Founded in 2019 by Brazilian-Swedish couple Natalia and Jimmy Furland in their first venture into hospitality, Casana led the way in creating a luxury destination on Brazil’s northeastern coast. The resort was built from the couple’s shared love of kitesurfing on the shores of Praia do Preá in Ceará, where powerful trade winds and expansive beaches create world-leading conditions for the sport. With its seven stylish bungalows and discreet, highly personalized service, Casana has become a firm favorite among the country’s most adventurous and in-the-know travelers.
The Furlands now bring this same spirit to Ilha do Caju, one of the world's largest privately owned islands located in the Parnaíba River Delta in the state of Maranhão, set to open in June 2027. The 10,000 hectare private island will offer guests the chance to discover an incredibly unique natural environment of protected mangroves, waterways and extraordinary coastline. Exclusively available as a whole-property buyout, with eight bedrooms across three cottages sleeping up to 16, the island's diverse landscapes and abundant wildlife creates a secluded base for adventure.
This new chapter comes as the family launches their own foundation, The Maremangue Institute, demonstrating their commitment to investing in the community, with plans to support local children’s education, sporting programs and facilities. Local employment on property is a key focus, with an entirely Brazilian staff providing significant jobs for the communities in both Preá and the area surrounding Ilha do Caju. These initiatives reflect the Furlands’ vision for bespoke stays rooted in these unique destinations, while ensuring the property’s legacy continues to have a meaningful impact for the surrounding community.
CASANA: EXCLUSIVE PRIVACY ROOTED IN ADVENTURE
Each of Casana's seven spacious, thatched-roof bungalows is completely private, several featuring their own infinity pool and sea views across Praia do Preá's coastline. The architecture combines natural materials, soft textures and open-air living with beautiful outdoor bathroom facilities, while contemporary interiors make the most of the light, space and colors of the surrounding landscape.
The beach lies at the heart of the Casana experience, with guests enjoying direct access to the most renowned kitesurfing destination in Brazil. Strong winds and open coastline make Casana an unrivaled place to experience the sport, whether guests are seasoned riders or getting out on the water for the first time. Bespoke itineraries are built around the region’s landscapes, with 1-1 kitesurfing sessions, guided outings and heli-kiting adventures on offer from Casana's own helipad. Guests can travel by 4x4 or dune buggies to freshwater lagoons around Jericoacoara or venture further along the coast to discover quieter corners of the region.
The spa offers a tranquil setting for restorative, Brazilian inspired treatments, complemented by a sauna, cold immersion therapy and steam room. Three massage rooms offer treatments guided by specialised therapists and suited to each guest's needs. Yoga sessions at daybreak or dusk offer a further moment of stillness, set against the sound of the waves. Meanwhile, the kitchen draws on the flavours of Ceará, with locally sourced seafood and produce shaping fresh, seasonal menus. Service is intuitive and personally curated, with a dedicated team on hand to understand each guest's preferences and tailor every element of the stay accordingly.
ILHA DO CAJU: ONE OF THE LARGEST PRIVATELY OWNED ISLANDS ON BRAZIL’S UNTAMED COAST
Opening in June 2027, Ilha do Caju will offer an adventure-led private island experience, located in the Parnaíba River Delta in the state of Maranhão, one of Brazil’s most remote and lesser-known landscapes also on the northeastern coast. With eight bedrooms across three cottages, the expansive island sleeps up to 16 people, creating a highly personalized experience exclusively available for a whole-property private buyout. Accessed either via a one-hour helicopter or four-hour car and boat ride from Casana, Ilha do Caju is designed to immerse guests fully in its five distinct natural environments, spanning mangroves, coastal scrubland, sand dunes, freshwater lagoons and salt flats.
Alongside kitesurfing, experiences will include exploring the island by dune buggy or quad bike, swimming in freshwater lagoons, kayaking, paddle boarding and boat trips into the delta, where guests can witness thousands of native scarlet ibis - striking, vivid-red wading birds that inhabit the region - returning to the mangroves at dusk. Ilha do Caju will have an in-house biologist to ensure the conservation of the wildlife remains at the forefront of the guest experience, curating experiences that help guests learn about the incredibly unique nature of the island. Families of capybaras graze near the cottages, while caimans can be spotted on the many freshwater lakes, alongside a huge variety of birdlife across the island, making each excursion an opportunity to experience the region's remarkable wildlife in its natural habitat. Local employment is central to the project, with an entirely Brazilian staff supporting the communities in both Preá and the area surrounding Ilha do Caju through significant job creation.
Between adventures, the pace slows at the property itself. The expansive pool, vast decking area and treatment rooms, surrounded by native cacti and cashew trees that grow abundantly across the island, provide space in abundance to recharge. Even the design reflects the spirit of exploration, with the island's natural environment shaping the experience at every turn. Among its most striking features is the preserved skeleton of a Bryde’s whale that washed ashore, which will be on display as a powerful reminder of the remote landscape beyond. Produce from the property’s own organic kitchen garden will inform the culinary offering, coupled with locally inspired cocktails infused with herbs and fruits grown on the island. The property itself is almost entirely powered by solar energy, installed with an off grid solar and battery facility.
ACCESS
Casana and Ilha do Caju can be reached internationally from Fortaleza airport (FOR) and domestically via Jericoacoara airport (JJD). From the US, flights from many large cities connect via São Paulo with LATAM, United, American Airlines and Delta. From Europe, TAP Air Portugal offers the most direct route via Lisbon with flights to Fortaleza in approximately 7 hours 40 minutes, followed by car and private boat transfer. There are also direct flights to Fortaleza from Paris and Madrid. Onward travel to Casana and Ilha do Caju is by private car, private plane and boat or helicopter transfer.
