Where to Stay in Arraial do Cabo: Best Areas, Hotels & Travel Tips

Want to know where to stay in Arraial do Cabo without breaking the bank? My first tip: if possible, book your accommodation in advance. The so-called “Brazilian Caribbean”, located in the Região dos Lagos area (Lakes Region) of Rio de Janeiro, gets packed on long weekends and during the summer. So if you’re traveling in high season, it’s best to secure a nice place to stay as early as you can.

But what are the best hotels and guesthouses in Arraial do Cabo, and which areas are the best to stay in? Here, I’ll share my favorite locations based on the wonderful trips I’ve taken there, and I’ll also suggest well-rated hotels and pousadas (guest houses) in each area.

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Where to stay in Arraial do Cabo: best areas

In my opinion, the best place to stay in Arraial do Cabo is Praia dos Anjos, especially if convenience is a priority for you. From there, you can walk to lots of places. Other great options are Praia Grande and Prainha, and you can also stay in the city center or the beautiful Pontal do Atalaia.

Some people choose to stay in other cities nearby, like Cabo Frio or Búzios, and just visit Arraial for the day. But unless you’re really short on time and want to combine multiple beaches in one trip, I recommend spending at least one night there.

However, it’s good to know that accommodations in Arraial do Cabo aren’t exactly known for being luxurious. There are comfortable options, but if you’re looking for something more high-end, you’ll likely have better luck in Búzios or Cabo Frio.

So, ready for the best areas to stay in Arraial do Cabo? I’ll go over the pros and cons of each one and recommend places to stay for different types of travelers and budgets.

Praia dos Anjos: central location

On both of my trips to the city, I chose to stay in Praia dos Anjos. It’s not a beach for swimming—it serves as a harbor for fishing boats and tour boats—but I still consider it an excellent area to stay in Arraial.

Praia dos Anjos is very central, offers a wide range of accommodations, and has plenty of shops, bars, and restaurants around. You can also walk from there to some of the main local attractions, like Praia do Forno and Praia Grande. And this is where the boat tours depart for the more remote beaches, such as the Prainhas do Pontal do Atalaia.

Among the pousadas in Praia dos Anjos, some highlights are the rustic and charming Estalagem do Porto; the pretty Arraial Inn, which has a small pool and rooms with balconies; Solar dos Anjos, with beautiful views; and Costa Dourada, a very simple but very well-reviewed stay (9.2 rating on Booking).

Thalassa Pousada is another great budget-friendly option, as is Paraíso do Atlântico. Canto da Canoa has suites with ocean views, and the staff receives tons of praise.

Praia Grande: lively vibes and sunset views

As the name suggests, Praia Grande is really big—it’s the largest beach in the city. It’s also the busiest one, but since the stretch of sand is so long, it’s a good option if you’re visiting during high season and want a bit more space, since smaller beaches like Praia do Forno get packed. This one, however, is an ocean beach, with stronger waves.

There’s also solid infrastructure there, with shops, kiosks, bars, and restaurants that tend to stay lively at night. And from Praia Grande, you can walk to the city center. The sunset from here is beautiful. A great bonus on your way back to the hotel or pousada after a day in the sun.

Praia Grande doesn’t have a huge number of places to stay, but one highly rated option is Pousada Caminho do Sol, which has a pool and a restaurant. Other good choices nearby include Pousada do Timoneiro, with pools and a great location, and Acuario Pousada, right in front of the beach.

Prainha: calm waters

Prainha is farther from the city center, but it’s still a relatively convenient area to stay in Arraial do Cabo, close to several attractions. The beach itself is beautiful, with calm waters, and it has plenty of kiosks and beach stalls.

In Prainha, you’ll find the super charming Pousada da Prainha, which was renovated a few years ago and has a pool and a restaurant—today, it’s one of the best in the city. You’ll also find hotels like Mediterranée and Ocean View.

Pontal do Atalaia: panoramic views

One of the most stunning areas in Arraial do Cabo, Pontal do Atalaia sits farther from the city center. It’s inside a gated community, but public access is allowed. You just can’t enter with your own car unless you’re staying there.

If you want to visit the Prainhas do Pontal do Atalaia, you can go by boat or walk down the iconic staircase from the Pontal. This is also where you access Praia Brava. And of course, the views from the top are incredible, especially at sunset.

This is a great place to stay in Arraial if you want something more secluded, “exclusive,” or romantic (and if you have a car, since walking means tackling some serious hills).

Here, the idea is to rent a vacation home, with more privacy and the option to cook. Some of the most charming stays in Pontal do Atalaia include the stunning Casa Mar da Grécia, with three bedrooms and a beautiful white-and-blue design; Casa Arraial do Cabo, also gorgeous; and Casa Corazul, which is also highly rated and more budget-friendly.

Cabo Frio and Búzios

As I mentioned before, I think it’s more enjoyable to stay at least one or two nights in Arraial itself. But if you have a car and want more nightlife options or a fancier place to stay, it’s worth checking out accommodations in Cabo Frio or Búzios.

How to Stay in Arraial do Cabo for Free

How about staying in Arraial do Cabo without paying for accommodation? That’s totally possible through a Worldpackers volunteer experience — a platform where you contribute a few hours of work per week helping your host with the tasks they need, in exchange for free accommodation and sometimes extra perks like meals or local activities.

There are several volunteer opportunities in and around Arraial do Cabo, including hostels, guesthouses, eco-projects, and social initiatives. You can browse all the available positions for free, check the descriptions, and read reviews from travelers who have volunteered there before. If you like one (or several!), just apply and wait for the host’s response.

To apply for positions and contact hosts, you need to pay an annual membership fee that helps keep the platform running. The current price is USD 59 per year, or USD 49 if you click here or use the code JANELASABERTAS at checkout, giving you a $10 discount.

Want to dig deeper? Check out our complete guide to volunteering while traveling.

Planning a trip to Arraial do Cabo: what to know before you go

How to get to Arraial do Cabo
From Rio de Janeiro (the capital) to Arraial do Cabo it’s about 160 km, and getting there by car is very straightforward. If you’re taking a bus, there are departures from Novo Rio Bus Station and, during high season, from Galeão Airport as well. You’ll arrive at the terminal in the city center, and from there you can walk to Praia dos Anjos.

How many days should you stay in Arraial do Cabo?
I recommend spending at least two full days so you can take a boat tour, visit the main beaches, and enjoy your favorite one without rushing. If you have more time, there are other attractions, like hiking trails and diving. I did my first scuba dive in Arraial and loved it.

When is the best time to visit Arraial do Cabo?
If possible, avoid peak summer, holidays, and weekends. In my opinion, the best time to visit is fall, especially April and May, when the weather is still warm, it rains very little, and there are fewer people. Winter and spring can also be good, but it’s worth checking the forecast. Starting in mid-October, it tends to rain more.

What are the best beaches in Arraial do Cabo?
Praia do Forno, Prainhas do Pontal do Atalaia, Prainha, Praia do Pontal, and Praia Grande are the nicest ones. You can visit some of them on a boat tour, while others are walkable from downtown and Praia dos Anjos.

I hope you enjoyed these tips on where to stay in Arraial. Have a great trip!

If you book your stay through the links in this post, Janelas Abertas earns a small commission that helps me keep creating more content—and you don’t pay anything extra for it. Transparency is a core value around here.