What To Do In Boa Vista, Brazil

São Paulo's high-octane dining scene has an ever-changing roster of multicultural spots, yet some of the city's most celebrated restaurants specialize in Old World flavors. Bistrot Parigi (12,000 Avenida Magalhães de Castro, São Paulo; +55-11-3198-9440), set on the top floor of an upscale shopping center, has contemporary interiors with glass walls offering sweeping views of the city’s glass-and-steel skyscrapers. This décor may not transport you to Saint-Germain-des-Prés, but the food will: Bistrot Parigi offers impeccable renditions of French staples like moules frites, chateaubriand steak, and a famed millefeuille filled with custard. The menu at Trattoria (Rua Iguatemi, São Paulo; +55-11-3167-3322) pays tribute to the Fasano family’s ancestral hometown in southern Italy, with dishes like housemade spaghetti alla carbonara and bucatini all’Amatriciana. The main dining room is a moodily sophisticated affair decked in dark wood and black leather, yet the restaurant’s most coveted tables are outside, on an alfresco deck surrounded by exuberant gardens. Just across the street is Casa Bandeirista, the most beautiful colonial monument in the city.

The Fundação de Arte Marcos Amaro (9 Rua Padre Bartolomeu Tadei, Itu; +55-11-2715-4608), a private foundation dedicated to promoting contemporary Brazilian art while decentralizing São Paulo's art scene, occupies a converted textile factory in Itu, a small town just 40 minutes away from Hotel Fasano Boa Vista. The vast, progressive space includes works from some of Brazil's top painters, sculptors, and conceptual artists—names like Adriana Varejão, Cildo Meireles, and Lole de Freitas—owned by collector Marcos Amaro or on loan from important regional galleries. The Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo (2 Praça da Luz, São Paulo; +55-11-3324-1000), set in a palatial 19th century building that has been refurbished over the years, is the city's oldest and most important museum, home to a collection of more than 10,000 works dating back to the colonial period but strongly focused on modern and contemporary local art. The museum also features a variety of temporary exhibitions dedicated to noteworthy artists or themes like "Radical Women in Latin American Art."

Fazenda Boa Vista offers open-air activities for all ages and fitness levels. Easy riders can grab one of the hotel's bikes and wander through beautifully landscaped gardens and winding lakes, ending the tour with fresh coconut water—sipped right out of the shell—at the pool bar. For a deeper connection with nature, explore one of the hiking trails located on the outskirts of the estate. As you follow these clearly marked forest paths, you might spot armadillos, lizards, and native birds, along with a diversity of subtropical trees. There's also horse riding at the on-site equestrian center, golfing at an 18-hole course designed by Randall Thompson, and tennis at a state-of-the-art sports center. Adrenaline seekers can arrange transportation to the nearby municipality of Boituva, one of the most popular skydiving destinations in Latin America.

Paulistas love to shop, and their hometown obliges with an endless array of boutiques, not to mention one of the most dynamic fashion scenes in Latin America. Shopping Cidade Jardim (12,000 Avenida Magalhães de Castro, São Paulo; +55-11-3552-3560), in the Jardins area, is a gorgeously designed open-air shopping center filled with lush hanging ferns, perfectly pruned trees, and a top-notch collection of luxury shops. Alongside international brands like Cartier and Giorgio Armani, visitors will find high-end Brazilian labels like Guerreiro, a maker of fine jewelry with a rock n'roll aesthetic, or Alexandre Birman, a designer known for his vertiginous handmade shoes. Just a short drive away, the Pinheiros district, an up-and-coming neighborhood filled with restaurants, art galleries, and some of the trendiest boutiques in São Paulo, is worth a visit. Insecta (342 Rua dos Pinheiros, São Paulo; +55-11-3892-6715), a brand from Porto Alegre in southern Brazil, swept eco-conscious fashionistas off their feet when it introduced its line of vegan shoes in 2014. Old clothes and discarded plastics are turned into colorful unisex oxfords, sandals, and backpacks. To boot, they offer workshops on topics like gardening and composting. No Brazilian shopping spree would be complete without some beachwear. Chapéu (1277 Rua Mourato Coelho, São Paulo; +55-11-3501-1958) is a chic local brand that goes beyond the barely there bikini, specializing in mix-and-match tops and bottoms in a variety of shapes and colors.

From the outside, the 15,000-square-foot spa at the Fasano looks a bit mysterious. It's a lengthy white rectangle that seems to have arrived from the future. 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. Revel in the sense of serenity conveyed by this almost monastic space, then sink into an even deeper state of relaxation with a signature treatment like Lomi Lomi, a 50-minute massage inspired by Hawaii, where the therapist uses continuous and lengthy hand movements. Afterwards, linger at the hydrotherapy circuit, alternating between a steam sauna, rain shower, and cold plunge pool, and round-out the experience with a leisurely pedicure.