Ever heard of staycation? The term in English, joining the verb stay (to stay) with the noun vacation (vacation), summarizes a concept that was particularly popular during the pandemic: enjoying a vacation without necessarily traveling.
The capital of São Paulo is a great dish for anyone wanting to start this type of tourism. The city is full of new attractions that most people from São Paulo still don’t know. Not to mention the classic menu of places that are mandatory for any tourist, but that rarely enter the weekend tours — precisely because they are “too touristy”.
The following itinerary includes some of the novelties and traditional addresses that have just reopened to the public, for the most varied profiles of people from São Paulo.
Prefer to stretch the path a little and hit the road? We selected four hotels of different styles, all in the state of São Paulo, located at most 250 kilometers from the capital.
to stay in the city
Parks
The city gained new green areas during the pandemic. The most recent, Parque Augusta Prefeito Bruno Covas, was inaugurated in November, one block from Praça Roosevelt, downtown. With 23 thousand m², it has hammocks (each one takes its own hammock) and picnic spaces.
Five natural parks in conservation units, totaling 1,900 hectares, also started to receive visitors in 2020. Four of them are located in the South Zone: the Itaim, Jaceguava, Varginha and Bororé natural parks. On the East side is the Fazenda do Carmo Park.
All have as their main attraction the trails at different levels of difficulty, surrounded by preserved native vegetation and wild fauna. Some have a playground and picnic area — opening hours vary and can be consulted on the City Hall website.
Museum of Portuguese Language
It was reopened on July 31, after being consumed by fire and having been closed for five years. The permanent exhibition remains interactive and playful, but the content has been redesigned. On display until June 2022, the temporary exhibition “Sonhei em Português!” it deals with the language from the perspective of immigrants of different nationalities who arrive in São Paulo.
Praça da Luz, s/n, Luz.
From Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 am to 4:30 pm.
Tickets: from R$ 10 (half price) to R$ 20, free on Saturdays and for children up to 7 years old.
museudalinguaportuguesa.org.br
Santander Lantern
It reopened for visitation in May 2021 with renovated spaces and new exhibitions. “Menary Shadows”, on display until March 6, shows the visual effects created by the geometric shapes of artists Yelena Filiptchuk and Serge Beaulieu, who form the Hybycozo duo.
Until January 16, the virtual reality exhibition “A Outra Realidade”, which requires prior scheduling, provides four experiences, created by different artists — visitors can travel to space, float on the moon, interact with fictional characters and immerse themselves on a rainbow.
The Bar do Cofre Subastor, in the basement of the building, was also reopened, as was the Mirante e Café do 26, on the 26th floor.
R. João Bícola, 24, Centro.
Visitation: Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 am to 8 pm.
Tickets: from R$12.50 (half price) to R$25.
farolsantander.com.br
Ibirapuera Planetarium
It returned to operation in September 2021, now under the management of Urbia Parques. Indicated for children aged five years and over, the show “From Earth to the Universe” simulates, over 35 minutes, a journey through time and space under the light of science. During school holidays, from January (no date set for now), extra sessions will be held.
Av. Pedro Álvares Cabral, s/n, Gate 10, Ibirapuera.
Sessions, on Fridays and Saturdays, at 1pm, 3pm, 5pm and 7pm; on Sundays at 11am, 1pm, 3pm and 5pm.
Tickets: from R$15 (half price) to R$30.
It is mandatory to present proof of vaccination.
ibirapueraparque.com.br
Arena Ice Brasil
Maintained by the Brazilian Confederation of Ice Sports, Arena Ice Brasil, in Morumbi, offers skating, hockey and curling classes, but it is also possible to pay hourly to glide freely on the ice.
Access behind Extra Morumbi – Av. Major Sylvio de Magalhães Padilha, 16741, Jardim Fonte do Morumbi.
Price per skating hour: R$ 55 (weekdays) and R$ 70 (weekends and holidays).
arenaicebrasil.com.br
Arctic Snow and Ice
Running until January 30, 2022, in midsummer in São Paulo, the indoor event Ártico Neve e Gelo, installed at the Central Plaza Shopping, allows you to play snowballs, make little angels on the snowy ground and admire ice sculptures – it’s about snow true, produced from water at a temperature of -20°C.
Visitors must wear snow coats and accessories, which can be rented; the ticket entitles you to loan gloves.
Av. Dr. Francisco Mesquita, 1000, Jardim Ibitirama.
Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 9 pm; on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 8am to 9pm.
Tickets: from R$90 (half price) to R$180.
articoneve.com
Theater B32
Inaugurated at Itaim Bibi in November 2021, Teatro B32 has an architectural project signed by Eiji Hayakawa. A large glass wall integrates the back of the stage with a square that faces Faria Lima.
With outdoor tables and chairs open to the public and free WiFi, the square also houses a metallic whale-shaped sculpture, which can be visited from inside, and the Asian restaurant Dasian.
The program, curated by artistic director Sandra Rodrigues, includes music, theater and dance performances. On December 14th, a concert by Russian guitarist Igor Klokov takes place. For 2022 (still no set date), the Maria Clara Machado festival is scheduled, with children’s plays such as “Pluft, o Fantasminha” and “A Bruxinha que Era Boa”.
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3732, Itaim Bibi.
Tickets: from R$25 (half price) to R$50.
teatrob32.com.br
T-Rex Park
Since October, the outdoor area of Shopping D, in the North Zone, has been home to a real dinosaur park: the T-Rex Park. In addition to a giant tyrannosaurus rex, which is 10 meters high and 26 meters long, there are smaller sculptures of other species and various attractions typical of amusement parks, such as a roller coaster, a Ferris wheel, a free fall tower, a carousel and a train.
An interactive cinema, whose seats follow the movements of the film, amid smells and jets of water, exhibits short productions about dinosaurs aimed at children.
Avenida Cruzeiro Do Sul, 1100, Canindé.
Monday to Friday, from 2 pm to 10 pm; Saturdays, from 10 am to 10 pm; and Sundays, from 12pm to 10pm.
Free entrance; ticket for each toy: R$ 5.
to escape from the capital
Pineapple Boutique Hotel
Located in Ilhabela, squeezed between Praia do Ilhote and the Atlantic Forest, it has suites with views of the sea or the forest. Original Brazilian dishes are served at the Micaela restaurant, run by chef Fábio Vieira.
The leisure activities menu includes games and reading rooms, snooker table, sauna, swimming pool and massage room. Boat or 4×4 car trips can be booked by guests.
Rates for couples: from R$ 530 to R$ 850 (on weekends), with breakfast; Carnival packages from R$ 4,300 (five nights) to R$ 11,200 (six nights).
hotelboutiqueananas.com.br
Quilombo Inn
In São Bento do Sapucaí, 185 kilometers from São Paulo, with pet friendly service and special programming for children, in charge of monitors. The 170,000 m² area is occupied with a hot tub, multi-sport courts, games room, swimming pools, gym, spa, 250 meter zip line and nooks for yoga and meditation. One of the highlights is the Trincheira restaurant, built on an original trench from the 32nd Revolution.
Packages for two adults and one child: from R$1,560, with half board (breakfast plus lunch or dinner).
pousadadoquilombo.com.br
Santa Vitória Farm
Queluz, on the border between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, houses the mansion converted into a hotel. There are six suites in the main building, plus four suites attached to the headquarters, exclusively for couples, and two mountain houses.
The property, at the foot of Serra da Mantiqueira, is open only from Thursday to Sunday and has a waterfall, swimming pool, sauna, wood burning boiler, tennis court and a games room, housed in an old milking shed.
Trails, horseback riding, bike rides and waterfall baths are part of the activities menu. Meals include cheese, cream cheese and yogurt produced with the farm’s own milk, as well as handcrafted items from local producers.
Daily rates for couples: R$ 2,200 to R$ 3,700 (except holidays), with full board without drinks.
fazendasantavitoria.com.br
Place hotel
Built in the 1940s to be a casino in one of the most beautiful spots in Campos do Jordão, it functioned as an Orotour Garden Hotel until it was sold, renovated and reopened, in a much more luxurious version, in 2020.
In addition to the suites in the main building, it has four independent chalets on the highest points of the land, the largest of which is 175 m². Guests enjoy two restaurants —Küche, with Austrian, German and Swiss influences, and Opa, with Mediterranean cuisine.
Recreation for children, yoga classes in the garden, meditation sessions, mountain picnic and cinema make up the experience menu. In addition, the summer schedule includes a DJ party in the garden (January 29th), Arte no Fogo barbecue (January 24th) and tennis clinic (February 5th and 6th), among other events. On every weekend in February, guests can participate in the olive harvest and oil production.
Rates for couples: R$ 924 and R$ 3,900 (from Sunday to Thursday); from R$1,116 to R$4,577.
orthotel.com.br
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