The Chalet

The house on the hill

Château Portofino sits at roughly 400 metres of altitude on a forested hillside above Paraty, on Brazil's Costa Verde. It was placed for one reason: the view. From the deck you see the Bay of Paraty directly below, the island-studded water of Angra dos Reis to the northeast, and Ilha Grande stretched along the horizon — three of the coast's famous views, from one spot.

The setting

The house is surrounded by Mata Atlântica, the Atlantic rainforest that covers these mountains. That means real quiet — birdsong, wind in the canopy, the occasional troop of monkeys passing through the trees — and air that's noticeably cooler and fresher than down at sea level. Clouds sometimes drift below the deck in the early morning. The town of Paraty, with its restaurants, pier and colonial center, is a short drive downhill.

The infinity pool and the deck

The pool sits on the edge of the broad deck, and its far rim lines up with the sea below, so the water appears to pour into the bay. The deck wraps around it with space to eat outside, read in the shade and watch the boats cross the bay. At night the pool is lit and the lights of Paraty glitter below; on clear nights the stars are remarkable, because there's almost no light around you.

Infinity pool edge merging visually with the Bay of Paraty far below — The pool's edge and the bay become one line.

Inside the house

The interior is open-plan: living, dining and kitchen flow together behind tall glass, so the view follows you through the house. Bedrooms are done as suites. The finish is modern and warm — wood, stone and linen rather than anything fussy. It's a house for slow breakfasts, long dinners and falling asleep to the sound of the forest.

Who it suits

The chalet works for families, groups of friends and couples traveling together who want a private base above the coast — somewhere to come back to after a schooner day on the bay or a waterfall afternoon, swim as the sun drops, and cook or head down to town for dinner.

Booking

The chalet will be bookable on Airbnb. Until the listing is live, email stay@chateauportofino.com with your dates and group size and we'll reply directly.