T he Praia do Sonho beach, on the Papagaio Island, in Palhoça, Santa Catarina, is the Sehn family's permanent battleground in their struggle for conservation. The family installed the Pousada Ilha do Pagagaio naming all the chalets after the neighboring islands. 80 percent of the nearly 150,000 sq. meters are covered with native forest, sheltering local wildlife and crossed by signposted trails.

T he cuisine is based on produce from a marine farm owned by the hotel, which produces mussels and oysters. Watching the seascape can be more than an enjoyable pastime. In winter, the area is a refuge for Frank whales, that come to breed. With the whales come some of the hotel's annual "patients" - penguins - that are fed and cared for until they recover their energy to continue their "trek" to the Antarctic.