Txai Resort, Itacaré

Txai Resort is situated on Itacarezinho Beach, approximately 15 kilometres south of the town of Itacaré, in the state of Bahia, Brazil. The area is renowned for its natural beauty, featuring long beaches, coconut trees, and well-preserved sections of Atlantic rainforest. The resort sits inside an environmental protection area, which helps keep the surroundings quiet and largely undeveloped.

Txai Resort is a member of Relais & Châteaux, a French marketing organisation including some of the world’s most impressive properties. I have probably been to about 100 or more Relais & Châteaux-associated hotels. That, combined with research about Txai, photos of the rates and a high Booking.com guest satisfaction score, meant I arrived with high expectations after a long road trip that started in Recife in the state of Pernambuco. After three nights at the resort, it is a pleasure to conclude that my expectations were actually exceeded.

The property is large, but the number of rooms is limited, so it never feels crowded. Accommodations are spread out across the land, with some units closer to the beach and others higher up, offering views of the ocean or the forest. I stayed in a lovely hilltop bungalow built with an attractive design, a soft bed, and an outdoor rain shower as a highlight. The only downside was that the bed linen, pillow case, duvet and towels were not washed in a fragrance-free product, but this is unfortunately not the standard in Brazil. The sea view from the balcony area was fantastic, and the air quality was great. The internet was free of charge and had a good speed considering the remote location of the resort.

Life at Txai moves at a slow pace in a relaxed atmosphere. The public areas are very beautiful and beautifully designed. There is a gym, restaurant, a bar and a lounge area, where I enjoyed drinking coconut water from a coconut upon arrival while I did the registration of my stay. It happened on a tablet, and I uploaded a copy of my passport, which was a nice feature instead of having to find my physical passport and wait for it to be returned if a manual scan was necessary.

Food at the resort focuses on local ingredients and regional flavours. The menu includes fresh seafood, tropical fruits, and traditional dishes from Bahia, along with more familiar international options. With its Relais & Châteaux membership, cuisine is an important element of a stay. It is one of the 5 C’s of the organisation, of which Txai meet all requirements in my opinion:

Character
Each property must have a strong sense of individuality and personality. Relais & Châteaux places are not standardised hotels; they reflect their history, location, architecture, and the vision of their owners.

Courtesy
Hospitality is central. Service should be warm, personal, and sincere, rather than formal or scripted. Guests are meant to feel genuinely welcomed and cared for.

Calm
Properties should offer peace and a sense of well-being. Whether in the countryside, by the sea, or in a city, the atmosphere should encourage rest, comfort, and relaxation.

Charm
Charm refers to beauty, elegance, and atmosphere. This can come from design, surroundings, heritage, or small details, but it should feel natural rather than showy.

Cuisine
Food is a key pillar of Relais & Châteaux. The association places strong emphasis on high-quality dining, local ingredients, regional traditions, and culinary excellence, often led by recognised chefs. I enjoyed the food at the resort and was thankful for the resort being able to handle several special requests I had.

The resort also has a spa located on a hill overlooking the property. Treatments include massages and body therapies, and there are also yoga sessions offered from time to time. The spa is simple, designed mainly for rest. Txai offers several activities. These include walking trails through the surrounding forest, surfing lessons, kayaking, and horseback riding along the beach. The nearby town of Itacaré is known for surfing and has a relaxed, small-town feel, with local restaurants and shops. I visited Itacaré during my stay, and while I can recommend it, enjoying the beach at Txai, drinking coconut is much, much better than at a crowded public beach.

Txai also pays attention to environmental and social responsibility. The resort supports local communities by hiring locally and working with regional suppliers. There are also conservation efforts in place, including projects related to protecting wildlife and preserving the natural environment around the property. The service at the resort was another impressive surprise of my stay. Fantastic service-minded staff, mostly Bahian, which did an excellent job.

Overall, Txai Resort is a fantastic world-class resort because of its stunning location set in nature with a quiet, beautiful beach, lovely accommodation, fantastic service and great food. I highly recommend Txai for a relaxing holiday or as part of a road trip in Bahia, which is one of my favourite parts of South America.