Pousada Xai Mauá, a quiet romantic stay in Visconde de Mauá
Pousada Xai Mauá is a small, quiet pousada in Visconde de Mauá, in the Serra da Mantiqueira area of Resende, Rio de Janeiro. Many rooms have a balcony, and some have a fireplace or hot tub. It suits couples and celebrations, as long as you travel by car and want peace over nightlife.
Written by Valeria Romano
Published .
Updated
Mapiola is a travel blog: this is not the official website of Pousada Xai Mauá.
Where Pousada Xai Mauá is and how to get there
Pousada Xai Mauá is in Visconde de Mauá, part of the municipality of Resende in the state of Rio de Janeiro, surrounded by the green hills of the Serra da Mantiqueira. The address is on the RJ-151, in the Campo Alegre area.
It is not in the middle of the village. Guests say it is a fair walk to the shops, pharmacies and restaurants, and that the road has no shoulder and gets dark early. Mobile signal is also poor, so go by car and do not count on taxis or ride apps. The pousada has free private parking, which helps.
What the rooms and the garden are like
The pousada is small and cosy, with a flowery garden whose landscaping and lighting give it a romantic touch. The rooms have air conditioning, a private balcony, satellite TV, a private bathroom, a desk, a hair dryer and free toiletries. Room service and free Wi-Fi are also on offer.
The feature people talk about most is the bathroom. Some rooms have a whirlpool bath, and one guest mentions a hot tub with river water. Guests also describe rooms with a fireplace and a bathtub for two, and a little terrace with a hammock. One person noticed that there was no wardrobe, which is a small thing, but good to know for longer stays.
Several guests call the rooms spacious and comfortable, and the chalets get the same praise. It is the sort of place where the room is part of the holiday.
What guests highlight about Pousada Xai Mauá
On Google it scores 4.6 from 299 opinions, and the praise follows a few clear lines.
- The staff. Many guests mention warm, attentive service. Couples celebrating a honeymoon or an anniversary say the team helped with the occasion, including a surprise set up in the room.
- The breakfast. It is described as fresh and tasty, with homemade bread, tapioca and eggs made to order, and the birds in the garden are a nice extra. One guest wished it started earlier, and another found it simple though well served.
- The cleanliness and the calm. Rooms are tidy and spotless, and the whole place feels intimate.
- The small extras. A courtesy afternoon snack is mentioned, and in the evening the pousada serves soups, pizza and omelettes, which matters because few restaurants open on weekdays.
What to know before you book
This is a peaceful pousada, but it has weak points, and some of them are serious. Here is how the good and the bad compare.
| What works well | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|
| Comfortable rooms with hot tub or fireplace | A guest found no wardrobe, and another had no hot water in the shower |
| Warm, helpful staff | One guest says nobody from the pousada is on site at night |
| Quiet, green setting | Loud neighbours were a problem for one couple |
| Free private parking | Far from the village on foot, with poor signal |
The two harshest reviews tell of heavy rain that flooded a room, a power cut and no signal until late evening, and of booking and check-in confusion. These are isolated accounts, but the setting is exposed to bad weather, so it is wise to check conditions before a long drive.
Who Pousada Xai Mauá is for
I would pick Pousada Xai Mauá for a romantic break, a honeymoon or an anniversary, when you want a hot tub, a fireplace and a good breakfast, and you are happy to stay in. With a car, it is a lovely base to disconnect.
I would not recommend it to travellers without a car, to families who want things to do on site, or to anyone who needs total silence and round-the-clock reception. The pousada itself says nothing about big attractions, and guests agree that it offers few.
What to do around Visconde de Mauá
Visconde de Mauá is a mountain area known for nature and waterfalls. The information on the pousada mentions the Cachoeira do Escorrega, the Pedra Selada and the Finnish Museum as places that visitors reach from here.
My tip is to plan your days with a car, have lunch in the village while it is open, and come back to the garden and the hot tub in the afternoon. That way the pousada stays what it does best, a cosy place to rest after a day outdoors.
Passionate about travel and about the kind of places that turn a getaway into something unforgettable. I love writing about hotels, country houses and charming hideaways, helping every traveller find the perfect place to rest and feel at home.
