A car-free tropical paradise in the Atlantic Ocean, Morro de Sao Paulo is a small village on an island of palm-fringed white-sand beaches and jungled hills crested with nightclubs. It boasts a rich and fascinating heritage. Our collection of the best places to stay in Morro de Sao Paulo has something for everyone from budget options to luxury boutiques.

Part of an archipelago of 26 islands, only three of which are inhabited, Morro de Sao Paulo nestles on the northeastern tip of Tinhare Island. Filled with cobbled streets and old fishermen's shacks, it is something of a tropical idyll. The fortress, Morre de Sao Paulo, stands as a stark reminder of the island's heritage, built in the 17th century to prevent Dutch invasions. The church of Nossa Senhora da Luz, or Our Lady of Light, was named after the holy patron of the island and is a gorgeous whitewashed piece of architecture boasting an ornate wooden altar.

If you're a fan of hiking, be sure to trek through the miles of Atlantic forest to reach the Fonto do Ceu, a beautiful waterfall; atop a jungled hill on the island is also an all-night outdoors nightclub, a mainstay of backpackers and local party goers alike. For an afternoon excursion, consider hiking up to the Farol do Morro lighthouse, from where you can zip-line straight back to the village.

Of course, people come to Morro de Sao Paulo for its beaches. With the whitest of sands and waters as clear as glass, they are ideal for a relaxing beach holiday. The First Beach is well suited to watersports like wakeboarding, scuba diving and especially surfing because the waves at this beach are notoriously strong. The Second Beach, on the other hand, is lined with restaurants while the fourth and fifth are semi-deserted, offering seclusion to those seeking intimacy and peace. From any of these beaches, you can spot Humpback whales between July and October.

Morro de Sao Paulo, then, has something for everyone. Adrenaline junkies will love the zip-line and surfing scene while families will love the wide sandy beaches and restaurants. As for the best places to stay in Morro de Sao Paulo, find out more by looking below!

The best places to stay in Morro de Sao Paulo

Tropical paradise

• Hotel Vila dos Orixas: a superb hotel offering lovely cabanas nestling amidst palm trees, it offers stylish rooms, a sumptuous restaurant and a pampering spa. Ideal for couples looking for intimacy.
• Villa dos Corais: only a stone's throw from the beach, this beautiful hotel offers spacious individual buildings that promise seclusion and intimacy. Enjoy a spot of tennis, laze at the pool, unwind with a massage or sunbathe at the beach. Totally divine.

For an apartment or villa

• Our partner Booking.com has a wide range of villas and apartments in the nearby area.

Travel information

• Fly to Salvador, from where you can get either a catamaran, (a 2 hour journey) or aeroplane (20 minutes).
• A car-free island, aside from a garbage-collecting tractor and ambulance, there is no need for car rental here.
• The Bahia coast has balmy, hot weather throughout the year, with the constant relief of the bracing sea breeze. The rainiest months are between April and June, so the best time to go is between July and October when you can spot whales from the coast. The temperature tends to flit between 20 and 30 degrees.

Still not sure?

• Expand your search to include the best places to stay in Bahia
• or Brazil
• or contact one of our Gurus for advice.