It was in 2008, when Emmanuel Rengade, owner of the rather wonderful "Pousada Picinguaba", located nearby on the stunning Brazilian coast, decided to establish a place of equal beauty and class further inland. After quite a lot of searching, he came across the Fazenda Catuçaba, set amongst stunning rolling countryside and strategically located between São Paulo and Pousada Picinguaba itself. He simply fell in love with the place - and the rest is history, as they say.
It’s impossible not to fall in love, really, as it has a beauty all of its own. It consists of 450 hectares (1100 acres) of an operational organic farm, connected valleys, hills, rivers, lakes and simply gorgeous views of the mountains not that far off. Emmanuel’s great sensibility and style have just added to the charm. The Fazenda Catuçaba retains the 1850’s main house for example, which remains the focus of any stay here. There are also three delightful cottages with great views over those valleys and hills we have already mentioned.
A stay here is having a ringside seat with the spectacle of nature itself. On this note the Fazenda Catuçaba takes ecological credentials very seriously. It promotes environmentally friendly practices such as recycling waste, using biodegradable products and irrigation systems. So it's not just about an idyllic getaway, it is witnessing a lifestyle that more people should follow, if we’re honest. Much of the food, for example, including organic coffee, cheese and “cachaça” – is grown in-house and locally produced, and there is nothing to perturb the spectacle of nature - no TV or Internet, for example, allowing for true relaxation. If you want action city style – forget it! Though, all this, by no means precludes comfort and service. There are some 25 staff members here at all times, what, given the limited number of rooms available, gives a pretty personal service.
Fazenda Catuçaba is also at the epicentre of a rich local culture and close-by to beautiful little towns such as São Luis do Paraitinga (see hotel board). And instead of watching TV, go for a hike or a ride on the Fazenda’s horses to the stunning nearby valleys bordering the State Park.
We end with this thought, which sums up the Fazenda Catuçaba perfectly: Emanuel himself said that the philosophy behind all this is first a lifestyle for its creators, before being a hotel or farm. If that isn’t a secretplace, we don’t know what is.