1. Copacabana Palace - Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Alessandro Batistessa - Orient-Express Image Library
With its majestic lines and creamy white walls, the Copacabana Palace stands out on the Rio de Janeiro shoreline. Careful remodeling keeps this 1923 charmer in top shape, and becoming an Orient-Express hotel has only added to its romantic appeal.
After going to the beach, sightseeing and partying in Rio, lovers will look forward to returning to the Copa. From Deluxe City View Rooms to Penthouse Suites with superb ocean views and butler service, the hotel is all about comfort.
The swimming pool, a spa with signature treatments, and two upscale restaurants - Pérgula, with a terrace for al fresco dining, and the awarded Hotel Cipriani Restaurant - are some of the hotel's highlights.
2. Grande Hotel e Termas de Araxá - Araxá, MG
Araxá, a town in Minas Gerais, in southeast Brazil, is home to Grande Hotel e Termas de Araxá. Built in 1945, the hotel area encompasses the Barreiro basin, formed in an extinct volcano and famous for its therapeutic water.
The spa, opened in 1942, is a haven of relaxation and aesthetic pleasure. The circular entrance hall has a set of eight stained glass panels on the ceiling and a black and white mandala on the floor.
For a brief period, the hotel housed a casino, closed in 1946 when gambling was prohibited in Brazil. The building has 283 rooms and it's a sought after location for fairy-tale weddings and honeymoons.
The closest airports to Araxá are in Uberaba and Uberlândia. Transfers (paid separately) are available upon reservation.
3. Solar do Império - Petrópolis, RJ
Solar do Império is located on Avenida Koeler, one of the most charming streets in historic downtown Petrópolis, a favorite mountain getaway less than an hour from Rio. Built in 1875, the Solar (meaning "mansion") is listed as an IPHAN heritage.
Rooms are decorated in a classic style, with comfortable king size beds and amenities such as goose feather pillows and customized room service (optional).
Honeymooners can easily plan a trip that includes the busy, big city beach scene in Rio and the peaceful mountain atmosphere of Petrópolis, which, at an altitude of about 2,600 feet, has great winter weather - sunny during the day, and chilly and crisp at night.
The hotel is a member of Roteiros de Charme.
4. Estalagem St. Hubertus - Gramado, RS
©Estalagem St. Hubertus
Even though Estalagem St. Hubertus is a self-described lodge, its atmosphere, lavish furnishings and privileged location by Lago Negro (Black Lake), the ultimate romantic location in Gramado, make it the kind of romantic getaway a prince might choose for his beloved - a sort of cozy, scaled-down castle. Honeymoon packages offer sensuous treats such as massages for the couple, chocolate in the room and flowers in a candlelit bathtub.
The hotel is a member of Roteiros de Charme.
Gramado and nearby Canela are top romance and honeymoon destinations in Brazil and two of the most popular towns in Serra Gaúcha, the Rio Grande do Sul mountain range. Gramado is 133 kilometers (about 82 miles) from Porto Alegre, the southternmost state capital.
5. Pestana Convento do Carmo - Salvador, BA
How does a friary become a palatial hotel? Meticulous restoration and sophisticated furniture and works of art turned a friary in Pelourinho, the historic center of Salvador, into Pestana Convento do Carmo, Brazil's first luxury historic hotel and a member of The Leading Small Hotels of the World.
Couples will enjoy the sophisticated, yet intimate ambience. The 1586 structure's secluded inner courtyard evokes old Portugal and its palatial residences.
With 79 rooms and suites, Pestana Convento do Carmo is highly praised for its interior design, which relies on striking original materials and decorations. Restaurante Conventual, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, is considered one of the best Portuguese restaurants in Brazil.
