Boa Vista, which means "beautiful view" in Portuguese, is an apt name for this countryside retreat 60 miles away from São Paulo. The property itself is an architectural showpiece, a low-slung building with geometric shapes that nod to 1960's Modernism, and its surroundings, a 2,500-acre expanse of lakes, gardens, and native forests, are absolutely picturesque. Acclaimed Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld, a longtime Fasano collaborator, designed the 39-room structure as a set of symmetrical wings—one slightly concave and the other slightly convex—that extend out of a vast reception perched on a lagoon. The building's sweeping clean lines create a sense of serenity, while its artfully superposed textures, a combination of raw concrete, natural stone and polished Jacaranda woods, help set an atmosphere of understated luxury and sophistication. Inside, a pair of circular fireplaces that drop down from the ceiling anchor the lobby, decorated with a combination of vintage Danish armchairs, abstract tapestries and contemporary sofas from some of Brazil's top furniture makers. It's the perfect spot to relax while reading a book (take a peek at the reception's wooden bookshelves, stocked with hardcover editions personally chosen by hotelier Rogèrio Fasano) and enjoying the views of the Ipanema mountain range on the horizon. Steps away, Restaurante Boa Vista doles out a mix of traditional local flavors and Italian classics in an effortlessly chic room clad in flaxen wood.
The building's sweeping clean lines create a sense of serenity, while its artfully superposed textures, a combination of raw concrete, natural stone and polished Jacaranda woods, help set an atmosphere of understated luxury and sophistication.
To make the most of its idyllic setting, the hotel offers an array of outdoor amenities, including a garden-side swimming pool, several nature trails, two 18-hole golf courses, an equestrian center for recreational and competitive horseback riding, and a small working ranch featuring a coterie of farm animals.
But forget the usual imagery associated with wellness experiences: the linen drapes, the lotus flowers, or sitting buddhas. The spa at the Fasano Boa Vista is almost monastic in its restraint, conveying balance and purity through the color white, which covers every surface of the 15,000-square-foot space, a structure that seems to have arrived from the future. From the outside, the building looks a bit mysterious. It's a lengthy white rectangle capped by a series of walls that fan out like blades (in between these "blades" are private patios for alfresco treatments). Inside, the futuristic feel is enhanced by glossy white tiles, long strips of recessed lights, strategically placed square glass panes framing pops of green vegetation, and circular portholes that let in blue light from the sky. These geometric shapes are echoed in the hydrotherapy circuit, which includes a cold plunge pool, a steam sauna, rain shower, and whirlpool bath. Aside from a beauty salon and fitness center, the spa has eight treatment rooms where expert practitioners offer everything from lymphatic drainage to Ayurvedic massage, a deeply relaxing sequence of rhythmic taps and kneads using organic essential oils. Afterwards, stroll through the estate’s beautiful gardens to reach the hotel lobby, and cozy up to the fireplace with a cafezinho in hand.