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From the Amazon to the Pantanal to Bahia’s coast, Brazil makes a compelling case for responsible travel — backed by a national climate program transforming its cities from the ground up.
Brazil’s case for eco-travel has always been self-evident — the Amazon, the Pantanal, a coastline that stretches nearly 5,000 miles. But now, the country’s cities are also working to match the ambition of its natural endowment.
Earlier this year, C40 Cities and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy selected the first 34 cities and two states to receive technical and finance-structuring support under the Brazil Mutirão Program, backed by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The initiative targets urban mobility, waste management, and climate budgeting, with 11 Amazon cities at its center — a pointed recognition of the region’s strategic importance following COP30, which Belém hosted last year. Projects already in development include roughly 600 electric buses, more than 200 kilometers of cycling infrastructure, and composting initiatives in Curitiba and the Amazonian city of Ananindeua expected to reduce around 5,000 tons of CO₂e in methane emissions annually.
“Cities are where the fight against climate change is won or lost, and mayors are proving that local leadership can turn climate ambition into real progress for people,” Ana Toni, COP30 CEO, said in a statement. “By bringing together national and local governments around shared data and proven solutions, this initiative shows how multilevel partnerships can deliver climate action at scale, offering a practical blueprint that countries around the world can follow.”
Brazil is building toward something, and the country’s finest hotels and resorts, restaurants, and wilderness experiences are already part of that architecture. In São Paulo, Alex Atala’s D.O.M. has spent two decades making the argument for Amazonian ingredients as fine dining material — tucupi, baru nuts, priprioca root — sourcing directly from indigenous communities in the interior. It remains one of the most persuasive cases for Brazilian cuisine as a global force, and a meal there functions as both a culinary and environmental education. In Rio de Janeiro, Lasai earned two Michelin stars on the strength of a hyper-seasonal menu that changes weekly based on farm deliveries, with produce grown in the restaurant’s own urban garden. Both operate with the land as an active collaborator.
The Pantanal is the most wildlife-dense ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere, and the dry season from June through October draws jaguars, giant anteaters, and capybaras to the riverbanks in concentrations that can be staggering. The Amazon warrants an expedition of its own — small-boat journeys departing from Manaus or the gateway town of Alter do Chão in Pará reach areas with no road access and extraordinary biodiversity. Fernando de Noronha, Brazil’s protected Atlantic archipelago, caps annual visitor numbers to preserve its reef systems; book well in advance for diving and snorkeling in water that ranks among the clearest in the hemisphere.
“Mayors across Brazil are stepping up with bold ideas to tackle the climate crisis while improving everyday life for their residents,” Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities, said. “The Brazil Mutirão Program is about connecting cities with the technical expertise and partnerships to accelerate plans into action, from cleaner transport systems to smarter waste solutions. By backing city leadership, Brazil is helping demonstrate how local action can drive national and global climate progress.”
The most responsible hotels and resorts in Brazil
There’s a lot to see in Brazil, and a single trip will only make a small dent. But go ahead and start exploring the country at these eco hotels and resorts that marry comfort and responsible travel seamlessly.
Cristalino Lodge, Alta Floresta, Mato Grosso
Widely considered one of the premier jungle lodges in South America, Cristalino sits within a private reserve adjacent to Cristalino State Park in the southern Amazon. The lodge has operated its own conservation foundation since 2001, funding scientific research, trail maintenance, and reforestation within its buffer zone. Rooms are open-air but thoroughly refined — hardwood floors, locally sourced textiles, and the forest as ambient soundtrack. Resident naturalists lead canopy tower visits and birding walks at dawn through habitat that supports more than 600 bird species, along with tapirs, giant river otters, and the occasional jaguar.
Caiman Ecological Refuge, Pantanal
Caiman has been running conservation-based tourism on its 53,000-hectare working ranch since the 1980s, which makes it a founding institution in Brazilian eco-travel. The refuge’s hyacinth macaw reintroduction program is active and ongoing, and guided river safaris deliver jaguar sightings at rates that rival anything the African savanna offers in terms of wildlife density. Three lodges on the property range in style from intimate and rustic to full resort comfort, all set within a wetland landscape of extraordinary richness.
UXUA Casa Hotel and Spa, Trancoso, Bahia
On the Bahian coast, UXUA occupies a cluster of restored 16th-century fishermen’s casas facing the Quadrado, Trancoso’s iconic central square. Each of the 11 individual casas was designed by a different artisan, with reclaimed wood, handmade tiles, and regional craftsmanship woven throughout. The hotel runs an active coral reef restoration project offshore and an organic garden that supplies the kitchen. The setting — turquoise pools, soaring palms, the Atlantic beyond — is undeniably beautiful, and the sustainability work informs the experience rather than decorating it.
Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge, Amazonas
Situated on the banks of the Rio Negro near Manaus, Anavilhanas sits adjacent to the Anavilhanas Archipelago, a protected stretch of more than 400 river islands and one of the most biodiverse freshwater ecosystems on earth. The lodge offers guided expeditions by motorboat and kayak, meeting-of-the-waters tours, and pink river dolphin encounters with some regularity. Bungalows are elevated on stilts over the forest, and the lodge works directly with surrounding communities on sustainable tourism practices.
Janeiro Hotel, Leblon
This hotel runs on a sustainability philosophy that the founders call ASAP — As Sustainable As Possible — certified by Instituto-e. The hotel is an Oskar Metsavaht project, so the design is serious: natural materials, neutral tones, floor-to-ceiling ocean views, rooftop infinity pool. The kitchen sources organic, local ingredients, and the hotel has adopted dunes along Ipanema and Leblon as part of the Restinga Project, a public-private coastal reforestation initiative using native species.
Hotel Arpoador, Ipanema
This is the only hotel sitting directly on the sand between Ipanema and Copacabana, designed by architect Thiago Bernardes with natural wood and nature-inspired textures throughout. It became the first Zero Waste hotel in Rio de Janeiro state in 2023, earned Green Key certification in December 2025, and achieved carbon-neutral status through Rio City Hall’s ISS Neutro program. Composting, local organic sourcing, and aggressive food waste reduction are all active programs.
Rosewood São Paulo, Cidade Matarazzo
Jean Nouvel designed the 25-story standout Mata Atlantica Tower — wrapped in 250 trees reaching up to 14 meters, the building is literally a living biodiversity program reintroducing indigenous Atlantic Forest flora and fauna into the city center. Philippe Starck handled interiors. The entire Cidade Matarazzo development was built using 100 percent locally sourced, upcycled, and recycled materials, and the hotel operates on 100 percent renewable energy.
JW Marriott São Paulo, Parque da Cidade
For a truly eco stay, the JW Marriott in São Paulo is LEED and Green Key dual-certified — the former covering the building itself within a Class A LEED-certified mixed-use complex, the latter its ongoing operations. Sustainability practices include automatic room systems that cut lighting and air conditioning 15 minutes after a guest leaves. Solid for a city hotel with strong credentials, though less architecturally striking than the Rosewood.
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