Trancoso is a beautiful town situated on the Bahian coast in northern Brazil. It's not the most accessible place in the world and this perhaps is why it has managed to retain so much of its historic charm.

The focal point of the town is the large grassy pedestrian square called the Quadrado. Many years ago the settling hippies erected a series of concrete bollards to prevent cars or other automobiles from entering it. Today the only congestion you'll find is in the form of one of the wild horses getting in your way.

Surrounding the Quadrado are many colourful former fisherman's houses, most of which are private residences today. Three of these houses belong to UXUA Casa Hotel and I was lucky enough to stay in one of them called Gulab Mahal. As well as the 3 Quadrado facing rooms there are also 6 other rooms - or casas as they are called - nestled in the lush tropical private gardens of the hotel. Every casa is unique, each designed by Wilbert Das (the Creative... more