PICI News
November 2008
Santa Helena Coffee Fazenda
Half-way between Sao Paulo and Picinguaba, discover in total privacy the authenticity and delights of your own exclusive hacienda or coffee fazenda. The perfectly preserved main house, which dates from 1860, is set in a 500 hectare working farm with 50,000 coffee plants and its horses.
Close to the charming colonial village of Sao Luiz de Piraitinga, founded at the end of the 18th century by French immigrants, this is an entire new world to discover. At the turn of the 20th century the region produced over 80% of the world's coffee, and made Sao Paulo and Brazil rich.
From the 1960's the production of coffee moved inland, and dozens of magnificent farms and residences of the "coffee barons" were left abandoned. The landscapes of the Parnaiba valley are wonderful, and time appears to have stopped.
Once we take the road that leads to Catuçaba, the atmosphere noticeably changes. No more cars, (the main road stops 19 kms from the fazenda), only a small village and its white and blue freshly repainted church on the top of the hill, where local farmers come by horse to do their shopping...
The Fazenda Santa Helena is completely self sufficient, as the farms used to be in South America in the 19th century. It produces its own energy (hydraulic with a small dam), and the delicious drinking water is from a spring on the property. Everything you will eat is produced organically on the property - corn, salads, vegetables, manioc, fresh milk from the cows for the breakfast cheese, fruits from the garden (papaya, lemons, jabuticaba, acerola, depending on time of the year), and obviously the coffee. From the top of the hills where you will wander on your horses, you can see the mountains all the way up to Minas Gerais. There is not a single house around. The silence and the peace are complete.
Depending on your mood, you can horse-ride on the estate, go fishing in one of the 5 lakes, or take a day hike to the heights of the land to enjoy sumptuous views on the valley, then bath into beautiful waterfalls, before a plentiful and healthy farm dinner. Sao Luiz nearby is an authentic little town out of time that you are quite likely to find animated with some local party or event: it is said to have 185 days of "feast" per year. Like most little places cut from the world from many decades, it has kept, for our enjoyment, most of its traditions. The carnival of Sao Luiz in one of the most famous in Brazil.
The Fazenda has 6 employees living on the land (some have been here for over 25 years), 10 horses for all levels, the main house and its annex, and at your private disposal the entire property, including a lake for bathing and fishing, and the produce from the gardens. An unforgettable experience.
PRICES
The Main House (Casa Grande) includes 3 big rooms (old wooden floor, high ceilings), a large living room, a play room, a music room with a piano, a dining room, kitchen, 2 marble bathrooms. The old slave rooms are used today as a wine cellar.
The Main House can accommodate 8 people. The annex next door has an additional 2 rooms and can accommodate 4 people, or a total of 12. The Main House is also suitable for a couple only, with or without children, in total exclusivity.
From December 20th to January 3rd : 1200 Euros per day, based on 4, 100 Euros per day per additional person.
From January 4th through the rest of the year : 900 Euros per day (4 people basis), 100 Euros per person per day for additional person.
This price includes:
- Total privacy and exclusivity of the Main House and the whole estate.
- Complete service (6 staff, baby sitting can be arranged)
- Breakfast, dinner, lunch (fresh products from the property, all organic), drinks (caipirinha, juices, etc). All included.
- Use of the horses and equipment.
- Private transfer from Sao Paulo, the airport, or Picinguaba at extra cost (100 Euros per person based on 2). Transfer service from any location.
The transfer time from Sao Paulo or Picinguaba: 2 hours.
Contact : emmanuel@picinguaba.com
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