Planning a trip to Brazil isn’t an easy task, right?
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?
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Thanks a lot Rosana, we cannot wait to visit the Cataratas again and breathe the pure and fresh oxygen over there!
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 placeto 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.
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… 🙂
A fairly widespread trend in places like New York, Berlin and Buenos Aires, starts to gain popularity in some Brazilian cities like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
We’re talking about irreverent and exclusive dining experiences that happens in the most unusual places such as an art gallery, or a bookstore or even a terrace in Morro do Vidigal, (a pacified favela between Leblon and Ipanema, in Rio) for example. And the best part is that, sometimes, you just find out about the location, the chef and the menu at the minute you arrive!
Quite risky huh? But we guarantee it’s fun, spontaneous and a great way to get in touch with a new culture. 🙂
So, we selected a few options for curious and audacious travelers, willing to live a unique unforgettable experience. Check this out:
A townhouse in the iconic Beco do Batman, in Vila Madalena, São Paulo, is home to exclusive dinners conducted by chef Bel Coelho. The tasting menu is dedicated exclusively to Brazilian ingredients.
The secret is the key for this project of chef Gustavo Rigueiral and journalist Larissa Januário. The location of the dinner is only revealed during the day, by e-mail and it could happen in a residential dining room, or a studio, or even in an outdoor garden at some city park. The menu is also a surprise, exclusively created for each edition, according to the climate and the availability of seasonal ingredients. All you have to do is pic a date, write an email to [email protected] and receive all the details.
The cozy house located in a charming village in the middle of Vila Mariana in São Paulo, is the residence of the musician Gustavo Araujo. 4 years ago, mostly on Friday nights, Araujo gets into his home and cooks for about 20 people. In one word: Delicious!
The project led by renowned chef Raphael Despirite, organizes dinners in unusual places. The events have happened in bookstores, theaters, in Morro do Vidigal, in a kitchenware store, a public library… and is so sucessful that already won a cub, the Knock Knock, with a bar atmosphere.
The cook Lea Silva, or Aunt Leah, as it is known in the Vidigal community, receives since 2008 up to 20 people for lunch or dinner on the slab of her home during weekends. Besides the famous feijoada, the view from the top of Vidigal mountain makes the meal extra special.
It may sound too early to be thinking about this, but if you haven’t yet spent at least one New Year’s eve in Rio de Janeiro, you have no idea what celebration really means.
Many of us here at Matueté already lived this magical experience, but this week we received Copacabana Palace’s account manager in our office, Rosana Takahashi, and she brought fresh news about this hotel which is a real carioca icon, so glamorous and stylish, that our excitement has already been renewed automatically… you want to know why?
Click on picture below to experience just a sample of what Réveillon represent for Copa and for Brazilians.
And the best part is there’s still time to guarantee an INCREDIBLE welcome for 2016.
We always ask ourselves – what are the best hotel rooms in Brazil? The answer is not easy, since preference and style is a very persona subject. Taking that into account, we selected 5 rooms around the country that are undoubtedly amazing, with lots of space, breathtaking views, and awarded design. You won’t even miss your home pillows while staying in one of these…
Kenoa– This Eco-resort is located at Barra de São Miguel, 30km from Maceió, the capital of Alagoas State. It´s hard to choose between so many incredible rooms at this resort, but their best suite is the must – it has a heated infinity pool, an external deck that leads to the beach and a 200m² private area.
Fasano Rio– Since its opening, Fasano is amongst the most sophisticated hotels in the country. Its Deluxe Suite was designed by Philippe Starck and has a cozy living room, a bar with a Nespresso machine and bathroom with natural lightening. The highlight is the amazing view to Ipanema Beach and very spacious balcony overlooking the sea.
Santa Teresa– Big windows with amazing panoramic views of the “Marvelous City” are one of the highlights of this boutique hotel. The Loft suite was awarded by the Wallpaper* Magazine in 2010 as the “World Best Suite Design”. The balcony faces the Petrópolis and Teresópolis mountains and the Guanabara Bay and Christ the Redeemer can be seen from the large window.
Ponta dos Ganchos– Located next to the Florianópolis Island in Santa Catarina, this is definitely one of the most charming beach hotels in the country. All bungalows are in an amazing settings, but the Special Bungalow at Vila Esmeralda deserves a special mention – with 300m² it houses a sauna, swimming pool and gym, with great views to the sea, as you can see in the picture!
Unique–The name says it all. This “watermelon shaped” hotel, designed by Ruy Ohtake, is considered one of São Paulo´s icons. It´s outrageous style is reflected outside and inside the hotel rooms. The presidential suite has 312m², with a Jacuzzi on the terrace, a kitchen and an office, all decorated by the Campana brothres.
Have you ever thought about coming to Brazil, but went somewhere else because you had safety concerns? Brazilian tourism industry is not yet as developed as the European or North American, but despite some flaws such as deficient services for foreigners and much higher prices than its neighbors, on the past few years security issues have dropped significantly and are no longer a major concern for the tourists.
This article from Marcopolis.net, on which Matueté´s partners Bobby Betenson and Martin Frankenberg participated, gives some insights on what we have improved so far and what needs to be improved to host major events such as The World Cup and the Olympic Games. Read more +
São Paulo–based Frankenberg can get you access to private art collections and invitation-only booths at Carnaval, cruising into remote stretches of the Amazon by private yacht…(read more)
