Sandi Hotel

Location: Sandi Hotel is a 300-year old colonial mansion, sitting at the heart of Paraty. Once a vital thriving port for gold and coffee, the development of a direct route from Minas Gerais to Rio allowed Paraty to slip into obscurity from the late 18th century, its buildings preserved, stranded in time. Only in the 1970s, with the construction of the Rio-Santos highway, did the town begin to return. The historic centre of the city, as well as four areas of the Atlantic Forest, joined the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019.

How to get here: Fly to Rio de Janeiro (GIG) and take a 4 hour transfer to Paraty. Alternatively, fly to Sao Paulo and take a 5-hour road transfer down to Paraty.

Structure: Sandi Hotel is the town’s most famous small hotel for more than 30 years. Historic charm pairs beautifully with modern comforts. 27 stunning, colourful, characterful rooms, suites and apartments offer complimentary Wi-Fi, flat-screen televisions and minibars.

Why staying here: There is nowhere quite like in Brazil’s Costa Verde. Close to two of South America’s great metropolises yet still pristine and feeling wild – mountains and tropical forest dropping down to secret beaches, hidden coves and warm, protected azure seas. Paraty seems to shimmer, a whitewashed church-dotted gem of preserved colonial architecture sitting just below sea level, at the base of the heavily forested mountains of the Serra da Bocaina, which provides the perfect, picture postcard backdrop.