Flair and indigenous style unveiled in Brazil

In Campos do Jordao, Brazil – midway between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro – a fresh, new luxury retreat has made its debut. TheBotanique Hotel & Spaisa visionary project developed by a group of entrepreneurs that has set the benchmark in Brazil for design, services and above all, authenticity.

Conceptualised by Ricardo and Fernanda Semler, the hotel and spa has been created with the support of David Cole, co-founder of AOL, and Body Shop founder Gordon Roddick. Each of them has made an indelible mark in their fields of business and, as such, have contributed their expertise and innovative flair at each stage of the hotel’s development.

This dynamic entrepreneurial team has created a modern and socially responsible retreat that embraces Brazil’s indigenous nature and mountainous vistas. Each of the design elements – from the choice of building materials to the interiors and unique services on offer – has been thoughtfully handpicked to offer guests a true insight into the Brazilian way of life.

Designed by leading Sao Paulo architectural firm Candida Tabet Arquiteura, Botanique Hotel & Spa favours space and provides a tranquil environment for guests to switch off. The property is made up of six spacious suites connected to the main building and eleven private villas with up to 600 sq m of private gardens scattered across 7000 sq m of lush vegetation. The main building is the centrepiece of the property and houses a spectacular lounge, a cinema, a library with over 400 titles, all by Brazilian authors, and the hotel’s fine dining restaurant Mina. And to maintain the hotel’s peaceful ambiance, a 1 kilometre non-motorized zone loops the property.

In keeping with the hotel concept, the experiences available at the spa are also truly Brazilian in flavour. The spa covers almost 1,000 sq m over two floors; there are eight treatment rooms – four for wet treatments and four for dry treatments, relaxation suites, saunas, an indoor pool and an outside pool surrounded by a swimmable lake and resting area.

Guests can also explore the densely forested landscape of Campos do Jordao on horseback with Olympic-standard horses from the hotel’s own stables, practice the Samba or Brazilian Tango with a professional dancer or learn how to make the national cocktail Caipirinha.