Pousada Americana

Located on the atlantic coast... The Pousada has sixteen rooms available - twelves rooms with one double bed, two rooms with two double beds, one room with one double bed and one bunk bed, and one room with one double bed and one single bed. All rooms have a private bathroom with shower, a fully-equipped kitchen, television, and a porch with patio furniture and hammock. The Pousada also has a swimming pool with plenty of area for sunbathing and relaxing, a steam sauna, two barbecue areas, a play area for children, and a large game room. Breakfast is provided daily from 8:00 to 10:00 am.

The beach and the Atlantic Ocean are a ten-minute walk from the Pousada. Several restaurants and small stores are also within easy walking distance. Regular bus service throughout the day and cabs provide easy access to Rio, Niterói, and other areas if you do not wish to rent a car. (Free protected parking is available for guests with cars.) We also offer very reasonably priced personalized tours starting at $25 for a four-hour walking tour of downtown Rio for one or two people.

Ecotourism
Pousada Americana is located in the Distrito de Maricá (Maricá County) in the State of Rio de Janeiro. This area is the gateway to the Região dos Lagos (Lakes Region) of Rio, which is noted for its numerous beaches, salt water lakes and lagoons, and hills and mountains with many hiking trails. At the far east end of the Região dos Lagos is the Macaé Biological Reserve, site of one of the few large patches of near virgin Mata Atlântica (coastal tropical forest) and home to the endangered Golden Lion Tamarin.

The Mata Atlântica is noted for its wide diversity of plant and insect life. A large number of bird species can also be found. When The Beagle stopped in Rio for several months in 1832, three years prior to its arrival in the Galapagos Islands, Charles Darwin made a two-week journey through the Lakes Region. During this journey, Darwin's observations of the numerous varieties of insects, particularly beetles, which were unknown in Europe marked the beginning of the shift in his primary scientific focus from geology to biology and the eventual development of his theory of evolution.

Unfortunately, the Lakes Region is under considerable development pressure these days. Population growth in the greater Rio area and improving economic conditions have lead to a construction boom which has swallowed large areas of farm and forest. Many local residents have begun to take note of the changes around them, however, and are coming to the realization that, while unbridled development may bring benefits to some, the quality of life of the entire region is at risk. As a result, a small but growing movement has sprung up to protect the natural and cultural resources and to make the general population more aware of their heritage. It is our hope here at Pousada Americana that our efforts to bring tourists from all over the world to this area will help demonstrate the value of protecting these resources.