36 Best Hotels in The Northeast, Brazil

The city's smartest business hotel, this glimmering high-rise looks directly over Recife's most popular beach. The sleek, spacious rooms share views of the sea, a neutral design, and modern conveniences such as an in-room iPod doc, plasma TVs, and espresso machines. Enjoy the truly memorable ocean panorama as you soar up to the rooftop terrace and pool in the glass-enclosed elevator; there, alongside plenty of sunbathers, you will find a fully equipped gym, Pilates studio, beauty center, and spa. Visiting businesspeople often drop by to dine at the upmarket Mirage restaurant, while the Brasserie serves a buffet breakfast and a varied á la carte menu for lunch and dinner.

In one of the trendiest parts of Boa Viagem and right across from the beach, this modern hotel has elegantly designed rooms and the sort of smiling, efficient service you would expect from one of Brazil's largest hotel groups. A buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner is served in the trendy Nabuco restaurant, and there is also an on-site coffee shop that transforms into a Japanese temaki counter in the evening. Gym buffs will love the large workout area and state-of-the-art equipment.

On the outskirts of town, the Caruaru Park's colorful rooms and chalets are sparsely decorated but neat and clean. Balconies have hammocks and decent views of town.

True to its name, which translates as "house on the beach," this intimate pousada opens right onto the sand and has one of the best views in town over the dune. This is a good choice for couples looking to relax over sunset caipirinhas by the pool. For breakfast, the friendly staff serve up freshly cooked tapioca and crepes alongside the usual fresh fruit.

One block from the beach, this small hotel is a great option if you're willing to forgo ocean views and stylish design for a friendly staff and competitive rates. Apart from the elevator, the three-story hotel seems more like a guesthouse. Rooms are well equipped and comfortable. The two small pools help compensate for the lack of sea views.

Named after the seven hills that surround the hotel, 7 Colinas is a sprawling oasis that sits amid the trees and flowers of a tropical estate that once belonged to the São Francisco religious order. Rooms are comfortably furnished and face out onto the garden. The large swimming pool, surrounded by Jabuticaba trees, is a haven on hot days and great for kids. From here it's just a short hike up to Alto da Sé. There is a small museum on the hotel grounds, with furniture from the 19th century.

On a small side street three blocks from the beach, this laid-back hotel offers some of the best value for money in town, with friendly service and a charming rooftop terrace. While some of the rooms are a bit dingy and bathrooms small, all come with comfortable double beds and fridges, and some have small balconies.

Overlooking the beach, this luxury hotel has beautiful rooms; friendly, five-star service; and a prime location that makes it a wonderful base for exploring Fortaleza. Sophisticated amenities include comfortable king-size beds, a rooftop pool, and L’Occitane toiletries. While the hotel boasts three decent restaurants, it's also within strolling distance of some of the city’s top bars and restaurants. Helpful bilingual concierges can book you into one of the sophisticated beach clubs nearby, or organize a day trip out of town. Opt for one of the ocean-view rooms to wake up to a view of the sparkling blue sea.

With modern rooms, a rooftop pool, two restaurants, and a bar, this stylish hotel is one of the best options in town. The majority of the rooms come with private verandas that overlook Meireles Beach and all have king-size beds. Admire the view during breakfast over endless tropical fruits and strong Brazilian coffee.

In a converted mansion, this pousada has rooms that vary considerably in size, quality, and price; the suites, with hardwood floors, rival those at the best hotels, but the standard rooms are just average. The individually decorated deluxe rooms are considerably nicer. Carnival decorations enliven the lobby—a hint that this pousada is the place to be during the celebrations, when the patio becomes a sort of VIP area from which guests can watch the parade.

Brazil's first eco-design resort, this remarkable property provides high-end luxury while maintaining its dedication to the preservation of nature and the local culture. Walls are plastered in gray mud rather than paint, paper bags replace plastic, and sink basins are carved from fallen trees. Many of the private bungalows have individual access to the deserted, white-sand beach and secluded dipping pools. Lounge by the infinity pool in the blazing sun before exploring the hotel's impressive spa. Gourmet Portuguese classics are served in the stunning dining room, with eucalyptus trunks rising up from the floor below, or under the stars on the rooftop terrace.

Both the service and decor at this small hotel reflect tremendous attention to detail. The restaurant serves skillfully prepared seafood in a gorgeous pool area that overlooks the beach. The location is ideal, as it's just beyond the crowded portion of Ponta Negra.

A five-minute walk from Boa Viagem Beach, this slightly dated hotel offers spacious rooms that all come with a small, private veranda. While the lobby decor, outdated gym, and '70s-style hotel shops may leave you feeling like you've stepped back in time, the sprawling outdoor pool area, complete with a waterfall and two kiddie pools, pull you back into the present. A new annex offers the most modern rooms.

Set one block back from the beach, these comfortable apartments are perfect for families and visitors in the city for a long stay. Each unit has one or two bedrooms, a living room, and a fully equipped kitchen. If you get tired of preparing your own meals, you can head for the restaurant or the coffee shop.

The four-star rooms at this hotel are highly incongruous with the two-star-quality lobby; luckily, prices are more representative of the latter. The small hotel is a block from the beach, with a pool in front. All rooms have balconies; request those with direct sea views, since they cost the same.

The Othon Palace Fortaleza sits on a small hill right where the beach makes a big curve, affording guests a spectacular view of the beach and Mucuripe Bay. There's comfortable seating in the stylish lobby, where a spiral staircase leads up to meeting rooms. Tastefully decorated rooms are more like small suites.

This attractive accomodation manages to avoid some of the problems associated with massive resort complexes: its beige color allows it to blend into its sandy surroundings, rooms have original artwork and other strokes of personality, and personalized service makes you feel like more than just a number. An on-site water park comes with three separate swimming pools.

Perched on a deserted white-sand beach, this pousada is a contender for Brazil's most tranquil place to unwind. The nine simple yet sophisticated bungalows come with comfortable beds, double hammocks for two, and hot water provided by solar panels. Some come equipped with Japanese ofuro tubs, while others can host up to four people. The excellent restaurant serves fresh seafood, organic salads, and Brazilian classics with a healthy twist. Rates include breakfast and either lunch or dinner in the restaurant.

This eclectic pousada is made up of two colonial houses with soaring ceilings; wood and brick details, original artwork, and an indoor garden lend considerable warmth to the cavernous spaces. It's a member of the exclusive Brazilian Roteiros de Charme hotels group. The hotel's restaurant, Flor de Coco, is a highlight; set on a tiered terrace and surrounded by tropical plants; it serves great caipirinhas and regional specialities in a romantic setting.

Wind chimes, candles, a verdant garden, and swimming pool help create a sense of peace and tranquillity at this well-priced, no-frills pousada. Colorful duplex apartments have windows looking out into the garden and hammocks in front. Breakfasts of fresh fruit and homemade whole-grain bread are served in the dining area, which is decorated with a mix of modern art and antiques.

Resembling tropical tree houses constructed from reclaimed wood, this eco-pousada's comfortable bungalows were designed with couples in mind. Tropical flowers are strewn across the beds, and the fantastic buffet breakfast is served until 5 pm. The pousada is an easy 15-minute walk to Praia do Conceição. The in-house gourmet restaurant is one of the island's top spots for dining.

Out of the many upmarket pousadas that have opened in Jericoacoara in the last five years, Vila Kalango stands above the crowd with its private bungalows propped on stilts. The style may be rustic, but the quality of service and amenities like 600-count Egyptian cotton sheets provide an extra bit of luxury. Live music is occasionally played around the crimson swimming pool, and the hotel can organize windsurfing and kitesurfing programs with English-speaking professionals and offer complimentary daily transfers to Praia do Prea, one of the top kitesurfing spots.