This mansion from a former coffee plantation was opened as a hotel in late 2008. From its terraces and lavish gardens, guests have an unbeatable view of Rio’s Guanabara Bay and the giant Christ the Redeemer statue atop Corcovado Mountain. The colonial-style building houses 40 generously sized rooms decked out in eco-chic style: They were furnished exclusively with local materials, including tropical jacaranda, cinnamon, and ipe wood. Sculptures displayed throughout the mansion reference Brazil’s ethnic roots and Afro-Brazilian culture.