28 Feb 2021
Six Senses transforms Brazilian resort previously backed by co-founders of The Body Shop and AOL
BY Megan Whitby
Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas has expanded its portfolio with a new eco-wellness resort in Mantiqueira, Brazil, nestled amongst flourishing forests and situated at the meeting of three valleys.
Six Senses Botanique was opened after the company refreshed an existing retreat, called Botanique Hotel & Spa.
Originally unveiled in 2012, the resort first caught the industry’s attention with its impressive line-up of investors and partners – namely AOL co-founder David Cole; Body Shop co-founder Gordon Roddick; and the South American entrepreneur Ricardo Semler, CEO of the systems engineering and management conglomerate Semco.
Since then, Six Senses has sensitively made its mark on the resort to create an eco-retreat in nature differentiated by its authentic Brazilian design, wellness experiences, culture and cuisine.
Nowhere is the local influence more evident than in the spa, featuring four treatment rooms, a beauty salon, floatation pool, sauna and steamroom with rainforest mist.
There is also an isotonic pool with the same amounts of salt and other oligo-elements found in the human body, designed to soothe and rebalance spa guests.
New treatment rooms, relaxation and wellness areas and a fitness centre will be added later this year.
Wellness highlights include a signature Six Senses' Alchemist Body treatment, consisting of an interactive workshop that teaches guests about the abundant, locally sourced ingredients and products while they create their own scrub and body mask to use in their treatments.
Resort guests can also set more time aside to reset with a wellness takeover through a choice of Wellness Days including Boost Your Immunity to build a strong body; Mind Your Brain to improve mental clarity; and Love Your Heart to achieve deeper self-connection and harmony.
Six Senses Botanique currently offers seven suites in the main hotel and 11 private villas dotted in the hills around it.
Plans have been confirmed for a further 16 villas to be constructed off-site in a modular manner using local materials and sited to minimise their impact on the surrounding flora and fauna.
There will also be 37 branded residences, again constructed using an eco-friendly modular approach, available for purchase off-plan.
Another major component of the resort’s first phase of evolution focuses on gastronomy – with new menus at Restaurant Mina, a new Fire Side lounge menu, an exclusive eight-course gastronomic journey paired with wines from the resort's select Adega and a reconnection experience with an artisanal outdoor picnic.
Through the Eat With Six Senses philosophy, Six Senses Botanique will bring out the best of the region’s cuisine and seasonal produce, starting with “Farm to Table” herbs, fruit and vegetables grown in the resort’s own organic gardens and farm.
Six Senses was also excited to announce that the property is blessed with seven water springs that provide guests with fresh natural mineral water to drink.
“Helping people to reconnect with themselves, others and the world around them is at the centre of all that we do,” says resort GM Dominic Scoles.
“We bring a holistic approach to our food, beverage, wellness, sustainability and out-of-the-ordinary experiences. The idea is that the guest returns home better than when they arrived.”
Mindful of making responsible decisions, the resort team also works with community members to see how they can contribute to a better quality of life for everyone, while preserving and celebrating local traditions and culture and the beautiful natural environment surrounding the property.
Six Senses manages 16 hotels and resorts and 27 spas in 20 countries and has signed a further 28 properties into the development pipeline.
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