BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO START & RESTART

A beautiful start can begin with a recharge. We found a wonderful place to do that high in the mountains of Brazil. The Botanique Hotel & Spa just got its own beautiful start when it opened last year. It is a truly special place.

Photo: Courtesy of Trajeto Turismo. Campos do Jordao.

Botanique is about a 2 hour drive from São Paulo, near the Swiss-style town of Campos do Jordão, affectionately known as the Brazilian Hamptons. There’s no beach here and no ocean drive. But there is plenty of natural beauty and pampered exclusivity to enjoy. The Davos Climatology Conference declared the Campos do Jordão as the world’s best climate.

Photo: Courtesy of Miraviva. Botanique Hotel and Spa in Brazil.

The Botanique offers the perfect form of eco-luxe. Designed by São Paulo–based architecture firm Candida Tabet Arquitetura, the contemporary structures emphasizes the dramatic landscape of the Bairro dos Mellos river valley and Mantiqueira Mountains beyond.

Photo: Courtesy of The Luxury Spot. Botanique Hotel and Spa in Brazil.

It was built using locally sourced materials, including massive timbers reclaimed from 220 year-old farms from the state of Minas Gerais, along with slabs of chocolate slate and massive natural stone. Soaring glass walls let you see the glory of the hills and valleys that surround you. Bespoke furnishings and original art offer even more visual joy and comfort.

There’s no front desk when you check in. Rather, a personal curator meets, greets, and caters to your every need.

 

Photo: Courtesy of Double Bay Americas. Botanique Hotel and Spa in Brazil.

The resort is set among 700 acres. The heart of the property is the spectacular spa and restaurant. It is surrounded by 11 villas and 6 suites, each named after famous botanists, all outfitted with 1,000 thread-count sheets among other luscious amenities. The villas each come with a garden, complete with an al fresco tub and plunge pool.

Photo: Courtesy of Condé Nast Traveler. Botanique Hotel and Spa in Brazil.

Botanique boasts the most sophisticated spa and wellness center in South America, with 10,000 square feet of space, cut into the hillside, encompassing eight specialized treatment rooms, a sauna with a rain shower, a floating chamber, an indoor isotonic pool, and relaxation rooms.

Photo: Courtesy of Blame it on Bossa Nova. Botanique Hotel and Spa in Brazil.

Signature treatments are based on Afro-Brazilian and Native Indian biodiversity. A local professor, specializing in aromatherapy, created 28 scented massage oils from ingredients in the local mountains.

Photo: Courtesy of Blog da Mariah. Botanique Hotel and Spa in Brazil.

Recharge your taste buds, along with the rest of your body, as you feed on foraged berries and other wild foods, including exotica such as ferns and bark, all gathered and prepared by worldclass chefs.

Photo: Courtesy of Travel + Leisure. Botanique Hotel and Spa in Brazil.

They work magic with the resort’s homegrown fruits, vegetables, and other local ingredients, serving up contemporary Brazilian farm-to-fork cuisine. There is a menu of regional waters, with tasting notes by a geologist to keep you quenched, along with a interesting range of artisanal wines and coffees.  

Photo: Courtesy of Blog da Mariah. Botanique Hotel and Spa in Brazil.

Even the music will recharge you. The Botanique playlist includes hundreds of rare Brazilian records. Or, enjoy private performances on the grand piano as you drift away.

Photo: Courtesy of Fla Romani. Botanique Hotel and Spa in Brazil.

Botanique also offers a private cinema, equestrian center with world champion horses, gym, library, lounge, indoor and outdoor pools, clay tennis courts, and a swimmable lake. There are plenty of other activities to keep you stimulated, including capoeira classes, bird watching, mountain biking, and a wide range of hikes.

Photo: Courtesy of Do Jeito H. Botanique Hotel and Spa in Brazil.

So, if you are looking for a wonderful place to restart your mind, body and soul this year, we can think of no better place for a beautiful start than this.

Photo: Courtesy of Teresa Perez Tours. Botanique Hotel and Spa in Brazil.

Read more about Beautiful Starts, as they relate to Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact, including 10 New Books Full of Sparks, A New Start to the Universe, Beautiful Starts to Your Day, and 10 Songs About Beauty in Starts.

 

Enter this week’s BN Competition. Our theme this week is Beautiful Starts. Send in your images and ideas. Deadline is 01.12.14.

Photo: Courtesy of InterActiveMediaSW.

Also, check out our special competition: The Most Beautiful Sound in the World! We are thrilled about this effort, together with SoundCloud and The Sound Agency. Finalists are announced and voting has begun! Cast your vote and help us choose the winner!