T he climate is European. The nature, exuberant, combines rain forest and waterfalls with Araucaria groves. A promising place for practicing adventure sports, such as trekking, mountain climbing, rappel, rafting e canoeing. On the top of the Mantiqueira Range (220km - 137 miles - from Rio and 250km - 155 miles - from São Paulo), at Itamonte, where the average temperature during winter is 8ºC (46,4°F). Besides nature, one can enjoy nice and exotic food, good wine and a cozy fireplace

T he latest attraction is Hotel São Gotardo, at 1750 metros (5,741 feet) of altitude, with a total area of 1,2 million square meters (3,936,960 square feet) which offers, above all, a lot of privacy and a stunning landscape. From any room guests can see the abundant green of the region. At the restaurant, for example, the tasting menu may be enjoyed in front of Itatiaia National Park, where Agulhas Negras Peak is located (18 km - 11 miles from the hotel and one of the major attractions of the place).

C ombining the colonial and English bay window styles, São Gotardo serves both those who want to venture in the rivers, waterfalls and trails and those who ride up the mountain seeking a romantic climate and peace. For those who enjoy a good wine, the hotel created a wine cellar for up to 550 bottles. The cave is also a great suggestion to taste some cheese or cold cuts. Thinking about those guests who like to keep their fitness even while they're resting, there is a fitness room and a massage room.

T he leisure area consists of a heated swimming-pool with a whirlpool, two saunas (one of them being a steam sauna and the other one dry), trails, beach volleyball and tennis courts, game room, a place for barbecue, bar and library. There is also a convention center created to serve mainly companies that wish to hold seminars and training sessions.

T he cuisine of the São Gotardo is a great uniqueness in the region. It combines the products of the region, such as piñon, white cheese, flowers and trout (grown at the hotel's trout facility itself), to recipes from the French cuisine, without leaving behind, of course, the typical food from Minas Gerais. Besides the sophistication, another unique feature of the restaurant is the system of serving a ‘tasting menu', which includes appetizers, entrée, first and second courses and dessert, besides coffee, tea, truffles and butter cookies.