An ultra-private guesthouse in one of the most privileged locations in Rio de Janeiro, Vila Santa Teresa is unlike any other place to stay in Brazil’s Marvellous City.  Formerly a family home on an enormous estate still owned to this day by one of Rio’s most prominent dynasties, Vila Santa Teresa is a peerless voyage into a world the typical tourist never sees.

In a city not short on arresting vistas, the views from Vila Santa Teresa are perhaps the most spectacular from any accommodation in Rio de Janeiro.  The estate sits atop one of the highest points in Rio de Janeiro, affording guests 360-degree views of Sugar Loaf, Christ The Redeemer, Maracanã Stadium, downtown Rio, and the splendid coastline, a mere ten minutes away by car.  Especially for return visitors to Rio who are already familiar with this glamorous city’s attractions, it is very tempting never to leave the expansive grounds and enjoy Rio from above.

The breathtaking view from Vila Santa Teresa.

The house is beautifully appointed, as expected in a sophisticated family home.  There are only seven guestrooms, making Vila Santa Teresa an excellent option for full buyouts for families or friends who want to enjoy total privacy without sacrificing the services of a five-star hotel.  The polished staff here are unfailingly polite and helpful in fulfilling guest needs.  Rooms facing east have the same glorious views as those from the estate’s parklands and the sun deck surrounding the swimming pool.  Vila Santa Teresa maintains a small spa in a separate building for indulgence in body treatments to rub away any cares that may have slipped past the unmarked gate at the entrance to the property.

An avid believer in healthy eating, Vila Santa Teresa creator Eva Monteiro de Carvalho also owns a food company called Yellow Mango, dedicated to the provision of nutritious foods for not only a well-balanced diet but a well-balanced lifestyle.  That same ethos makes its way onto the tables of Beatriz, Vila Santa Teresa’s dining room, where dishes are prepared with thought and care, yielding delicious results.  Whether enjoyed indoors or outside on the poolside terrace, a meal with that astonishing panorama is a quintessential carioca experience.  Those guests lucky or smart enough to reserve a table for Vila Santa Teresa’s monthly Full Moon Dinners will have the reflection of the moonlight on Guanabara Bay as a complement to the exceptional food and drinks served throughout the evening.

Vila Santa Teresa pool.

Rio’s Santa Teresa neighbourhood set back away from the more touristy beach areas, has benefited from a renaissance in recent years as the mansions built by wealthy families have been rehabilitated into boutique hotels, chic restaurants and bars, and eclectic shops.  Nearby is the small but impressive Chácara do Céu museum, the former home of another family that has been turned into a jewel box of a gallery displaying masterpieces of the French Barbizon School and famous Brazilian artists.

Hiring a private guide with insider knowledge of the city is highly recommended to appreciate the best that Rio has to offer.  The extraordinarily exuberant Lysis Machado (lysismachado@gmail.com; WhatsApp +55 21 98097 3776) is just such a guide, a dynamic woman who can turn a typical holiday into the holiday of a lifetime thanks to her encyclopaedic knowledge and can-do attitude.  From a meet and greet on arrival at either of Rio de Janeiro’s airports to the final farewell on departure, Ms Machado will be there to turn the best of Rio into the best of her clients’ holidays.

Written by: Robert La Bua – Global Travel Connoisseur

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