HOUSE SUMMARY:
6 BEDROOMS (4 with SEA VIEWS) and loft bed plus 4 BATHROOMS, 2 KITCHENS, for up to 15-16 (with loft bed) GUESTS.
Villa Santa Teresa is located on the SANTA TERESA suburb hills overlooking Rio's bays, beaches, ocean entrance and port.
It is close to but not located in Copacobana.
With SWIMMING POOL, tropical GARDENS, big BARBQUE & outdoor DINING area overlooking Rio's iconic SUGAR LOAF Rock!
In ZONA SUL close to CENTRO & sitting above FLAMENCO PARK, nestled on a high harbour side bench in an oasis of greenery, it provides panoramic views of Rios's Upper, Middle and Inner HARBOURS.
WHY SO FEW REVIEWS?
This is a new listing from JULY 2023 - We have 200+ reviews on another major booking platform - our villa is heavily booked - ussually it is fully booked 3-4 months ahead but we still have some vacant periods from NOVEMBER 2023 to MARCH 2024.
Our fees are lower here because this platform charges lower service fees. If you are looking to book 6 months in advance you will almost certainly find that your preferred dates are available.
THE SPACE:
Although self catering - the villa is set up for guests like an exclusive private hotel - all bedrooms have high tech SAMSUNG air conditioning systems - with 100% cotton sheets, bed linen, and extra pillows provided for all guests - plus Shampoo and conditioner and toilet and hand wash products provided in the 4 bathrooms.
THE 7 BEDROOM VILLA has 10 BEDS - 3 QUEEN BEDS - 3 DOUBLE beds and 4 single beds.
But like a private luxury home, the villa has a cool 1.5 meter deep (at diving end) swimming pool; beautiful private tropical gardens containing an English garden croquet green; and a large outdoor Barbecue and outdoor dining area with sea views that can seat up to 15+ guests.
VILLA FACILITIES & APPLIANCES:
The Satellite TV service in the TV lounge provides access to CNN and BBC - has an extensive international movies selection
The WIFI modem is located in the upstairs lounge and privates an excellent Internet service with fast downloads available in most rooms in the villa.
WE HAVE BOTH LOCAL CLARO and INTERNATIONAL STARLINK (Elon Musks SATELITE WIFI service) INTERNET NETWORKS available for guests. We also have throughout the villa many desks designated as private work spaces.
To enable instant Internet access the WIFI in house network name and password is sent to guest’s What’s App numbers before arrival - together with a Site Plan for the villa compound - a local neighbourhood MAP - a Rio de Janeiro city suburbs map - and a local METRO ( rapid train) map.
DOMESTIC SERVICES:
We can arrange domestic staff - chef - cook - or maid for housekeeping and laundry services if required by the guests.
The house manager resides in an adjacent but fully separate Caretaker’s lodge (in the old servants quarters) close to the villa compound entry path, and his virtual 24 hour day presence provides supplementary security both during the day while guests attend local Rio tourist excursions and at night while asleep.
The house manager is also available to quickly resolve any guest house maintenance or appliance operation issues.
Although close by and available, the discrete ( English, Spanish and Portuguese speaking) house manager, fully respects guest privacy and only enters the villa itself, or the guests private pool and gardens area, upon express request by the guests.
The 'colonial' villa is 150 years old - it's not like a shiny new Copacabana high rise apartment where everything is perfectly aligned and looks brand spanking new - but it has a beautiful, elegant, classical, architectural design - glorious, spectacular, harbour views - all essential modern amenities and both its interior and exterior have recently been renovated and updated with a brand new modern bathroom installed so their are now 4 bathrooms servicing the upstairs (2) and downstairs (2) bedrooms.
GUEST ACCESS:
The villa guests have exclusive use and control over the whole house - all villa gardens - and outdoor areas - including the BARBQUE and swimming POOL.
Other things to note:
Smoking is allowed on the outdoor terraces and balconys but not inside the villa.
SECURITY:
Security is second to none with electronic code gate entry and the villa itself locks up like a box with the original riot proof colonial house door locks and window shutters making the villa impenetrable at night.
The villa is located on a flat plateau like bench set in a high hill overlooking the Rio de Janeiro harbour and Sugarloaf Rock.
It is accessed from a private gate in a well lit lane just opposite the Explorer Restaurant and Garden Bar - just off Santa Teresa's premier avenue - Rua Almirante Alexandrino.
The first gate is in front of an external garden stairway that leads up to the bench the villa is situated on - at the end of the stairs is a second closed but unlocked gate and the villa itself has wood shutters over all doors and windows and internally locks up like a box - plus all bedrooms also have internal privacy locks.
The villa security has never been penetrated by intruders even past the first of the two garden gates.
TAXIS & UBER:
Being a popular tourist area taxis are abundant in Santa Teresa and can easily and quickly be hailed - plus taxis often wait outside the villa gates by the next door Explorer Pousada garage below the Explorer garden bar so can be easily and securely accessed from the villa gates.
EATING OUT IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD: Santa Teresa 'restaurant, cafe and bar precinct':
The villa lane-way is located just off the Santa Teresa 'restaurant, cafe and bar precinct' along Rua Almirante Alexandrino - so within 1 -5 minutes walk from the villa about 30 restaurants cafes and bars can be enjoyed.
WALKS:
Santa Teresa has great walks with stunning architectural and harbour vistas plus great views of the forests and escarpments of the Tijuana National Park which overlook the seven hills (yes just like ancient Rome) of the Santa Teresa suburb heritage area from the high mountains above.
You can safely walk down the hills to the GLORIA METRO or FLAMENGO PARK [use Rua Candido Mende OR Rua Santa Christina by the Explorer Bar and Restaurant - down to on the coast line below or to the shops and bars of Catete and Flamengo/Laranjeiras.