuring that every meal is as fresh and vibrant as the green surrounding.
Aside from flavors, dining at Sabor das Ondas facilitates a bit of meditation. Guests will have to slow down, taste every single bite, and engage in meaningful conversation, all indeed quite far from the normal world-mainstream in which they are used to living.
Nature Healing and Local Traditions
The holistic wellness approach is one of Casa Maré Azul’s stables. The retreat has sunrise yoga sessions on the beach, ancient gameleira trees guided meditation, and workshops on Brazilian herbs and botanicals healing.
At Acalmar, in-house spa treatments include the use of óleo de andiroba (andiroba oil) with anti-inflammatory benefits and argila branca (white clay) sourced in the Amazon for its reputedly purifying effects on the skin. These natural wonders not only enhance the physical condition of the guests but also further the emotional balance and relaxation.
There is another that included banhos ervais (herb baths), an ancient Brazilian cleansing rite designed to replenish well-being. It is made from calming herbs like alfazema (lavender) and erva-doce (fennel) and rejuvenates and centers those who try it.
A Retreat That Captures the Spirit of Living Beyond Time
Like those golden days of Brazilian beach culture in the 1960s, Casa Maré Azul would bring back the slow, self-imposed art of living. At this place, time stops, and you can just soak in the beauty of simplicity.
Be it sipping neatly brewed chá de capim-limão while watching the light of dawn appear, soaking herbal restorative baths, or simply sitting back and listening to nature, everything is in favor of an experience to nourish one’s soul.
It is not surprising that all the guests would soon want to say to the place – for as long as possible! At Casa Maré Azul, life is not about speeding but about enjoying every valuable moment. After a few days here, you might find yourself inspired to embrace a little more of that vida tranquila long after you leave the island.