Lush garden hotel with spa, fine dining, animal sanctuary
Estr. Laramara, 3500 - Terra Preta, Mairiporã - SP, 07666-280, Brazil Get directions
"This estate 35 miles outside São Paulo is truly one-of-a-kind. The 27 accommodations—some gingerbread-style, others dramatically modern villas (all plushly done, albeit with a peculiar fusion of English country house and Brazilian fazenda , or farmhouse, design)—are set amid hilly acres of lush gardens that are in bloom year-round."
"Founded as a family home in 1984 by pharmaceutical developer Victor Siaulys and originally called Sítio Lajota, this 74‑acre mountain estate near Mairiporã (just over 20 miles from downtown São Paulo) was intentionally designed to be experienced by senses other than sight—thousands of impatiens in vivid reds, pinks, and oranges sit alongside fragrant, tactile plantings and organic gardens to support sensory engagement for the visually impaired. The property became the base for the Lamara Association (established 1991) to promote social and educational inclusion, and later evolved into a hospitality and conservation site with a serene spa, lagoon‑like pool, three restaurants, and ten contemporary villas by architect Ruy Ohtake. Its on‑site social and environmental programs are extensive: nearly 15 acres of pesticide‑free vegetable and herb cultivation (more than 30 varieties) feed hotel kitchens and are supplemented by greenhouse plantings where classical music is played for plant growth; food waste is composted into the sustainable agriculture cycle; guests are encouraged to plant trees (part of a program that has helped grow over 30,000 native trees). The estate also houses two kennels with roughly 250 dogs (plus cats and farm animals), an adoption initiative funded by Siaulys’s daughter Tatiana that provides application screening and post‑adoption support, and a conservation center caring for about 100 rescued wild animals across roughly 50 species—including macaws, toucans, anteaters, deer, and a maned wolf—rescued from the black market. Community outreach includes the Mara Siaulys Community Center offering free courses and health services, and local employment practices prioritize regionally based staff who receive about 40% more than the state minimum, additional benefits, and long tenures, with nearly half of leadership roles held by women. Overall, the place emphasizes hands‑on sensory experiences, community service, animal welfare, and regenerative agriculture more than traditional luxury, making it a setting meant to be felt as much as seen." - Natalie Beauregard
"Featuring outdoor and indoor pools, a golf course and a modern spa with a variety of treatments, Unique boasts luxurious gardens. It offers a gym and a tennis court. WiFi is free. Unique Garden Hotel & Spa is 13 km from Mariporã centre, and 54 km from São Paulo’s Guarulhos international airport. Congonhas Airport is 60 km away, and parking is free. Featuring a TV, DVD and a terrace with sunloungers, all villas boast a contemporary décor and are equipped with Lanvin toiletries. Designed by architect Ruy Ohtake, some offer an Ofuro-style hot tub, fireplace and a mezzanine floor. Room service is arranged. Massages and other spa treatments are arranged at the Healthy Holistic & Wellness Centre. An ofuro , a chromatic hot tub and an acqua spa. Based on organic produce grown in Unique’s greenhouse, Chef Daniel Aquino serves award-winning, Mediterranean dishes. There are 3 restaurants within the property: Chez Victor, Relais Jardin and Kitanda. Breakfast is served daily." - My Boutique Hotel (en)
Ron Pew
Rodrigo Bispo
Jose Escorcio
Marcelo Vilas Boas
JeanZin
Giovanna Kobus Conrado
Felipe Rodrigues da Silva
Filipe Pacheco
