Onde ficar · Itacaré
OKA by Barracuda: the 3,500 m² house above Itacaré's rainforest
Set atop 62 hectares of Mata Atlântica, OKA by Barracuda has 3,500 m², nine suites, an 800 m² pool and rates starting at US$ 30,000 a night. Inside Itacaré's most expensive house.
At the highest point of a 62-hectare Atlantic Forest reserve above Costa do Resende, the house opens in a 270-degree arc toward the Atlantic. Itacaré lies far below; ahead, nothing but sea. This is where the Barracuda group has built OKA, a 3,500-square-meter residence rented in its entirety, to one group at a time, and which the group itself presents as the most luxurious private villa in Brazil.
Nine suites and an 800-square-meter pool
There are eight 45-square-meter suites and one 150-square-meter master suite, on two floors in a separate volume, with a private games gallery, wine cellar, gym and spa. The pool covers 800 square meters, with two 25-meter lanes, shallow areas and small indoor beaches. The spa has a water circuit, cold plunge, jacuzzi and sauna.
The stay is all-inclusive: full board with a private chef and a tailor-made menu, a bar and wine cellar with Brazilian labels, 24-hour concierge, airport transfer, a helipad and the group's guided activities, from surfing to hikes and trips on the Rio de Contas.
A house by Brazilian authors
The architecture is by Eduardo Ribeiro Leite, the same architect behind Barracuda Hotel & Villas, with Scandinavian and Brazilian references. The interiors are by Janice Miguel; the landscaping, by Sidney Linhares, began with a mapping of the existing trees before construction and the planting of native species in degraded areas, which he calls ecogenesis. In the living room, the furnishings include pieces by Oscar Niemeyer, Carlos Motta, Guilherme Wentz, Claudia Moreira Salles and Tiago Braga.
What it costs
The nightly rate starts at US$30,000, plus fees, around R$160,000 to 165,000 at the exchange rate of late October 2026. It is a level that did not exist in Itacaré: Barracuda's own most expensive villa was, in May, around R$33,000, and the top nightly rates at Trancoso's luxury hotels are around R$14,000.
Where Barracuda comes from
The group was born in 2005, when São Paulo hotelier Juliana Ghiotto, who had moved to Itacaré the year before, teamed up with her husband, the Itacaré-born surfer and diver Daniel Lima, and a group of Swedish friends. The name came from Daniel, after a fish he liked to see while spearfishing. Today the group has Barracuda Hotel, with 17 suites, and villas of four to eight suites on Costa do Resende, as well as the Oiti guest house in the historic center. The hotel received one Michelin Key in the 2025 guide, alongside Txai, and is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
Ten percent of the group's profit goes to the Instituto Yandê Itacaré, founded in 2021, which supports social projects in the town. According to the group, about 80% of OKA's staff come from Itacaré and the surrounding region.
Who it's for
For large families, groups of friends and celebrations that want an entire house with hotel service and no neighbors. For those looking for Barracuda on a more intimate scale, the hotel and villas are on the same property, and Oiti is in the center.
Details
- OKA by Barracuda: 3,500 m² residence, nine suites, 800 m² pool, spa and gym
- Where: 62-hectare Atlantic Forest reserve of the Barracuda group, Costa do Resende, Itacaré
- Rental: whole house only, one group at a time, everything included
- Nightly rate: from US$30,000, plus fees (around R$160,000 to 165,000, Oct 2026)
- Reservations: through the website thebarracuda.com.br
- In the guide: Barracuda Hotel and Villas
Photos: courtesy of Barracuda, published by Revista Business. With information from Barracuda, Revista Business (27/10/2026), Bloomberg Línea (28/06/2026), Turismo de Bolsillo (15/07/2026), Seu Dinheiro (05/05/2026), Elle Brasil, the Michelin Guide, Correio and the Banco Central (exchange rate).