Twenty-Five Years by the Sea
Our story
Twenty-five years ago, a peninsula in Governador Celso Ramos became home to an idea: to create a place where guests would feel genuinely cared for, with the Atlantic Forest behind them and the calm waters of Brazil’s Emerald Coast ahead.
Awasi Santa Catarina opened in 2001. In the years since, guests have returned as familiar faces, while team members have built careers, friendships and families. Some of those who welcomed the earliest arrivals are still here today, carrying with them a history that cannot be found in an archive.
The property has grown carefully. Less than eight percent of the land has been built on, while more than 15,000 native tree seedlings have been planted across the peninsula.
In 2008, the organic garden began supplying the kitchen with flowers, fruits and vegetables. Organic waste returns to the garden as compost, native bee colonies help pollinate it and the surrounding forest, and Chef Dani Damasceno works closely with regional producers.
Along the coast, mariculture has long been part of daily life, with oysters cultivated nearby and local fishing traditions still marked by the annual mullet season. Beyond the shore, the protected waters around Arvoredo Island are home to sea turtles and shoals of fish.
Many members of the team come from the surrounding region, some with close ties to local fishing families. Their knowledge can be felt throughout a stay: in the ingredients served, the stories shared and the small details that connect guests to this part of Brazil.
Most recently, the Wellness Center opened, adding spa treatments, yoga and meditation overlooking the ocean.
Twenty-five years on, guests who first visited decades ago still return to find some of the same faces here to welcome them.
That is the history we celebrate.
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