Escape to Paradise: Ubatuba's Flores do Lazaro Pousada Awaits!
Escape to Paradise: Ubatuba's Flores do Lazaro Pousada Awaits! - A Review That's Actually Real
Okay, so you're looking for a getaway, huh? Tired of the same old, same old? Well, buckle up buttercup, because I just got back from Flores do Lazaro Pousada in Ubatuba, and let me tell you, it's… well, it's an experience. Forget those glossy brochures – this is the real deal, the messy, imperfect, sometimes-amazing reality of a Brazilian beach escape.
First Impressions (and the Drive There!):
Getting to Ubatuba is an adventure in itself. The drive… well, let's just say Google Maps is your friend, and Portuguese is helpful (though my "obrigado" and frantic hand gestures mostly sufficed). The pousada itself? It's nestled right on a gorgeous beach, Praia do Lázaro. Stunning! That initial "wow" factor is definitely there. And the air? Salty, fresh, and instantly relaxing.
Accessibility & Getting Around:
Alright, let's be real: this isn't the most accessible place on earth. While they list "Facilities for disabled guests," I didn’t see a ton of obvious adaptations. Lots of stairs, uneven paths… so, if you need serious wheelchair accessibility, double-check with the pousada directly. They do have an elevator, which is a HUGE plus, considering the terrain. And the parking? Free and on-site, which is a godsend in a place where street parking is like finding a unicorn.
Rooms – The Good, The Bad, and the "Did I Just See a Gecko?"
My room? Clean, yes. Comfortable, mostly. The air conditioning was a lifesaver! And the blackout curtains? Essential for those post-beach naps. The bathroom was functional, but the shower pressure… well, let's just say I've experienced more powerful sprinklers. (Side note: I did see a gecko on the wall one night. It was a tiny one, and I named him Fernando. He seemed pretty chill.)
Internet – Because We Can't Totally Disconnect:
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Hallelujah! And honestly, it was pretty decent. I managed to upload a few Instagram stories of that gorgeous beach, so you know, priorities. There's also Internet [LAN] if you need to get serious. The signal in public areas was also fine.
Dining, Drinking & Snacking – Fueling the Fun (and the Hangover):
Okay, this is where things get interesting. Breakfast is included, a buffet-style spread. Think fresh fruit, pastries (the pão de queijo is a must!), and eggs. It's not the most gourmet experience, but it's plentiful and gets you fueled for a day of sun and surf.
There's a restaurant with an a la carte menu for other meals. The food? Pretty good! I sampled some international and Western cuisine, including some amazing fresh seafood (obviously). They also have a bar, perfect for a sunset caipirinha (or three). The Poolside bar is also perfect for the same thing. I mean, come on! The fact that there is a happy hour is also great.
Ways to Relax – From Bliss to… Well, You Know:
Flores do Lazaro really leans into the relaxation vibe. They have a spa! I didn't get a chance to check out the Body scrub, or the Body wrap but I'm sure it's nice. The Pool with view is just what it sounds like. The Gym/fitness is also there if that's your thing. There's a sauna, and a steamroom. There's also a swimming pool. It's an outdoor pool. This is what I am looking for.
Cleanliness & Safety – The COVID Factor:
I'm a bit of a germaphobe (don't judge!), so this was important to me. They had all the usual stuff: hand sanitizer everywhere, staff wearing masks, and daily disinfection. They list "Rooms sanitized between stays," and "Professional-grade sanitizing services." I felt pretty safe, honestly.
Things to Do – Beyond Just Lounging (if You Can Be Bothered):
Ubatuba is all about the beaches. Praia do Lázaro is right at your doorstep. The water is crystal clear, the sand is soft, and there are plenty of things to do. There's also a convenience store. You can find things to do like the hotel offers a lot of things like a terrace, and a shrine.
Services and Conveniences – The Little Things That Matter:
The staff were generally friendly and helpful, even with my limited Portuguese. They offer daily housekeeping, laundry service, and luggage storage. They have a gift shop, which is great for picking up a souvenir (or a forgotten toothbrush, like yours truly).
For the Kids:
Family/child friendly. Babysitting service is available.
The "OMG, I Need to Tell You This" Moment:
Okay, this is my absolute favorite part. One evening, I was at the bar, nursing a caipirinha, when I witnessed the most romantic proposal. Complete with a proposal spot. The couple was beaming, the sunset was breathtaking, and I nearly cried. It was pure, unadulterated joy. (Okay, I did cry a little. Don’t judge!)
The Verdict: Should You Escape to Paradise?
Yes! Absolutely, yes! Flores do Lazaro isn't perfect – it's got its quirks and imperfections – but that's part of its charm. It's a place where you can truly unwind, soak up the sun, and create some unforgettable memories.
My Honest-to-Goodness Offer to You:
Book your stay at Flores do Lazaro Pousada now! And to sweeten the deal, I'm throwing in a special bonus:
- Book within the next 7 days and get a free caipirinha on arrival! (Just mention "The Gecko Special" when you book.)
- Plus, I'll share my secret "best beach for sunset" spot – because everyone deserves to see that view!
Don't delay! Your escape to paradise awaits! Go!
Escape to Lavender Heaven: Kusadasi's Secret A4 Forest!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's itinerary. This is a trip to Pousada Flores do Lazaro in Ubatuba, Brazil, through my slightly warped, caffeine-fueled lens. Prepare for tangents, existential dread, and probably a sunburn.
Day 1: Arrival & Beach Bliss (and Mild Panic)
- 10:00 AM: Land in São Paulo. Ugh. Airports. They're the purgatory of travel, a swirling vortex of stale air and overpriced coffee. My flight was delayed, naturally. Already feeling the jet lag creeping in.
- 12:00 PM: Taxi to the bus station. Finding the right bus? A Herculean task. I swear, the Portuguese word for "where the hell is the bathroom?" is the most important phrase to learn before you leave. (I didn't, and paid the price).
- 2:00 PM: Bus to Ubatuba. Praying the bus doesn't break down. My internal monologue is currently a mix of "Oh god, I hope I packed enough sunscreen," and "Will I ever truly understand the purpose of life?"
- 5:00 PM: Arrive in Ubatuba! Okay, the drive was actually BEAUTIFUL. Lush green mountains, glimpses of the ocean… Ubatuba itself is stunning. Finding a taxi to Pousada Flores do Lazaro… a minor adventure. My Portuguese is basically "Obrigado" and "Cerveja, por favor."
- 6:00 PM: Check into Pousada Flores do Lazaro. Honestly? It's gorgeous. Exactly what the pictures promised. That initial "Oh, thank god, it's real!" feeling washed over me. The room is simple, clean, and has a balcony overlooking the ocean. Breathe. Deep breath.
- 7:00 PM: Beach time! Praia do Lázaro. Okay, this is where it gets good. The sand is white, the water is turquoise… I'm pretty sure I saw a sea turtle. Or maybe I just really, really wanted to. I spent an hour just staring at the ocean, trying to understand the vastness of it all. Pure bliss.
- 8:00 PM: Dinner at a local restaurant. I ordered something I couldn't pronounce (shocker). Turns out, it was a delicious seafood stew. The waiter was a little grumpy, but the food was incredible. I ate until I felt like I might explode. Worth it.
- 9:00 PM: Walk on the beach under the stars. Seriously, the stars! They were brighter than I've ever seen. I felt tiny, insignificant, and utterly content. This is the life.
Day 2: Island Hopping & Existential Musings (and Maybe A Few Tears)
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast at the pousada. The Brazilian breakfast is glorious. Fresh fruit, strong coffee, bread, pastries… Fueling up for the day!
- 10:00 AM: Boat trip to Ilha das Couves. Okay, this is where the real magic started. The boat ride was bumpy, the sun was scorching, and I had a moment of "What have I gotten myself into?" But then… the island. It's a tiny paradise. White sand, crystal-clear water, and the most vibrant coral I've ever seen.
- 11:00 AM: Snorkeling! I'm a terrible snorkeler, but the marine life! Fish of every color, a sea turtle (this time, I swear!), and the silence underwater… It was like entering another world. I spent an hour just drifting, mesmerized.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch on the beach. Simple, fresh, perfect. Feeling the sun on my skin, the sand between my toes… This is the life.
- 1:00 PM: More snorkeling. Okay, I went back to the same spot. I couldn't help it. I got lost in the underwater world, forgetting about everything else. The quiet, the colors, the feeling of being suspended… It was almost overwhelming.
- 2:00 PM: The incident. I was swimming back to the boat when I got a little too close to a rock. I scraped my knee. Not a big deal, but it brought on a wave of… something. A wave of sadness, loneliness, and a sudden realization that I was incredibly far from home, and that I was, at this moment, completely and utterly alone. I started to cry. Stupid, I know. But the beauty of it all, the sheer perfection of the day, just felt too much. I sat on the boat, tears streaming down my face, feeling like the biggest idiot in the world, while the other tourists looked on with a mixture of pity and mild annoyance.
- 2:30 PM: The tears subsided. I pulled myself together and decided to embrace the imperfection. The scrape, the tears, the feeling of being a complete mess… It was all part of the experience. I even managed a smile.
- 3:00 PM: Back to the pousada. Shower, change, and try to shake off the emotional rollercoaster. Feeling a bit fragile, to be honest.
- 4:00 PM: Relaxing on the balcony. Reading, sipping coffee, and trying to find the words to make sense of the day.
- 6:00 PM: Sunset drinks at a beach bar. The sky was on fire. Absolutely breathtaking. This is why I travel, right? To experience these moments of pure, unadulterated beauty? To feel something? Even if that something is a mix of joy, sadness, and a slightly scraped knee?
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at a different restaurant. This time, I ordered something safe. Pizza. Comfort food. Needed it.
- 8:00 PM: Stargazing. Again. The stars were still there, still shining, still indifferent to my emotional turmoil. And that, I realized, was kind of comforting.
Day 3: Exploring & Getting Lost (Literally and Figuratively)
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. Fueling up for another day of adventure.
- 10:00 AM: Explore the town of Ubatuba. Wander through the shops, soak up the atmosphere, and try to decipher the Portuguese signs.
- 11:00 AM: Attempt to find a local craft market. Got lost. Terribly lost. Ended up in a residential area, wandering aimlessly, and feeling a bit like a lost puppy. Asked for directions. The woman I asked was incredibly nice, even though my Portuguese was atrocious.
- 12:00 PM: Found the market! Yay! Bought a few souvenirs (mostly things I didn't need, but hey, it's vacation).
- 1:00 PM: Lunch at a cafe. Ordered a sandwich and stared at the ocean, contemplating the meaning of life.
- 2:00 PM: Hike in a nearby national park. (I think.) More beautiful scenery. More sweating. More existential pondering.
- 3:00 PM: Found a hidden beach. Pure bliss. It was small, secluded, and perfect. I spent an hour just swimming, feeling the sun, and letting the waves wash away my anxieties.
- 4:00 PM: Back to the pousada. Relax. Read. Reflect.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner. This time, I'm going to try something new. Wish me luck.
- 7:00 PM: Evening stroll on the beach. The waves are crashing, the stars are twinkling… I feel a sense of peace, a sense of contentment. Maybe, just maybe, I'm starting to understand the purpose of life. Or maybe I'm just tired.
Day 4: Departure (and a Bittersweet Goodbye)
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. One last Brazilian breakfast. Sobbing internally.
- 10:00 AM: One last swim in the ocean. Saying goodbye to the waves, the sand, and the feeling of freedom.
- 11:00 AM: Packing. The dreaded task.
- 12:00 PM: Check out of the pousada. Saying goodbye to the lovely staff.
- 1:00 PM: Bus to São Paulo. The journey back.
- 4:00 PM: Airport. Sigh.
- 7:00 PM: Flight home.
Final Thoughts:
This trip was messy. It was beautiful. It was emotional. It was everything I hoped for, and more. I cried, I laughed, I got lost, and I found myself. Ubatuba, you were amazing. I'll be back. (Maybe with a better grasp of Portuguese.)
And, to the woman who helped me when I got lost in the residential area: Thank you. You made me feel a little less alone.
And to you, the reader: I hope you enjoyed the ride. Now, go plan your own adventure. And don't forget the sunscreen.
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Escape to Paradise: Flores do Lazaro Pousada – Your Ubatuba Adventure! (Or Maybe Not… Let’s See!)
Alright, so you're thinking of heading to Ubatuba and Flores do Lazaro Pousada, eh? Smart move, or maybe... not so much. Let's dive into this mess of questions I've been asked, and I'll try to give you the straight dope, even if it's a little… well, all over the place. Consider this your pre-trip therapy session.
1. Is Ubatuba REALLY as beautiful as the pictures? (And is the Pousada as good?)
Ubatuba? Yeah, it's gorgeous. Seriously. Think postcard-perfect beaches, emerald green water, lush rainforest... the whole shebang. I mean, I've been to some pretty underwhelming "paradises" in my life. But Ubatuba? It’s a contender. Picture this: I was hiking one morning, sweating like a pig, and then BAM! I turned a corner and was staring at a beach so perfect, I nearly cried.
Now, the Pousada... that's where things get tricky. The pictures are... well, they're carefully curated. They've got that Instagram filter dialed in perfectly. It LOOKS amazing. But remember, cameras lie! My first thought? "Oh, this is gonna be good!" The reality? Well, let's just say it wasn't *quite* as polished. The 'rustic charm' (read: a bit run-down) was a little more 'rustic' than I anticipated. But hey, I'm not gonna lie, I'm a bit of a diva. I need my creature comforts!
Pro Tip: Manage your expectations. It's beautiful, but it's not flawless. And the Pousada? Read the reviews. Carefully. And maybe pack some earplugs. Just in case.
2. What's the best way to get to Flores do Lazaro Pousada from... well, anywhere? (And how long does it REALLY take?)
Getting there… ah, the adventure begins! I came from São Paulo, and it was a solid 3-4 hour drive. And let me tell you, the traffic leaving the city… ugh. It's soul-crushing. Think gridlock, horns blaring, and the existential dread of knowing you're stuck in a metal box with a bunch of other stressed-out people. So, factor that in.
I'd recommend renting a car. Public transport is… well, let's just say it requires a certain level of patience and a good grasp of Portuguese. Unless you *love* the thrill of potentially missing your bus, or getting hopelessly lost. My GPS was also a bit… optimistic. "Turn left in 100 meters!" it would chirp, as I was hurtling down a dirt track that looked like it hadn't seen a car in a decade. It all added to the experience! (I think…)
Anecdote Time: One time, I was convinced I was totally lost. Pulled over, asked a local for directions. He just shrugged and said, "Ah, you'll get there… eventually." He wasn't wrong, but the "eventually" involved a detour through a banana plantation. It was hilarious, in retrospect.
3. Is there Wi-Fi? (Because, let's be honest, I need to Instagram my breakfast acai bowl.)
Ugh, the Wi-Fi question. Look, I'm a millennial. I get it. We need to stay connected. And the Pousada? Well, it's… hit or miss. They *say* there's Wi-Fi. And there IS, technically. But it's like the Wi-Fi from the stone age. Prepare for buffering. Prepare for dropped connections. Prepare to scream.
Forget about streaming anything. Forget about video calls. You might be able to *barely* check your email and upload a blurry photo of your toes on the beach. And that's on a good day.
My advice? Embrace the digital detox. Seriously. Put your phone away. Look at the ocean. Talk to people. Enjoy the fact that you’re not chained to your screen. (Easier said than done, I know. I failed miserably sometimes.)
4. What's the food like? (Because I live to eat.)
Okay, now we're talking! The food in Ubatuba… is generally pretty good. Fresh seafood, delicious tropical fruits, and plenty of that Brazilian magic. The Pousada? Well, the breakfast was included, which was a bonus. You get your standard fare: bread, fruit, coffee, maybe some scrambled eggs. Nothing to write home about, but it'll fill you up.
But the *real* food adventures are outside the Pousada. Explore the local restaurants. Try the "moqueca" (a seafood stew). Go for the freshly grilled fish. There are some amazing little beach shacks with incredible food. And the caipirinhas? Don't even get me started. They're lethal, and delicious.
Rant Time: One slight problem? The service sometimes. It can be… leisurely. Don't expect fast food. Embrace the "Brazilian time" mentality. Sometimes, it took forever to get a menu, or to get the bill. But hey, you're on vacation! Relax! (Easier said than done, given my general impatience...)
5. What's there to do besides, you know, sit on the beach? (Because I get bored easily.)
Besides beach bumming? Plenty! Ubatuba offers a whole host of activities. You've got the obvious: swimming, sunbathing, surfing (if you're brave). But there's also hiking in the rainforest, boat trips to nearby islands, snorkeling, diving... the list goes on. I even tried stand-up paddleboarding, which was a comedy of errors, but a good workout.
There are also some cool waterfalls to explore, and some charming little towns to wander through. And the sunsets? Spectacular. I saw a sunset that was so vibrant, it looked like someone had spilled a rainbow across the sky. I just stood there, speechless. (Okay, maybe I took a few pictures for Instagram... but I was present in the moment, I swear!)
My personal favorite? A boat trip to Ilha das Couves. Seriously, it was paradise. Crystal-clear water, white sand, and hardly anyone around. Pure bliss. Just be prepared for some choppy waters on the way there. I got a little seasick, but it was worth it. Totally worth it.
