Orlanova Boutique Hotel

There is a straightforward reason to choose this small hotel: you stay beside the sand, with the beach at your feet and a balcony or sea view to return to. Orlanova Boutique Hotel suits divers who would rather spend their non-diving hours close to the water than in a large resort built around facilities they may never use.

The atmosphere is intimate and practical. Air conditioning, a minibar, room service, WiFi and a 24-hour front desk cover the useful parts of a diving day, while the beachfront setting does the rest. You can come back tired, cool down in your room, and decide whether the evening calls for the balcony or a short walk into town.

You are in Arraial do Cabo, Brazil, on Avenida Roberto Silveira beside Praia dos Anjos. The hotel has direct access to the sandy beach, and Anjos Beach is also described as a two-minute walk away. Forno Beach is about half a mile away, while Praia Grande and Prainha are each roughly 0.7 miles from the property.

The location keeps everyday logistics pleasantly short. The Oceanographic Museum is about 0.1 mile away, Cova Square is at a similar distance, and Arraial do Cabo bus station is around 0.4 miles away on foot. Atalaia View is about 1.2 miles away by walking route, giving you a destination for a stroll when sitting still has become harder than it sounded at breakfast.

The room choice is mainly about how much space and privacy you want at the end of the day. Couples can look towards the suite categories, with the Deluxe Master Suite offering the most room and the Deluxe Suite giving you a generous base without moving into the largest option. The Deluxe Junior Suite is the more compact choice for two, while the Deluxe Triple Room is the practical arrangement for three, with a king-size bed and a single bed.

Every room has air conditioning, a minibar, a flat-screen TV, a desk and a private bathroom with a walk-in shower. That combination is more useful than a long list of decorative extras: chilled drinks, a proper shower and somewhere to sit or work when your legs have had enough. Sea views and balconies add the part you will notice most, especially when the light changes over Praia dos Anjos.

The rooms are non-smoking and use tiled or marble floors. WiFi is available throughout the hotel, and daily housekeeping keeps the return from the beach pleasantly uncomplicated. Upper floors are reached by stairs only, so the room floor matters if stairs are not your favourite post-dive exercise.

Breakfast is served as a buffet each morning, giving you the simplest possible start before heading out: take what you need, eat at your own pace, and get on with the day. The hotel also offers room service, which becomes useful when the appetite arrives but the enthusiasm for going back out has not.

For lunch or dinner, you have several restaurants close by rather than a hotel dining programme to plan around. Restaurante à Mineira is about 500 feet away, Restaurante Tio Dorp around 550 feet, and Saint Tropez roughly 600 feet from the hotel. The main local gastronomic area is also within easy reach, so you can choose between eating beside the beach and making a short outing of it.

The beach is the main leisure facility here, and it is a fairly convincing one. Direct access to the sand lets you trade a formal afternoon programme for a swim, a walk along Praia dos Anjos or a balcony with a sea view. After a day in a wetsuit, that lack of ceremony can be exactly the point.

When you want to move further afield, the hotel offers boat excursions. The nearby Porto do Forno is the departure point for these outings, while the Oceanographic Museum, Cova Square, Independence Square and the local parks give you alternatives on land. Atalaia View is around 1.2 miles away on foot, and the RESEX Marinha de Arraial do Cabo is about 1.3 miles from the hotel by the listed route. There is enough nearby to fill a non-diving day without pretending that every minute needs organising.

Oriente Sub, 384 m from the hotel, affiliated with SSI.

Cabo Frio International Airport is approximately 6 miles from the hotel by the stated location information. Private parking is available on site, and the property has a 24-hour front desk. If you are arriving by bus, the Arraial do Cabo terminal is about 0.4 miles away on foot.

Check-in starts from 14:00 and check-out is by 11:00. You need photo identification and a credit card at check-in, and the hotel asks you to share your expected arrival time. Children of any age are welcome; children aged five and over are charged as adults. Cots and extra beds are not available, and pets are not allowed.

Payment is made in cash, with payment before arrival by bank transfer forming part of the booking arrangements. WiFi is free throughout the property. The upper floors are accessible by stairs only, a small but worthwhile detail to factor in when choosing your room.