Sat 22nd Nov 2008
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- Twin Privata Ensuite
The Beach House (GUESTHOUSE star B&B) -
Itaipu, Niteroi Rio de Janeiro Brazil
 Colazione Inclusa | Lavanderia | |
Rua Carlos Cardoso 174, Itaipu, Niteroi, RJ, Brazil
If you are looking to experience the "real" Brazil, away from the usual tourist-packed Copacabana beach scene, then Niteroi is the place to go. Off the beaten track and away from the hustle and bustle of the typical Rio de Janeiro, THE BEACH HOUSE is situated in Niteroi, on "the other side of the bay". Here you will discover the true Brazilian way of life, meet the locals, and experience Brazil in a totally different way, away from tourist prices and the dangers of Rio de Janeiro city.
Niteroi is 25km (15 miles) from Rio de Janeiro city, to which it is linked by the Rio-Niterói Bridge and a Ferry service. Quality of life in Niterói is one of the best (3rd place) among 5,600 Brazilian cities according to UN standards.
Niteroi has beautiful oceanic, open sea beaches (Praias Oceanicas), such as Itaipu, Camboinhas, Piratininga, Itacoatiara, and along the Bay (Baia de Guanabara): Icarai, Sao Franscisco and others. Each beach offers its own unique atmosphere and attractions: from surfer beaches to quaint fishermen's villages, Niteroi beaches are an experience not to be missed.
It is in Itaipu beach, 30 minutes east of Niteroi city downtown, that you will find THE BEACH HOUSE. We offer an unique opportunity to stay with a Brazilian-British family in a en-suite annex-style flat comprising of double bedroom and frigobar facilities only 5 minutes walk away from one of the most picturesque fishermen village style beaches in Niteroi. THE BEACH HOUSE also offers skype and internet broadband facilities, barbecue facilities, swimming pool, secure car parking, babysitting services, laundry service and maid service. We can also arrange car hire.
Please note we DO NOT accept card payments. All payments must be in local currency upon arrival.
Beaches:
The beach of Itaipu (21km/13mi from Niterói), separated from the Praia de Piratininga by the Ponta dos Morros, is dominated by the massive granite rocks and sand dunes which fringe the shore. Across the bay can be seen Copacabana beach, the Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer. The Praia de Itaipu, with its quaint fishing village, is a favorite with locals, specially as a end-of-afternoon stop-off with its many bars and seafood restaurants selling the catch o the day. Here too is the Itaipu Lagoon, right behind THE BEACH HOUSE. Two minutes walk away you will find an ideal spot to watch the Rio sunset from a decked lagoon-front bar.
Itacoatiara beach is a twenty minute walk from THE BEACH HOUSE. It is a residential complex, located within an Environmental Preservation Area (Parque Estadual da Serra da Tiririca). The beach cove is surrounded by the mountains of Alto Mourão and Morro das Andorinhas, and its only access is through the main road with is patrolled by 24hr security. A large rockery divides the main beach from the small beach alcove named Prainha (small beach). With its calm waters, Prainha is ideal for children. Itacoatiara produces a fast and hollow wave. It can handle well swells of up to 4 meters (12 feet) waves, which are usually on the 3 - 6 foot range. Sometimes a huge southeast swell can bring waves of 5 meters (15 feet) but a swell this strong rarely offer surfing conditions. The place is famous for ideal conditions for the practice of Bodyboarding.
Camboinhas beach is a ten minute car ride away, with its sand side bars and white sands. The name originated in a naval accident in the 1950s. In that decade, a ship called Camboinhas went down in the ocean off the present neighborhood. A second ship was sent to rescue the cargo of the sunk ship, but went down itself during its attempts to raise the debris. Today, the remains of the hull of the Camboinhas can be seen during low tide. The neighborhood has shores on both the Itaipu Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean and was inhabited primarily by fishermen until 1978, when a company named Veplan started lotting the land for the real estate market. Between the years of 1980 and 1991, the place experienced a population growth rate of 14.84% per year, leading the city's statistics in that category. As a result, in 1991 it had a population of 926, which equals 0.21% of the total population of the municipality.
On the Atlantic shore, the place is marked by typical vegetation of the region, with sand dunes and restinga vegetation.
Piratininga beach 13km/8mi. South-east of Niterói are the beach and lagoon of Piratininga, reached by a side road branching off the road to Itaipu. On the opposite side of the bay can be seen the Praia Vermelha and Mt Leme, at the end of Copacabana beach. One of the most popular stretches of the Piratininga beach is the Praia da Prainha, a small inlet with calm water between the sea and the lagoon, with the Baleia Crag.
Out and About
In the Oceanic Region you will find plenty of local shops and stores on the road to Itaipu as well as a modern shopping Mall with Cinemax complex and a variety of shops.
Itaipu beach also is a 30 minute bus trip away from Icarai, the metropolitan area of Niteroi, with its many shops, restaurants and the famous Contemporary Arts Museum. This intriguing contemporary art museum looks like a flying saucer jutting out over the sea and is worth the visit to Niteroi alone. The Niterói Contemporary Art Museum, the city's landmark, was designed by the famous Brazilian modernist architect Oscar Niemeyer.
The Parque da Cidade, Watch the sunset from there is a 'must do' if you are in Rio... It is in the top of a mountain in the neighborhood 'Charitas'. You can go there walking (for those with stamina !) or by car / taxi. This is the famous hand-gliding starting point to many of the sports enthusiasts.
At night you will have the opportunity to experience the bars and restaurants in the São Francisco district, where the locals go on an almost daily basis, or simply relax in a beach kiosk in the Charitas beachfront.
Rio de Janeiro:
Lets not forget that you are in Rio ! We offer accompanied day trips to the big city for you to check out the Rio must sees such as the Sugar Loaf Mountain, The Christ Statue, a drink at Copacabana promenade and (for football fans) a look at the famous Maracana stadium. But we guarantee one thing: you will be happy to get back to Niteroi ! Lovely as these attractions may be, they do not compare to the peace, tranquility and Brazilian way of life you will find on "the other side of the bay" !
Please note we DO NOT accept card payments. All payments must be in local currency upon arrival.