Six Senses will debut in the Americas in early 2021 with the Brazil opening
A green gem in the Six Senses portfolio, and first opening in the Americas, Six Senses Botanique showcases its surrounding beauty from a hillside amid 700 acres of lush, mid-tropical Atlantic forests. The resort lies in the heart of Brazil's Mantiqueira Mountains, 2.5 hours from São Paulo and 3.5 hours from Rio de Janeiro, 1,200 m above sea level and at the confluence of three river valleys. Enjoying a temperate climate with endless sunny days, Six Senses Botanique integrates mountain serenity with local features and modern luxuries to create a place in which to rekindle connections with nature and the world around. Formerly known as Botanique Hotel & Spa, the hotel was born out of Fernanda Ralston Semler’s vision to set a new benchmark in luxury hospitality that was completely home-grown, recognising local traditions and culture, as well as its natural setting. The hotel was constructed in 2012 by regional architects and designers using indigenous materials such as jacaranda wood, natural stone, and chocolate slate. The slate is mined just once every 17 months and the hotel’s bearing walls incorporate three-ton boulders from the adjacent river. The massive 120-year-old wooden beams are reclaimed from farms in nearby Minas Gerais. Huge glass panels line the rest of the construct to evoke a sense of "outdoors inside" with uninterrupted views of Mantiqueira’s valleys and mountains. When the property adopts the Six Senses brand in early 2021, it will offer seven suites in the main hotel, ranging from 60 to 90 sqm and 13 private villas, from 110 to 300 sqm, dotted in the hills around it. A further 14 villas are planned and will be constructed off-site in a modular manner using local materials. They will be sited to minimise their impact on the surrounding flora and fauna. Six Senses signature venues such as the Experience Centre, Alchemy Bar and out-of-the-ordinary dining spots will be added next year. There will also be 37 branded residences, constructed using an eco-friendly modular approach, available for purchase off-plan, with the first phase already underway.