아살렘(Asalem)

Perhaps the best hotel at Ilha Grande. Located away from Abrao. 5 min by hotel boat taxi, cost 20 BRL (4 USD) during the day hours and 40 BRL (8 USD) when it is dark, i.e. after 6pm. Walking is impossible for much of the time as the pathway is frequently flooded. Make sure you call/send whatsapp message to the reception in advance about your trips there and back. There is normally one trip every hour. The boat is quite small and at the beginning hard to identify but after a while you get used to it. Location away from Abrao is good for some if one needs a quiet secure place and a disadvantage if you need some more life around but then again using the boat helps in getting a good balance of everything. The property itself is very good, comfortable, the views are stunning. The staff members are very helpful. Regarding Ilha Grande I had a tour around some beaches, which was not bad. However if you wish to visit the best place then forget other beaches and go Lopes Mendes. Getting there is a quest but worth it: you first go by water taxi to Pouso beach (located in inner lagoon, no big waves) and then walk 20 min through the forest. One could walk all the way from Abrao but that is then few hours. The beach closer to sunset is really stunning. Overall, great experience at Ilha Grande. Thanks a lot.

I will make this review brief. I cried a little when it was time to leave. Have you ever watched Gilligan's Island? It's kind of like that. Yes, it is rustic. Yes, you are in (a VERY remote part of) a developing country, so have a little patience with silly things like hot water or wi-fi. You really don't need either of those things here. And keep in mind, getting supplies in for building and repairs is not easy, nor cheap. The drinks and the food and the FRUIT are amazing. The staff are like family and the most beautiful people you will ever encounter. Suffice it to say, we will return ASAP!

If your looking for a place where time is irrelevant and you just want to turn off your phone, and relax. This is the place!!! From start to finish our stay was peaceful, picturesque and beautiful. We received a warm welcome. The room was amazing. This place really is as good as it looks in the pictures. Better even. Happy hour cocktails were great. Breakfast and dinner is all prepared and cooked by the owner, which gives it a real quaint feel. Also tastes great. We will certainly be back.

We were looking forward to our stay at Asalem. I had planned this trip for months and had great expectations for this property. The place looked amazing on pictures, the location was perfect. On site we arrived late afternoon, the hostess was great and dinner was ok. The following day breakfast service was great. However our rooms did not look like in the pictures, the rooms were old, with chipped wood and cracked slabs. The worst was the wholes in the sheets and the bedding and towels were in poor shape and even with mold. The bathrooms were old and had a bad smell but most of all they were not clean. My daughter and I used our sandals to shower as we did not want to step on the shower bare foot. The floor of the rooms, the outlets, curtains, doors were all in bad shape and in urgent need of repair. My family was very disappointed and even though we had originally planned to extend our stay, we decided one night there had been enough. I am sure their newer rooms are better and that everything is great there but the pictures are not accurate to the current state, the property should show current pictures of the older units so that guests know what they are accepting when booking. Still this does not make up for the lack in higiene.

I recently had the pleasure of staying at Aslem, during my visit to Ilha Grande. From the moment I arrived, I was thoroughly impressed with the overall experience provided by this fantastic establishment. Aslem excelled in every aspect, including cleanliness, safety measures, staff and service, as well as the impeccable property conditions.

Amazing place! The views are wonderful & quiet. Breakfast were delicious and one of the best caipirinha we had!

The entire staff from the front desk, to the boat captains from our transfer from Rio de Janeiro to the drivers Asalem provided gifted us impeccable service. We couldn’t have chosen a better destination for our honeymoon. I will reserve any more compliments, because I want Asalem to maintain it’s peaceful a**osphere. Obrigado

Arrival at the Asalem by boat was like ‚time to calm down, forget about work and relax‘. During the day the bay ist quite busy, the Asalem is located just perfect. Close enough to Vila do Abraão to enjoy restaurants and the little shops, far enough from the main tourist spots to have a quiet night. My husband likes to swim long distance, so we made a 15 minutes morning hike to the Praia de Abrãaozinho. Perfect start into the new day (We brought lightweight hiking shoes, locals use Havaianas or go barefoot. Other guests recommended a restaurant at the end of this beach, unfortunately we had no time to go there, stayed only 3 days on the island). You can also jump into the water right from the pousada‘s pier. Afterwards ‚breakfast with a view‘, makes it hard to get up and explore this wonderful island. If you visit the Ilha Grande to hike: The trail to Lopes Mendes Beach is right behind the Asalem. We enjoyed tasty dinners, Yoga in the morning (at the pier, no class) and a wonderful therapeutic passage at the terrace. To chat with employees and the owner was the icing on the cake of a great holiday stay.

This hotel is a little piece of heaven! The staff was so friendly and kind. I encourage you to eat at least one dinner there, it's homestyle cooked food. I highly recommend staying here if you are looking for a romantic getaway. Easy commute to and from village via boat provided by Asalem. I hope to make it back!