Brazil invites you to meet five luxury hotels that lead global rankings

They rank among the best in the world. For pleasure or bleisure trips, these venues have been renovated and offer a combination of nature and design that does not go unnoticed. Located in the most important cities or on the most attractive beaches, they form a catalog of comfort, modernity and pleasure. Here is a count of five of them, accessible from Argentina. 

Hotel Collin de France, Gramado
According to the ranking compiled by Tripdavisor based on the reviews of its users, this is for the second consecutive year one of the three best hotels in the world. Located in the city of Gramado (Rio Grande do Sul), the establishment revives the French imperial style. It has 23 luxurious and comfortable suites, whose furniture is handcrafted and their environments are scented with an exclusive fragrance. It is recognized for some amenities such as the extra-large size of its beds, covered with 300-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets, and the L'Occitane cosmetic line present in its marble-lined bathrooms. 

This castle has spaces for the enjoyment of a romantic atmosphere. In addition to an exquisite wellness center for body treatments, it features Bistrot, a French restaurant run by chef Amanda Selbach that includes a powerful world-class wine list. For special events, the hotel has a huge bougainvillea garden with two gazebos that can be heated for colder days and fountains for complete relaxation. 

The survey of data from the travel site 123milhas indicates that Gramado occupies the first place in reservations in Brazil and is projected as one of the most visited by foreigners in the segment of non-conventional places in that country. The city is part of the Serra Gaúcha, very close to Porto Alegre and just two hours away from the Itaimbezinho Canyon, the largest in Latin America, located in the Parque Nacional dos Aparados da Serra.  

Hotel das Cataratas Belmond, Foz de Iguazú 
This is the first and only Forbes five-star hotel in South America. It is the only one located in the heart of the Iguazú National Park, a natural wonder of the world. This enclosure has all the comforts typical of the luxury segment, coupled with the plus that means having exclusive access to the park, far from the massive visits. One of the hotel's greatest attributes is being surrounded by exuberant nature, with 185,000 hectares of tropical forest and the most varied species of Brazilian fauna and flora. 

Both the common spaces and the rooms have exquisite furniture inspired by the Portuguese colonial era, marble bathrooms and private balconies from which the tropical landscape can be seen. Most of the tiles were designed by hand especially for the building and the paintings, with floral and animal motifs, were made by the artist Ludmila de Montes.  

 The post-pandemic brought an even greater focus on outdoor leisure and entertainment options and in contact with nature as a local tourism option. According to its General Manager, Andrea Emmerling, “Mercosur has established itself as our third largest market last year, only surpassed by Brazil and the United States. With the opening of the border with Argentina again at the end of 2021, we are also seeing reservation numbers increase again from our other immediate neighbor in the triangle of three borders in which Foz do Iguaçu is located.” 

Fasano Rio, Rio de Janeiro 
Qualified as one of the most "instagrammable" places in the world, it bears the signature of the renowned architect Philippe Starck, it is located in one of the most fascinating spaces in Ipanema. Its greatest attraction is the view that can be admired from its stylized pool towards the Arpoador, the Morro Dois Irmaos and the Christ of Corcovado. Starck pays homage to the Brazilian architecture and design of the 1950s and 1960s and the spirit of Bossa Nova. 

The building has a total of 89 rooms, decorated with furniture designed by Sergio Rodrigues and Starck ear-shaped mirrors; it also includes private balconies with great views. Prices range from $500 per night in high season. 

El Fassano now houses the legendary Gero restaurant. With its eclectic profile, it has a balcony in front of the hotel, to offer all kinds of outdoor dining experiences, in tune with the Rio way of life. Going through reforms, now the hall gained a new air.  

The Barracuda Beach Hotel, Itacaré, Bahia 
An excellent place to appreciate the Atlantic Forest, characterized by its lush vegetation and unimaginable waterfalls on one side and, on the other, panoramic views of the sea and the mouth of the Contas River. This hotel is located in the heart of Itacaré and offers experiences that accurately reflect part of the Bahian lifestyle. According to this year's Luxury Hotels Guide, it is the most luxurious in that region in the boutique hotel segment. 
It only has 17 suites. The largest of them -The Corner- has a privileged location, with a space of 67 m2 and offers impressive views. The decoration includes pieces created by local artisans and Brazilian designers. It is the only suite that can be connected to a smaller one in case of a family trip.

The owners - mostly local businessmen and artists united in 2013 - favored native chefs for their hotel chain. In this case it is Fernando Luz who commands the kitchen. The son of a fisherman, his food is reminiscent of what his grandmother prepared for him when he was a child.  

Anavilhanas Lodge, Manaus (Amazonia) 
It is a small and exclusive Jungle Hotel, located in front of the Anavilhanas National Park, on the banks of the Negro River, 180 km from Manaus, in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest. It is among the top 10 luxury hotels in Brazil according to the renowned publication Best Hotels Guide. It offers rooms and chalets, the latter with an open 360º view of the Amazon jungle and great luxury details in the midst of the most preserved nature and with all the measures of sustainability and respect for the environment. 

The hotel includes in its offer land transfers from Manaus, capital of the state of Amazonas, and new alternatives for tours, animal watching. To get there, there are transfers from Manaus whose approximate duration is 2 ½ hours. There's also a 35-minute scenic seaplane transfer over the stunning Anavilhanas National Park, one of the world's largest river archipelagos with nearly 400 islands. 

The activities designed for visitors are varied. In the first place, in the contemplation of the sunrise the guest will be taken to the islands to observe the flight of the birds and the beauty of all the colors when the sun rises in the Amazonian sky. There is also the tour in the Anavilhanas Archipelago (one of the largest in the world) whose purpose is to meet pink and gray dolphins. It is also possible to make a night visit inside the forest, to observe birds, sloths, snakes and alligators hidden in the sounds of the dark.