Casa Cairucu

Remote but stylish eco-house (sleeps 2-8), perched between lush rainforest and turquoise seas, a short boat ride from the colonial gem of Parati

Casa Cairuçu (pronounced ky-ru-su) is no ordinary house rental. First off, you can only get here by boat: a 15-minute ride from the charming colonial town of Parati which, incidentally, is one of our favourite spots in Brazil. The views from the wraparound balcony are glorious: over turquoise seas which teem with bright fish, and up to cloud-wreathed peaks behind. There's superb snorkelling and canoeing on your doorstep, and sandy beaches a short walk or boat ride away.

Secondly, it uses eco-technologies to offer everything from solar showers to 3G WiFi - and this on the edge of the rainforest. There are white leather sofas in the glass-fronted sitting room, colourful art and pocket-sprung mattresses in the 3 bedrooms - all painstakingly boated in by the British-Brazilian owners.

They spend several months a year here, which means that you're treated as friends of friends by the maid (who comes in daily) and the local fishing community (who can sell you fresh snapper, mahi-mahi or shrimps). And, if you want to book a secret restaurant (tucked away on its own island), or clamber up a mini Sugar Loaf Mountain, their English-speaking concierge knows every stone, cove and boatman in the Ilha Grande bay.

Highs

• The sea in front of the house is warm and clean, perfect for swimming, snorkelling or dolphin-spotting from the veranda
• It's 5 minutes' walk to the sandy Praia do Bare, where kids play football on the beach; 10 minutes by boat to the idyllic Praia Vermelha
• It's great for adventurous families (2 rooms can be twin-bedded), and kitted out for little ones too (cot, monitor, high chair; the owners have a young daughter)
• Equally, we imagine it would be an amazing honeymoon venue for a nature-loving couple; shut off 2 bedrooms and you'd have it all to yourself without rattling around
• With just 3 nights minimum, and free extras (pre-stay shop, 2 transfers, and a boat excursion for i-escape guests), it need not be as expensive as you think

Lows

• The combination of partial self-catering and no road access will not suit everyone: you need to plan your shopping carefully, or pay for boats to take you to local restaurants
• This Costa Verde is so-called for a reason: it can rain at almost any time of year, though never monsoon-style
• The maid, Adriana, barely speaks any English, but she knows the ropes for breakfast, clothes washing and cleaning (and she'll stay on to cook dinner, if you want)
• Being in the rainforest, there is lots of insect life, and the birds can get a bit noisy (especially the local kingfisher)!
• You need to know how things work - the generator, for example - but the concierge will show you, and lend you a local cellphone in case you need to call him during your stay