Sea-view hot tub in Guarapari: how to use it at the cabin

To enjoy the hot tub at the Cavalo Marinho and Ouriço do Mar cabins, in Guarapari, the starting point is the time of day. The private spa for up to four people is filled for each use and takes about an hour to heat up after the temperature is set. With preparation started early, the bath happens unhurried, with the sea in the background.

What is the hot tub like at the Argos cabins in Guarapari?

The two A-frame cabins are in the north of Guarapari, measure 69 m² and have sea views from every room. In each unit's outdoor area, reserved exclusively for its guests, the spa shares the space with the hammock, the outdoor shower and the fire pit grill. The tub has hydromassage jets, heating with adjustable temperature and headrests, and holds up to four people, the same capacity as the cabin.

The equipment belongs to the unit: the water is changed for each use and the timing is up to the guests. This autonomy comes with a few simple rules, gathered in each cabin's guest guide.

How long does it take to fill and heat the hot tub?

Heating takes about an hour after the temperature is set; adding the time to fill it, preparation starts between an hour and a half and two hours before the bath, in five steps:

1. Open the black valve between the spa and the wooden side wall and let the water rise until it is just above all the jets.
2. Close the valve and only then turn on the hydromassage, which will not start if the water does not cover all the jets.
3. Choose a temperature between 36 °C and 38 °C, with 40 °C as the ceiling, and check the red light, the sign that heating is on.
4. With the water heated, take a quick rinse in the outdoor shower before getting in and keep drinking water and towels within reach.
5. When finished, turn off the hydromassage and drain the water, wrapping up before 10 pm.

For a sunset bath, that means opening the valve about two hours before the sun goes down. When the hydromassage does not start, the most common reason is water below the jets. If the equipment still does not respond with the water at the right level, the first thing to check is the circuit breakers, located behind the door, inside the bathroom.

What is the best time to use the hot tub?

Since each use calls for fresh water and an hour of heating, it is worth choosing one or two moments a day instead of many short baths. Three windows usually work well.

Late afternoon is the most popular: the sun loses strength, the low light spreads over the island and the sea, and the bath flows into dinner. The night, after the meal, brings open skies and pleasant temperatures for most of the year; ideally, the bath should end before 10 pm, when the cabins' quiet hours begin, lasting until 8 am. Early morning, before the heat, suits those who wake up with the day: in Guarapari, in late spring, the sun rises around 5 am, sometimes a little earlier.

On very hot days, the best use may be at a lower temperature, almost lukewarm, as a restful dip between the beach and lunch. On the cooler days of the Espírito Santo winter, the warm water turns the night in the outdoor area into a complete program. In any window, as a general guideline, baths of 15 to 20 minutes, with breaks out of the water, tend to be more comfortable than a long soak.

With the water ready at 6 pm, the late afternoon happens on the deck: the sea in the background and dinner a few steps away.

Which precautions make the bath more comfortable and safe?

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that hot tub water not exceed 40 °C (104 °F), the same limit set by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which considers a temperature of about 38 °C (100 °F) safe for healthy adults. For pregnant women, the CPSC points to a risk in water above about 39 °C (102 °F) during the first three months, and the safest path is to consult a doctor beforehand. The CDC also advises that children under five should not use hot tubs and recommends a quick shower before getting in, which the cabin's outdoor shower makes easy.

The CDC advises against drinking alcohol before or during a hot tub bath, and the CPSC warns that drinking while soaking in hot water can cause drowsiness and lead to drowning. Keeping drinking water nearby, taking breaks and getting out at the first sign of dizziness are simple precautions. Children should never be left unattended in the spa, a rule that also applies to the fire pit and to the whole plan for a night in the cabin's outdoor area.

How to combine the hot tub, hammock and fire pit in the same stay?

The outdoor area brings together three activities, and the experience is better when they do not compete. The hammock fills the heating hour well: while the water warms up, the afternoon passes slowly, with the sea ahead. On a two-night stay, the middle day has room for an afternoon at the beach, a late-afternoon bath and a barbecue over the fire pit, while a single night calls for choosing one focus, as the guide one or two nights at the cabin shows.

Those who plan to cook can get dinner started before getting into the water; the list of what to bring to cook at the cabin helps put together a simple meal for the grill. For the next morning, Boião Beach, with calm water, is right in the cabins' neighborhood. With a beach nearby and a hot tub at home, the trip settles into a rhythm that alternates short outings and long rests, with no traffic in between.

Frequently asked questions