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Luxury Resorts: If you are contemplating the idea of an exotic getaway, Ponta dos Ganchos in Florianopolis, Brazil, located on the Southern coast, offers both exclusivity and intimacy along with some local-area flair. The property is tapping into local community resources to offer its guests a broader range of amenities and experiences that one might expect at the more well-known beach resorts.

That said, Ponta dos Ganchos holds its own, having received numerous awards for its outstanding service and amenities, accommodations, and focus on romance. In 2005, Travel + Leisure featured it as one of the 50 most romantic places in the world and LuxuryTravel.com listed the resort as one of the “Top 10 World’s Most Romantic Luxury Hideaways.” In 2007, the Ponta dos Ganchos Resort was nominated by Condé Nast for the “Most Excellent Romantic Hideaway in South America.”

Ponta dos Ganchos is located on a privately-owned peninsula near São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires. The resort consists of only 25 intimate bungalows that are set amongst the lush rainforest, each with water views. The romance is heightened by the fact that this is an adult-only resort, better ensuring the tranquility and serenity for honeymooners or those generally seeking solace.

The bungalows offer amazing features with many features not usually found in other resorts. All bungalows have an ocean view and come with a wine cellar, hammock on the veranda, ceiling fans and air conditioning, flat screen television and DVD player, King size beds, Egyptian cotton linens, Wi-Fi Internet, telephones, hair dryer, walk-in wardrobe, digital safe, mini bar, and fireplace.

Some bungalows are single level while others offer split-level accommodations, ranging from 800 to 3,200 square feet. The most exclusive bungalow is Bungalow Especial Vila Esmeralda that spans 3,200 square feet with a dry sauna, a spa area with massage tatamis, and a whirlpool bathtub. Throughout all bungalows, the staff is on hand and at your beck and call for whatever whim or wish is on your mind.

Matching the accommodations is the elegant wine and dining experience. The cuisine combines traditional recipes and Brazilian ingredients with fresh seafood, world-renowned oysters and mussels, and an extensive wine list of more than 240 different labels. Other experiences to be had here include fishing, kayaking, snorkeling, tennis, hiking, and the fine art of relaxing.

The resort taps into local resources to offer some unique enhancements to the guest experience that you might not find at other locales. Partnering with a local winery, Villa Francioni, the resort offers guests weekly wine tasting as well as nightly olive oil tastings that are paired with an entrée that introduces local culture and flavors. These enhancements only add to the long list of other amenities, including a fitness center, cinema, business center, restaurant, bar, lounge, games room, tennis court, heated swimming pool, massage tents, and SPA by Christian Dior and nature trails. The resort recently added its VIP airport service in Florianopolis (for departures) and Sao Paulo (for both arrivals and departures).

Rates at Ponta dos Ganchos average between $650 and $1400 per night, depending on the time of year and the type of bungalow that is selected. Numerous packages and specials are also offered on the website so that you can customize your experience at this resort.

To learn more about Ponta dos Ganchos or to book your stay using its online reservation system (please note that pricing is listed in Brazilian Reals so be sure to visit a currency exchange web site to compute the cost in dollars!), visit www.pontadosganchos.com.br

***Some or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or service(s) detailed above may have been provided at no cost and/or arranged to accommodate this review, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of Merilee Kern and have not been influenced in any way as per the disclosure policy on our “Legal” page***