Matueté Blog

(a) Brasil

7 de April de 2016

:: (a) Brasil | *Beach @en | *Urban @en | Adventure @en | Art & Architecture @en | By Matueté @en | Hospitality @en | Insider @en | Matueté on the road @en

Planning a trip to Brazil isn’t an easy task, right?

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Dealing with seasonality is tricky, being a large country there are many different cultures, ecosystems and destinations that offer amazing nature and beach landscapes, but how to choose among so many options?

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That’s why we are launching a brand new section to our website. 🙂

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Answer a few quick questions and the website will  give you many different sample itineraries based on your replies.

This can be a fun and practical tool for a next trip in the country or to recommend to friends and family.

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Follow the link, explore our travel suggestions and get the inspiration you need to organize your visit to Brazil.

*Images by Matueté
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:: (a) Brasil | Adventure @en | Brazil - North Region @en | Insider @en | Nature @en

We are very proud to announce our Amazon Guide with helpful information and curiosities for a truly unique immersion.

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Downloading our guide you’ll capture the insider knowledge on how to plan such a complex trip, where to go, what time of year to visit and the most exclusive destinations and activities.

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It also has full resources you’ll also find intel on climate, cuisine, health & safety, travelling with kids and much more.

a2         Hyacinth Macaws (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) at the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere

Chartering a private yacht is certainly the best way to escape the areas that are visited all too frequently by hotel guests and fixed departure cruises.

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Contact us to check our renewed yachts portfolio that can be chartered exclusively for your party, which means we can tailor the itinerary and staff on board according to your interests, style and the composition of your group.

*Images by Matueté
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:: (a) Brasil | *Beach @en | Adventure @en | Brazil - Southeast Region @en | Culture & History @en | Gastronomy @en | Nature @en

Imagine being able to combine culture and history, with a beautiful bay filled with island and virgin beaches?

This is what Paraty can offer, and chartering a sail boat is the perfect way to enjoy this to the fullest.

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Set in one of the most stunning stretches of the Brazilian coastline, backed by rainforest clad mountains on one side and locked-in by the sea on another.

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Paraty’s colourful colonial architecture references back to its important role as a main port for gold export from Brazil to Europe. It has a vibrant culture and nightlife, great local shopping, waterfalls and a bay filled with islands and virgin beaches which are best explored by chartering a sailing boat.

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Can you imagine gather some of your best friends or family and sail around pristine beaches with all comfort and the liberty to do the trip as you please?

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One of our favorites is a Lipari 41, a modern catamaran, with wide open decks, excellent panoramic visibility and a cockpit with seating for eight at the table.

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Contact us to know more about our sailing charter suggestions.

*Images by Matueté
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:: (a) Brasil | *Beach @en | *Urban @en | Art & Architecture @en | Brazil - Southeast Region @en | Hospitality @en | Insider @en

The Olympics are just around the corner and Matueté provides expert consulting to devising the best strategy to enjoy the games and Rio as much as you should!

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Rio has been preparing for this great event since 2009 and most of the venues are now finished and test events are now in full swing.

The downtown area, in particular, has been spruced up and some off-radar areas, such as the suburb of Barra da Tijuca, are now firmly on the visitor’s map.

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Not to mention the breathtaking Museum of Tomorrow, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, which is already opened to the public in the redeveloped port district.

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Copacabana beach will be the location for beach volleyball contests, the cycling road races will pass through Ipanema neighborhoods and the inshore waters off the Lagoa and Gloria neighbourhoods will host the sailing competitions, which already guarantees a brand new look of Rio.

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Lots of visitors combine a stay in Rio with a flying visit to the Amazon, Pantanal or northern beaches, but there are plenty of overland options close to the city that will be less crowded after the games.

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Contact us for details and don’t forget to visit our Rio 2016 and the Robb Report Magazine featuring Matueté’s special suggestion for those attending the Games.

*Images:  www.rio2016.com/en/olympic-games and Matueté
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17 de September de 2015

:: (a) Brasil | Adventure @en | Brazil - Central-west Region @en | Insider @en | Matueté on the road @en | Nature @en

Today we have a special guest appearance in our social medias.

Elder Key Tateishi is part of our Operations team and a real expert when it comes to exploring Chapada dos Veadeiros, one of our country’s most amazing landscapes!

Thanks Key, we loved your destination tips. 🙂

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“It’s not a secret that Brazil has rich biodiversity, unexplored caves, surreal waterfalls… but can you imagine reaching them all in the same place?

Trust us: at Chapada dos Veadeiros everything is possible!

Very close to the Brazilian capital (Brasília), the picturesque village of São Jorge is the gateway to the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park.

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The natural beauty of the place is already worth the visit in itsel, but combined with the instantaneous sense of well being, lots of inspiration and a twist of mysticism, makes the atmosphere even more  interesting.

The scenery is so breathtaking that you’ll find yourself in the middle of a savannah or even stepping into a rocky formation that looks exactly like the ground of the Moon.

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With over 80 catalogued waterfalls in the region, there are many trail options, allowing people of all ages and physical conditions to enjoy it.

And the best part is that Matueté offers an unique experience over there: the possibility of staying in a beautiful Villla with all the perks and privacy, as well as full activities program, such as yoga classes, massage, meditation and many more adventures.”

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To have all the details and access to Key’s coolest tips in Chapada dos Veadeiros, just contact us.

*Images by Ion David – Matueté
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13 de August de 2015

:: (a) Brasil | Adventure @en | Brazil - Southeast Region @en | Hospitality @en

This Thursday morning we had the dear presence of Rosana Takahashi, account manager of the Belmond group, for a cheerful breakfast here in the office. She shared with us the latest news about the Cataratas Hotel, in Foz do Iguaçu, a true national icon.

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Even though Foz do Iguaçu is one of the most popular destinations in the country and the falls one of the 7 wonders of the world, there are still a lot of people who haven’t been to this natural paradise, with its majestic falls, exuberant landscapes, the largest bird park in Brazil and the impressive hydroelectric plant of Itaipu.

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But the best part is to enjoy all of this as a guest at the Hotel das Cataratas, the only property located inside the National Park which allows exclusive access for the Brazilian walkways outside of the park hours. This makes an incredible difference in a location visited by tourists all year round.

The Hotel is delightful, with Portuguese colonial style rooms, spacious and rustic, stunning views and also a number of must-see activities such as the boat ride at the full moon, where you’ll be able to see (if lucky) a bright rainbow in the middle of the night!

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Thanks a lot Rosana, we cannot wait to visit the Cataratas again and breathe the pure and fresh oxygen over there!

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To get inspired by Foz, all you have to do is check out this video. 🙂

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5 de August de 2015

:: (a) Brasil | Brazil - Southeast Region @en | Hospitality @en

Can you believe that in one year we’ll be celebrating the start of the first Olympic Games in Brazil?

It may seem like there’s still much time left, but you can already feel the Olympic atmosphere raiding a lot of places of Rio de Janeiro and here at Matueté, because if you want to guarantee a good place to stay (or the best accommodation available), in one of the most exciting sporting events ever, the moment is now!

The construction of the four main areas of the event has already began, as the Deodoro Sports Complex, the Olympic Park and the Regions of Maracanã and Copacabana are almost 85% completed.

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The bad news is that it’s not easy to get tickets and a nice place in the sun, since Rio has a surprisingly limited number of hotels and even more limited when it comes to luxury hotels. As a pre-condition for Rio winning the Olympics bid, the local government had to secure that almost 100% of the inventory would be offered to the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and their sponsors.

But do not worry, because here in Matueté, we are pretty cautious and still have great options of apartments, penthouses and incredible Villas available for the game period, all you have to do is check out our website, select the one that suits you and also the events that would like to attend.

We take care of the rest!

For more details, follow the link to our informative Rio Olympics 2016 – FAQ and let the countdown begin… 🙂

 

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29 de July de 2015

:: (a) Brasil | *Urban @en | Art & Architecture @en | Brazil - Southeast Region @en

For those who still see Sao Paulo as the “city of skyscrapers with no architectural personality,” be aware that the MASP Museum (Art Museum of Sao Paulo) just joined the Condé Nast Traveler list of the 10 most beautiful buildings in the world!!!

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It’s not rare, for city locals, to pass by the Paulista Avenue and not even notice the boldness of this modernist building which is the authentic portrait of the city: four red beams supporting an almost suspended concrete block, under an exceptional urban landscape. Some people like it, others not that much, but the impact caused by the building is undeniable!

MASP was projected by famous Brazilian/Italian architect Lina Bo Bardi in 1947, with the concept of creating an artistic platform (shaped as a container), and has become one of the most important museums in the Southern Hemisphere, with a very impressive collection of more than eight thousand pieces including renowned names in national and international painting, such as Van Gogh, Cândido Portinari, Anita Malfatti, Renoir, Rembrandt, Degas, Velázquez, Goya just to mention a few.

There’s nothing better than feeding the soul with remarkable experiences, so, whenever you’re in town, don’t miss the opportunity to feel like a real paulista, by walking around MASP and checking out all the cool events and expos happening there every month, such as the awesome retrospective of 200 years of French Art (From Delacroix to Cézanne) which is happening until October.

A privilege that should not be missed! 🙂

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17 de July de 2015

:: (a) Brasil | Gastronomy @en | Top 5 @en

Quick question: What’s the first drink that pops on your mind when you think about Brazil?

Ok, and besides caipirinha, can you name another one?

Hummm… no worries, we are here to make it easier and introduce you to others Brazilian delicious beverages, that may only appear too exotic, but we guarantee it’s worth trying.

1. Caldo de cana 

Also known as garapa, caldo de cana literally means “sugar juice.” If you peel a sugar cane and then run it through a pressing machine, it yields a greenish-yellow juice. It’s available in street markets practically everywhere in our country and feels like a refreshing bomb of sugar exploding in your mouth. Don’t miss it!

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2. Chimarrão

The Brazilian version of yerba mate, also popular in Uruguay and Argentina. This special tea is both symbolic and social, and is commonly shared among friends. It’s considered to have many of the same health benefits as Chinese green tea and has plenty of natural caffeine in it. The drink is more common in the Southern states of Brazil where the cold weather helps enjoy this delicious tea.

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3. Guaraná

Guaraná is the national soft drink of Brazil, and it has a sharp, distinct flavor. This drink gets its name from the guaraná berry, an Amazonian fruit that is a natural energy booster; it has twice the caffeine of coffee beans. Guaraná, the soda, has very small amounts of guaraná, the fruit. It taste like childhood for us. 🙂

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4. Batida

Brazil’s version of an alcoholic smoothie. It’s basically a mix of cachaça, fruit, ice and lots of sugar. Batidas are a favorite at the kiosks that line along the beaches of our coast. All you have to do is name the fruit (coconut, strawberry, passion fruit…) and blend your customized refreshment.

*Fun fact: caipirinha is a type of batida. 

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5. Vitamina de abacate

Brazilians, to the contrary of North Americans, think of the avocado as a fruit (and one that should be sweetened rather than salted). Vitamina de abacate is made by blending avocado, sugar, and milk. Try one first thing in the morning and you’ll be surprised by how much energy you gonna get and how well the flavor of avocado works as a sweet ingredient.

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15 de July de 2015

:: (a) Brasil | *Beach @en | Nature @en

Hidden in a peninsula in southern Bahia, Caraiva is the perfect destination for those seeking peace, quiet and a visual paradise. And we have a fantastic Villa over there!  By the sea, very exclusive and combines the simplicity of Bahia lifestyle with charm and comfort.

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Villa 1 has 7 bright and spacious rooms,  with fantastic views; ideal for a family or a group of friends.

Are you in the mood? So follow the link to our website for more details on the amazing Villas available for rent. 🙂

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