Esther Ribeiro is from Bahia, Brasil. Extremely artistic and creative – her mosaics and paintings add a very personal touch to the house. She is also an accomplished garden designer and is very knowledgeable about the fauna and flora of the area.
She has desgined the garden based on native species and loves to show guests around. She has traveled extensively and lived in Europe for many years. Esther loves to receive visitors from abroad. She has a lot of enthusiasm for Paraty, its history and culture and natural beauty.
Zé Luiz, Esther’s partner, is Caicara, meaning a native from the region. The son of a traditional fishing family, Ze grew up in a small village. Here he learnt how to cook seafood using wonderful local recipes. He knows all the hidden trails around Paraty and is ready to show you its secrets.
Mike Harold is from England. He and Esther are business partners and have run many successful eco-tourist projects in Asia and S. America. Mike currently spends his time between Brazil and Washington. Having worked all over the world with environmental conservation projects Mike is excited to share Quinta da Floresta with you.
