Brazil

Itacare

What it is: A quiet hideaway near the forest, this posada has seven rooms and a bungalow.

The rooms: Rooms feel homey and tropical with vibrant colors, local pottery, and mosquito-netted beds. The veranda offers a view of the tropical garden and rainforest and has a hammock and sofa. A tropical breakfast is included.

Amenities: Ranges of massages are offered in the Banana Spa. There's also a swimming pool and DVD lounge. The hotel is just minutes from shops, bars, and restaurants.

Activities: Capoeira (a blend of martial arts and dance), yoga, and samba classes are offered, as well as in-room massages. Enjoy dancing, surfing, swimming, walking, sailing, and more. The area is fabulous place for nature lovers with its beaches (10 minutes from the hotel), rivers, falls, and mangrove swamps.

Details: BA-0100, from $100 for a double in low season to $420 for a four-person bungalow in high season.

What it is: An eco-luxury resort situated between the rainforest and beautiful sand beaches of the Atlantic Coast.

The rooms: The luxe wood-stilted bungalows are simple and rustic with huge bathrooms and outdoor showers. The bungalows are surrounded by wooden decks and are spread around the coconut grove to ensure your privacy.

Amenities: On site are tennis courts, two pools, and a spa. The social area in the North Living Room is a red open colonial-style mansion and is surrounded by a reflecting pool. The South Living Room is similar, but closer to the beach.

Activities: Whether you like walking trails, sport lessons (tennis and surfing), or sightseeing you are sure to find something to do. Take a city tour of Itacare, a surf trip, or a ride on mountain bikes. You can also explore the Caranha Plantation and the Usina Ranch.

Details: BA-001, from $300 for a double in low season to $900 a night for a six-person bungalow in high season.

Manaus

What it is: A hotel settled among the Amazon treetops with dramatic catwalks 70 feet high.

The rooms: The tree houses, connected by four miles of boardwalk, all have thatched roofs and breathtaking views of a 17-mile-wide floodplain. All of the 250 individual apartments and suites have air-conditioning and electricity but the amenities vary. Suites have private baths and verandas, and the deluxe Cosmic Suite offers rustic furnishings, dining and living areas, entertainment center, and exercise equipment. At night the suite's ceiling becomes a planetarium filling with stars and three-dimensional planets.

Amenities: The rates include a complete meal plan at the self-service restaurant buffet. The hotel has a second sit-down eatery called Restaurante Bapu. Take a dip in one of the two swimming pools built at canopy level and watch folk-music and dance performances at the amphitheater. Head to the top of the two observation tours for a breathtaking view of the Amazon.

Activities: Book jungle treks, canoe rides, fishing trips, and moonlight caiman-spotting tours. A variety of these tours could be included in your rate. Kids should check out the "Real Life Pirates of the Caribbean."

Details: Negro River, from $280 per person.

Rio De Janeiro

What it is: An EasyDrop-affiliated hotel run by a warm, friendly couple and just steps from Praia da Concha beach.

The rooms: The 10 rooms are simple and clean, each with air-conditioning, a refrigerator, and a personal veranda with a hammock.

Amenities: Enjoy a complementary breakfast with your room rate.

Activities: Relax in the lush garden after a day of swimming and surfing.

Details: Travessa Angrense 25 A - Copacabana, from $41 for a double.

São Paulo

What it is: This 60-room hotel pays homage to the glamour of the '20s and '30s, with an understated deco style.

The rooms: All of the rooms offer a view of São Paolo, king-size beds with 500-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets, Persian rugs, and Venetian-framed pictures. The double suites are spacious enough for a family of three or four.

Amenities: Restaurante Fasano has cuisine inspired by the different parts of Italy and a bar with live music. The informal Nonno Ruggero is open every day for all meals, and has a balcony that overlooks the Rua Vittorio Fasono and the garden area. The bar Baretto has concerts and shows. The lobby bar serves aperitifs and cocktails at any time of the day. The spa and fitness center are housed on three floors and has a heated swimming pool, two traditional Japanese ofuro baths, a fitness room, and a steam sauna. There are five massage rooms and Hans Wegner loungers.

Activities: Emporio Armani, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, Bulgari, and Cartier stores are nearby.

Details: Rue Vittorio Fasano 88, from $450 for a standard suite.