Our Team

  • A woman with blonde hair dancing outdoors among tropical plants, wearing a cream-colored fur coat and a headband, smiling with eyes closed, surrounded by others during a lively outdoor celebration.

    Mara Miranda

    Mara is a certified massage therapist, yoga instructor, personal trainer, meditation guide, and Reiki master who brings more than two decades of holistic wellness experience to Maravilha Pousada.

    Raised just outside Rio de Janeiro, she later spent many years in Southern California, where she deepened her training in integrative healing practices. Her early life experiences cultivated a profound sense of empathy—one of the foundations of her work today.

    For over 20 years, Mara has supported private clients through somatic bodywork, therapeutic massage, breathwork sessions, and sound-bowl healing, always with a focus on creating a safe, restorative, and heart-centered environment.

    A mother of three and a four-time IFBB champion, Mara brings both strength and compassion to everything she does. She is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and English, allowing her to warmly welcome guests from around the world.

  • A smiling man with gray hair wearing a white long-sleeve shirt, standing indoors at night.

    Chris Wakeman

    Co-Founder

    Mara and Chris are co-founders of Maravilha Retreat Center and intend to create a Maravilhoso retreat — a place of serenity, peace and transformation.

    Chris is a certified yoga instructor (RYT-200 hours), Reiki (level 2), Vipassana meditator, cold therapy and breath work facilitator and an Ayahuasca ceremony facilitator and integrator.

  • A man smiling and leaning on a wooden railing outdoors, wearing a white T-shirt with a blue floral logo and the text "Maravilha Retreat Spa." There are trees and greenery in the background.

    Tiago

    Maintenance

    Tiago is our everything man and takes care of the maintenance of our property.

  • Three women standing outdoors, posing confidently for a photo. The first woman on the left wears glasses, a black hat, a white shirt, and a black apron with a logo. The middle woman wears a white dress with gold embroidery and sunglasses. The third woman on the right wears a white t-shirt with a logo and black pants. They are in a lush green setting with outdoor furniture and hanging decor.

    Neya & Eileen

    Hospitality

    Neya and Eileen are our master hospitality team! They provide all of our cooking and cleaning services.

  • Smiling man with curly hair tied in a bun, wearing a black shirt and backpack, standing on a rocky seaside with cliffs and the ocean in the background.

    Loan Perrini

    Tour Guide

    Born in Rio de Janeiro and raized in Búzios, Loan specializes in eco tourism. With over 12 years of experience and fluent in English and Spanish, he will take care of all your adventure needs — hidden hiking trails, bike rides, scuba diving, canoeing and anything else you desire to experience in Brazil. He doesn’t just want you to visit Búzios, but to feel it!

  • Black and white photo of two dogs on a rocky beach with a cliff and cacti in the background. One dog, a light-colored with a collar, is in profile and the other, a smaller, dark curly-haired dog, is being held on a leash.

    Aya and Tink

    Our Spirit Animals