Portobello Resort & Safari

Built into a working farm between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Portobello Resort & Safari has grown around a rescue sanctuary now classified category A by IBAMA, meaning its animals live free rather than caged. Many arrived after seizures, accidents or abandonment, and are looked after by a trained team under a vet and a biologist. Regular 4x4 tours take guests through the grounds, led by guides who explain animal behaviour and conservation work along the way. The land itself does double duty. Trails once used for farm work now carry hikers and riders past bromeliads and native trees to natural pools fed by a spring on the property. The sea sits just beyond: a 1km stretch of white sand and calm water, backed by coconut palms, used for sailing, paddleboarding and beach tennis. Rooms face the ocean directly. Fitness facilities include four clay tennis courts, one covered, alongside beach tennis and pickleball courts and a bowling alley with four lanes. A children's club, farm corner and games room round out the property's family-facing side. It is a rare pairing in Brazil: a coastal resort built around a functioning wildlife rescue rather than beside one.