I had heard great things about the Pouso do Tapeceiro (the weaver's place) and about Henrique, the master craftsman himself, but still didn't know what to expect. Nobody I spoke to had ever heard of Gamboa, and there are no comments about the pousada on Trip Advisor, so I was kind of in the same situation as you!

This is indeed a hidden place, and to get here without a car you will either have to get one of the very irregular buses (only 4 a day) from Florianopolis, or get an intercity bus in the direction of Porto Alegre, get off at Paulo Lopes and taxi from there. However once you are here you are in for a wonderful surprise. The seven suites in the pousada are all  newly built and light and airy and set in a fabulous park of 10,000 sq mtrs, but none are the same. All have en-suite bathrooms and great views of the gardens or the bay but some have kitchens, some don't; some have seperate bedrooms for kids, some have bunk beds, some just have a double bed. Just tell Henrique what you want and he will try to organise it. Once you have settled in you'll find the TV and DVD room in Henrique's atelier- an amazing place full of his looms and wall hangings and rugs, which show just what a true artist can achieve using almost entirely recycled materials- trash, leftover fabrics and threads, natural materials and beach detritus.

I came thinking this would be more a place for students or "new age" travellers, and indeed you may well have to make your own bed, bring your own soap and ask for new bedsheets and towels as needed. But Henrique's idea is that you should feel entirely at home, cook in the apartment if you prefer, borrow the DVDs if you want to watch a film, do one of the many courses they run or just chill out  by the pool or on the beach nearby. For people who appreciate art and nature and peace and tranquility, or who like bird watching, whalewatching or sandboarding, and of course for those who want to learn to weave, this place is really hard to beat.