John of God
and the
Casa de Dom Inacio
Updated March, 2007
Rooms and Meals at the Pousadas
Bare and basic. Bed with sheets, pillow and blanket, maybe a place to hang clothes. Bare light bulbs in the ceiling. You will usually be living out of suitcase on the floor. Bathrooms have a small sink attached to wall, without a vanity, toilet (do not flush toilet paper), basket for toilet paper, basic showerhead beside toilet or sink. If you have anything extra like a chair, table, or fan be grateful. Consider this a pilgrimage for your spirit and a lesson in being humble and tolerant.
Be sure to check your mattress before you take the room, not all mattresses are created equal!
Most people on their first trip, stay at one of the pousadas that has an English speaking proprietor. These pousadas are: Santa Rita, Amazonas, Dom Ingrid, Catarinense, Luz Divina, Dos Anjos, Martin's, Linda Horizonte, Dom Inacio de Loyola, Neusa Prates, Irmao Sol, and dos Girassois.
If you stay at one of the other pousadas, write on piece of paper in Portuguese what you need. You won’t understand what they say, so give them the paper to write on. If they say "R60 com cafe", that is for one night and breakfast. They will then say "R10 para jantar", meaning that is the price per meal for lunch (amorco) and/or dinner (jantar). Most will give a price including room and three meals, such as R60 per person. "Tem voce um quarto por 2 pessao por 12 dias. Quanto Real por noite? Do you have a room for 2 people for 12 nights? How much per night?
When you arrive you will be exhausted from the trip. If you don’t arrive until Tuesday afternoon, some places are already filled. Take what you can get. Don’t be flustered by language. You can move any time when you are rested and more familiar with surroundings.
Reservations are not necessary and not always honored. You may have a reservation but show up and the place is full, or be asked to move in the middle of your stay. Fax and emails are listed if you want to make a reservation.
For those who feel more comfortable knowing they have a place to stay when they arrive, reservations can be made by email. We have been told by a number of people that the pousada may not respond. If you do not receive a prompt response, try emailing another pousada.
Just go with the knowing that you are supposed to be in Abadiania and you will end up where you are supposed to be. The spirits may intend that you are to meet someone, and you won’t know who it is until after you end up wherever it is you are supposed to be!
Pousadas Rates
The rates are R35-R90 (approximately $18-45) a day per person for a room which includes 3 buffet meals. The meals are served at 7am, noon, and 6-7pm. If you drink the blessed healing water from the Casa and don’t buy drinks with meals, you can save money. Regular bottled water is readily available. The bottled water at the Pousadas may be blessed by the owner but is not the same as the healing water from the Casa bookstore.
You can eat lunch or dinner at many Pousadas for R5-R15. We have found, speaking with many people, that most tire of eating the food at the same pousada. Therefore, we suggest that you get your room with breakfast only (cafe), and buy all your meals separately, which will give you the opportunity to eat at other pousadas, and at the new restaurants that are springing up in Abadiania. NOTE: Amazonas, Dom Ingrid, Dos Anjos, and Irma Sol, and others do not offer this option.
Meals on weekends are sparse at many of the Pousadas, as Pousadas guests leave Friday and Saturday, and new guests arrive on Monday & Tuesday. This is not a good time to explore a new dining experience.
If you get your room with all meals, keep track of the meals you skip at your pousada and some of the pousada owners will allow you to deduct it from your total bill. ( be sure to clarify this ahead of time). Tell your pousada owner you will not be eating today's lunch or dinner so they can keep track also.
For those staying extended lengths of time (30 days or more), it may be possible to negotiate a lower rate. Some of the pousadas offer a R10 discount if you share your room.
Prices of pousadas reflect popularity and what the owner dares to ask!!! Prices do not reflect mattress comfort, noise level, or food. Rooms are priced per person. You will not split the cost if you share a room. Each person pays for their bed and meals individually.
Please help us to help people that are planning a trip to the Casa.
After you have returned home, please email us the daily rate of the pousada
where you stayed, and any other information that would be helpful to others.
lacasita88@hotmail.com
Noise at the Pousadas
All pousada rooms are hospital recovery rooms. It has been our experience and has been brought to our attention by a number of other people, that some guests do not honor this, and engage in long unnecessary converstions outside or next to other guest's rooms who are recovering from surgery. Please take your conversations to the eating areas or to a cafe. Please be quiet in your pousada room and around all other pousada rooms.
The pousadas are listed in alphabetical order. The word pousada has been dropped from the listings. Map of pousada locations. When calling any of the pousadas listed below, you need to dial 011-55 before the phone number.
Prices are listed as R30/R7..price per bed including 3 meals (per person) and price of lunch or dinner for visitors. NA..not available
AMAZONAS
R52, R62, R72 depending on the location of the room. R10 for meals. Elizabeth
(Beth) is the owner, and 2 helpers also speak English.
They have 2 telephone booths for you to call home which accept MCI, AT&T and Brazilian phone cards.
There is a large rear patio with a view of the countryside and a swimming pool. One international cable television is in the pool lounge area. Wireless internet is FREE to guests only.
They will serve food to people from other pousadas with advance notice. They ask for full payment on arrival (to our knowledge they are the only pousada that does this).
hotelamazonas@terra.com.br
Phone (62)3343-1378 Map
Fax (62)3343-2317
NOTE: Use the above information to make reservations for Hotel Brasil and Hotel San Raphael. There is an English speaker at the desk and Elizabeth owns these pousadas also.
CAMINHO ENCANTADO
R40 to R95 per room. The price is per room, not per person. This is a great
bargin for two or more people. Meals are breakfast R4, lunch and dinner
are R7. It is located eastof the main road to the Casa and behind Catarinense.
There is a coin washing machine on the premises. The owners name is Walter.
Phone (62) 3343 1955
caminho.encantado@hotmail.com
CATARINENSE
R70/R10. Discount of R10 is offered for 2 people staying in one room. This
is a family-run Pousada. Carlos and Rosane speak English. Other family members
speak German and a little Italian. All family members are volunteers at
the Casa. Rooms are in U-shaped setting with space to sit outside and visit.
You can can hang your clothes outside of the room to dry.
See their website for pictures
They have a garden and fountain behind the units and a round rock meditation/alter
which is very cool to sit inside in warm weather. pousadacatarinense@terra.com.br
Phone/Fax (62)3343-1443 Map
Carlos has 2 vans and taxi service. The Vans hold 12/15 people plus luggage.
Van is R300 or taxi is R150 to Brasilia.
Cell (62)9628-1183
Gentil has 4 houses for rent, 1 month minimum @ R800/mo.
DO SUL
R35/R7 Olga speaks German. They have a small garden patio setting and a
meditation room. Olga accepts US dollars and Euros. Email contact Iraci
Genz who speaks English. This Pousada is FOR SALE.
Olga would like to retire.
genz.nho@pop.com.br
Phone (62)3343-1379 Map
DOM INACIO DE LOYOLA
R35/R5. Regina speaks English. This pousada is being rebuilt, it may become
part of San Jose.
Phone (62)3343-1328 Map
DOM INGRID
R50 R60 R70 depending on the location and size of room. R35 R40 R50 breakfast
only. They only serve meals to their guests or friends of guests. Ricardo
(one of the English speaking Casa interpreters) works there. They book groups,
but individuals are also welcome when space is available. Dinner is served
at 7pm. Good food with lots of variety, and they also have 12 flavors of
ice cream.
valdete.ferreira@terra.com.br
Phone/Fax (62)3343-1206
Ricardo's Cell (62)5562-9628-7408 Map
Ricardo is there at meal times every day except Sunday to answer questions
and take phone calls. Ricardo and his brother also have a taxi service.
DONA ROSINHA
R40/R5 A little Spanish. They will have an internet connection and email
address in Feb., 2006.
Phone (62)3343-1089 or (62)3343-1346 Map
FURLAN
R55 includes only breakfast and lunch. New with 13 rooms. Ignez is the owner.
Quiet, spacious, calm, tidy. Away from noise of other pousadas and fairgrounds.
ignezfurlan@yahoo.com.br
Phone/Fax (62)3343-1338 Map
GIRASSOIS
R60. Includes 3 meals. Claudio speaks English and is a volunteer at the Casa. His wife's name
is Miriam. They have 5 rooms. If you are not a guest, you need to make reservations
to eat here. People rave about their food. They are expanding with more
rooms in mid 2006. This pousada has no identification sign, it is next to
Irmao Sol.
miriampruja@hotmail.com
or CA180354@yahoo.com.br
Phones (62)3343-2046, (62)3343-1980, (62)3343-2089
Cell (62)9622-2934 Map
HOTEL BRASIL
R42/R7. Telcio is very happy/friendly manager, and speaks a little English.
Good meals and dining area; overlooks main street, open breeze flowing,
nice and cool. They usually have guests that speak English. The backyard
has avocado, mango and lime trees. Giant avocados are available every day
during the season.
Phone (62)3343-1348 for Portuguese Map
If you are staying several weeks and need a cheaper room, they have old units in back of the pousada that are negotiable in price.
hotelamazonas@terra.com.br
Fax (62)3343-2317
Phone (62)3343-1378 Map
NOTE: Elizabeth owns Amazonas, Hotel Brasil, and Hotel San Raphael. Make your reservations through Amazonas. There is usually an English speaker at the desk.
HOTEL MONTREAL
R34/R7 They have 20 Rooms
Phone (62)3343-2262,
Cell (62)911-1967 Map
HOTEL PARAISO see San Jose below.
HOTEL POUSALEGRE
R35/R5
Phone (62)3343-1385
HOTEL REI DEVI (formerly Hotel Villa Verde)
R70/R10. R50 breakfast only. (prices have not been verified) Charlene and her husband Marcio are the new managers.
Very private enclosed garden.
hotelreidavi@gmail.com
Phone (62)3343-1145
Fax (62)3343-1755 Map
HOTEL SAN RAPHAEL
R80/R10. This pousada is for groups, and they give special rates for double
occupancy of R124. Guests may upgrade to this pousada also. Meals are served
at Amazonas.
This is a new pousada owned by Elizabeth of Amazonas. Contact Amazonas
to make reservations.
hotelamazonas@terra.com.br
Phone (62)3343-1378
Fax (62)3343-2317 Map
NOTE: Elizabeth owns Amazonas and Hotel Brasil. Make your reservations through Amazonas. There is usually an English speaker at the desk.
IRMAO SOL (referred to as Martin's Pousada)
R90/R15. Very popular place. Three buildings each a different color. The
owner, Martin, is a Casa interpreter. Enclosed garden setting with fountain.
It is a 15-20 min. walk to the Casa.
Luciano speaks English and has a taxi service.
sol.luna@terra.com.br
(62)3343-1230 (62)3343-4544 Map
IZAIRA
R30/R5 No reservations needed. For the budget traveler. A German guide,
Michail, brings his groups here. Can use their washing machine for R5 per
load. May take MasterCard.
Phone (62)3343-2373. Map
JARDIM DOS ANJOS
R70/R5,R10,R15 (breakfast, lunch, dinner). Mauricio & Mardenia speak
English, Spanish & French. Rated as the best food in town, they have
an extensive vegetarian menu as well as quality beef and fish. They serve
fruit and desert daily. This pousada has become popular for those wishing
to escape the mundane fare of the majority of the pousadas. Enclosed garden
setting with hammocks. Free wireless internet connection.
http://jardimdosanjos.com
Phone (62)3343-1793
Fax (62)3343-1081 Map
LINDO HORIZONTE
R55/R10. Divina is the owner, and will cook special meals for you.
lindohorizonte@hotmail.com
Phone(62)3343-2354 Map
LUZ DIVINA
R65/R10. Catherine is the American owner. Sandra lives in Abadiania and
speaks English and Spanish. New in Jan, 2003. Enclosed garden setting with
view of valley, fountain and hammocks. Have 11 rooms with screens on windows,
ceiling fans with dimmer switches on lights, dresser, shower curtain, meditation
room.
ctucker@oneheartforever.com
Partner, Russell, in Arizona will take reservations at 1-480-861-8871
Phone (62)3343-1830 Map
MARTIN, the Casa interpreter's pousada, is Irmao Sol above.
MARTINS
R27/R10 Dalma & Marcio speak some English.
pousdamartins@yahoo.com.br
Phone (62)3343-1352 Map
NOSSO LAR
R35, breakfast only. Two persons per room, R30 per person. They do not serve
lunch or dinner. Good for those that like to explore other places to eat,
or who do not always eat 3 meals a day.
pousadanossolar@aol.com.br
Phone (62)3343-1372
Fax (62)3343-1373 Map
PRATES
R55/R10 This was newly built in 2004. They have 9 rooms and an enclosed
garden setting with fountain. Free use of internet for 2 hours/day for quests.
noprates@hotmail.com
Phone (62)3343-1200
Cell (62) 9974-8367 Map
Portugese lessons are avaliable here. Make arrangements with sons of the owner. They have 3 computers for public use with DSL Internet connection at R2/15 minutes.
SAN JOSE also known as HOTEL PARAISO
R47 R27 breakfast only. Discount avaliable for stays of one month or more.
Ivan and Ida are the owners. English, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese are
spoken. They are both Casa guides and can assist their guests through the
healing process.
hotelparaisosanjose@hotmail.com
Phone (62)3343-1231 Map
SANTA HELENA (formerly Santa Rita)
R45 Located next to the Casa. Sandra is the new owner and speaks Portuguese,
Spanish, and a few words of English. Regina, Sandra's daugher-in-law is
second in command. Geam, (pronounced sort of like Gene) a family friend
that lives at the pousada and speaks fluent English, is avaliable if in-depth
communication is necessary.
Quiet pousada, spacious rooms. Good food with lots of variety. Energy from
Casa is felt here by some. Monthly discounts avaliable.
pousadastarita@brturbo.com
Phone/Fax (62)3343-1295 Map
SANTA RITA (new pousada presently under construction)
SAO MIGUEL (formerly Jardim das Fontes)
R90. Group discounts avaliable. New in 2003. Jim is the American resident
manager. They have 18 rooms and a beautiful inner courtyard. There are also
rooms avaliable for long term stays of a month or more. Free WIFI internet
and phones available for outgoing calls. A traveler tells us that this is
the quietist pousada they have found. Menu is Americanized with a large
vegetarian menu as well as quality beef, lamb and salmon.
saomiguelpousada@yahoo.com
Tel/Fax (62)3343-2021 Map
XAVIER --old information from March, 2005
R55/R10 Newly refurbished. New mattresses. Three-story building. Discounts
for 2-3 people in room. Roomy, enclosed garden patio. Upstairs veranda has
wonderful view of valley. Not a place for people with handicaps due to the
stairs.
Phone (62)3343-2314
Cell (62)9284-8729 Contact Cristina or Dener
Map
House rentals in Abadiania
Marcos Dacosta, at the Internet Shop, (speaks English & Spanish) and
has 12 or more rental houses. Price range is R600 to R1450 or more per month.
One month minimum. Reserve 1 month in advance. His cell phone number for
rentals only is (62)9621 0761. He also has
a taxi service with an English speaking driver.
rbm865@yahoo.com or w3internetabadiania@hotmail.com
House rentals are posted on the Community Message Board at Frutti's and at the Internet Shop. There seems to be a growing number of houses for rent.
If calling from the USA dial 011-55 plus the listed number.