The Vila Picinguaba village
As you stroll around the hotel, on the beach and in the village, you will be touched by the friendliness of the villagers, who are always very welcoming. You soak up the relaxing local rhythm, waiting for the fishermen to return, maybe giving a hand to pull in the fish-laden boats. Here men live in harmony with nature, in a rare balance.
Vila Picinguaba, the village, is a tiny fishing community full of character, nesting on the shore of a secluded bay, far from the crowd. Picinguaba, in the Tupi language, means "fish shelter". The remoteness of the village has always attracted people seeking peace and quiet, as reflected by a few tastefully converted fishermen's houses on the hills nearby. Since the 70's, some privileged artists, intellectuals and politicians have chosen Picinguaba as a retreat or a source of inspiration. They always enjoy being visited.
The population is mainly of Caiçara culture, a blend of Portuguese immigrants, slaves and original Indians, going back to the 17th and 18th centuries. For a long time, access was difficult, towns a long way away, so this area lived their own life, relying on the sea for subsistence. This went on until the Rio-Santos road was opened in 1976. Even now Picinguaba is still out of easy reach from the main cities, and has managed to retain its own personality and local traditions.