Santa Catarina
Quiet, intensely private adults-focused retreat. Nature-led rather than amenity-led. Think barefoot luxury: serious food, serious spa, zero hustle. The Atlantic Forest presses right up against the villas. No lobby scene, no pool bar crowds.
Book the private island dinner well in advance — it's torchlit and only available to one group at a time
Why It Matters
One of Brazil's most exclusive coastal lodges, combining a fully hosted Relais & Châteaux experience with a genuinely remote Emerald Coast setting. The private-guide-per-villa model is rare. The property was taken over by Awasi in 2024, adding the brand's South America-wide tailor-made expertise to what was already a landmark property.
Awasi Santa Catarina (formerly Ponta dos Ganchos Exclusive Resort) sits on a private peninsula on Brazil's Emerald Coast, about 50 minutes from Florianópolis. It's 25 villas across roughly 80,000 m² of forested hillside above a small white-sand beach and a protected bay facing the Três Ilhas archipelago. The whole thing runs on an all-inclusive, fully hosted model — every villa comes with its own private guide and 4×4 vehicle, so your days are genuinely yours to shape. And yes, some guests really do arrive by helicopter.
Where You'll Stay
6 room types available
Villa Anhatomirim
A two-story villa that puts the living room and bedroom on separate levels, with a clean, functional aesthetic that lets the light do the work. Double decks give you two vantage points over the Costa Esmeralda bay. Hammock on the veranda is a given.
King · 96 sqmVilla Arvoredo
Unified bedroom and living room in a single open-plan space. The living area opens directly onto a private deck with a plunge pool overlooking the bay. Fireplace for the cooler southern Brazil evenings. Comes with the same standard kit: wine cellar, Nespresso, minibar.
KingVilla Costa Esmeralda
At 230 m², this is where the property steps up significantly. Bedroom and living area flow together behind large glass doors that open to the outdoors. The dry sauna and whirlpool both face the ocean. Spa bathroom. Fireplace. 600-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets. An infinity pool on the deck.
King · 230 sqmVilla Ponta dos Ganchos
The flagship villa at 310 m². Bedroom and living area open straight onto the landscape. Ocean-view sauna, a spa bathroom with massage tatamis, whirlpool, and — a step above every other villa — a private fitness center on the lower floor. The deck has a heated infinity pool and chaise lounges. 600-thread Egyptian cotton. This is the one.
King · 310 sqmVilla Sissial
Separate bedroom and living room layout with a private deck that has a heated pool and solarium. The dry sauna is a particularly good call after a day's kayaking or hiking. Designed to sit within the forest rather than above it.
King · 96 sqmVilla Tinguá
A more contemporary take, with double bathrooms and a dry sauna set within a private garden that wraps around the villa. Also features a unique whirlpool. Good for guests who want that extra layer of privacy between indoor and outdoor.
KingThe Property
Eat & Drink
4 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Visit two 18th-century colonial fortresses built against Spanish incursions. Anhatomirim (the larger) later served as a prison during the Federalist Revolution.
A 45-minute boat ride to the Arvoredo Marine Biological Reserve — a fully protected conservation area since 1990. Turtles, dolphins, rays, octopuses, seahorses, and dozens of tropical fish species, sitting at the meeting point of the warm Brazil Current and cold Malvinas Current. Considered some of the best diving on the Brazilian coast.
Guided hike through preserved Atlantic Forest trails. Expert naturalist guides point out exotic birds, monkeys, and endemic flora in one of the world's most endangered ecosystems.
On-site immersive experience with native stingless Melipona bees — part of the lodge's Bee Route Project. Includes a guided tour of hives, honey harvest, and walk through the organic garden that supplies the restaurant.
1h30 boat ride departing from the lodge, tracing the shoreline from Ganchos de Fora to Praia de Fora, Ilha Grande, and Calheiros — route adjusted for sea conditions.
4km guided kayaking from the lodge's beach through calm Emerald Coast waters, with stops at secluded beaches along Ganchos de Fora.
Available directly from the lodge's beach. Navigate the calm bay at your own pace, exploring quiet coves and secluded beaches of Ganchos de Fora.
10 minutes from the lodge, Praia de Fora offers gentle waves and professional instructors with all equipment included. Good for beginners.
Full-day trip: oyster farm tasting, the Azorean village of Ribeirão da Ilha, colonial landmarks, the Public Market, and São Francisco Church.
Forest trail through ravines and ocean viewpoints, arriving at Sissial Beach where your private guide sets up a picnic.
10-minute transfer then a steep ascent of 500 meters through native vegetation to the summit, with panoramic views of the coastline and surrounding towns.
12km coastal trail through Atlantic Forest, reached by a 20-minute boat ride to the trailhead. Can be tailored to shorter distances.
7km trail across hills through highly preserved Atlantic Forest — ideal for birdwatchers and those wanting soft adventure. Trailhead is 20 minutes from the lodge.
50-minute drive inland to São Pedro de Alcântara for a 1-hour horseback ride through colonial architecture, followed by a visit to the family-run Adega Scherer distillery for artisanal cachaça tasting and lunch.
Clay tennis court and beach tennis facilities on-site.
Southern right whales migrate through the area June–November, escaping the Arctic winter. Viewable from the property and surrounding waters.
Group or private yoga combining posture, breathwork, and meditation in the on-site studio with forest views. Available in the morning as an energizing start.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Own private beach with cabanas and sun loungers, approximately 550 metres from the main villas.
A small private island offshore accessible by wooden rope bridge or sandbar crossing at low tide, used for exclusive private island dinners.
Complimentary WiFi in all villas.
Cooked-to-order breakfast included for all guests at Restaurant Bateiras.
Private cinema for film screenings. An in-villa CD, DVD and book library is also provided.
Well-stocked games room.
Fully equipped communal gym on-site. The Villa Ponta dos Ganchos also has a private fitness center.
Climate-controlled wine cellars in all villas, with a 200-label selection available.
All villas feature a fireplace — useful in southern Brazil's cooler autumn and winter months.
Each villa is assigned its own private guide and 4×4 vehicle for the duration of the stay, allowing fully flexible exploration of the region.
In-villa room service available — G&Ts, cheese plates, and other items can be ordered to your bungalow.
Beach tennis facilities on-site.
Full-size clay tennis court on-site.
On-site garden supplying fresh vegetables, greens, and herbs directly to the restaurants.
Active reintroduction of five native stingless Melipona bee species on property; on-site honey production for guests.
Helicopters can land on property — several guests arrive this way.
Free private parking on-site.
BUILD YOUR AWASI SANTA CATARINA PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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