The Best Boutique Hotels to Book in Brazil

The tranquil beach destination of Trancoso is perfectly suited to boutique hotel living, and you can have it all at Pousada Capim Santo. With its wooden, open-fronted bar draped in a cloak of verdant foliage and tropical flowers, the ecoresort blends in with its surroundings. Apartments have a crisp freshness to them, with their spacious white-and-blue furnishings and lace-curtained windows. Lounge in your balcony’s hammock or swim up to the pool bar for a cocktail.

Deep in the forest-covered Mantiqueira Mountains is a remote boutique hotel, where the goal is to be in greater harmony with nature. Water is sourced from one of the property’s numerous natural springs, and some ingredients served at the on-site restaurant come from the hotel’s organic farm. Rooms have lofty wooden ceilings and huge windows opening onto balconies with an expansive view of the forest.

When designing this Brazilian boutique hotel, founder Emmanuel Rengade drew from his philosophy that travel is about searching for personal connection and meaning. Nowhere is this more possible than when close to nature, which is why Pousada Picinguaba is impeccably located in an area where the mountains, Atlantic beaches and rainforest converge. The hotel runs surfing, hiking, boat trips and yoga sessions; however, with the on-site pool with a view and the private jacuzzis in some rooms, you may never want to leave the hotel.

On one of the cobbled, winding hillside streets in Rio’s creative Santa Teresa neighborhood is the Mama Ruisa Boutique Hotel. Set inside an old colonial mansion, the interior spaces, including the rooms, were designed and furnished by the owner, a collector of Brazilian furniture. There’s a distinct link to designers of the ’50s and ’60s, with the airy, high-ceilinged rooms featuring earthy tones, which blend seamlessly with the leafy surrounds. Take breakfast on the terrace, with views over Guanabara Bay.

Turquoise is the predominant color on the Casa Turquesa palette, including the wooden doors and window frames, the swimming pool and the leather couch in the living area. But that’s not out of place in Paraty, with its cheery fishing boats painted bright shades of purple, green, pink and yellow. The hotel, overlooking the harbor, is filled with warmth throughout, from the welcome on arrival to the carefully prepared meals.

If you’re looking for a boutique hotel with a bit of history, look no further than La Villa Bahia in Salvador’s Unesco World Heritage-listed historic center. Occupying two colonial villas from the 17th and 18th centuries, the hotel has taken great care to preserve the traditional essence of the buildings; antique wooden furniture with a shabby-chic vibe contrasts well with the modern bathrooms and beds. Two garden courtyards and a small pool offer secluded portals of relaxation.

For the more intrepid traveler who wants to break free of the well-trodden path, Solar da Ponte in Tiradentes is a great option. This historic settlement has retained its small-village atmosphere, and this elegant country house has plenty of traditional charm on display inside. The owners, a husband-wife team, are Brazilian and English, bringing sensibilities from both cultures to the space, particularly in the kitchen, which offers afternoon tea and regional dishes.

Are you heading to Brazil’s north coast, around the Parque Nacional de Jericoacoara? Be sure to look into the beachfront boutique resort of Rancho do Peixe. Each wooden beach bungalow features a palm-frond roof and contains a rustic-chic four-poster bed. Floral-motif cushions add pops of warmth and color to the bungalows, which sit within a peaceful coconut grove. The sprawling resort has plenty of places to relax in the shade by the water, and in true Brazilian style, there’s even a soccer field.