Búzios: A Boutique Resort

Once a quiet fishing village, Búzios was put on the map by cinema siren Brigitte Bardot, who regularly stole away to the charming Brazilian peninsula in the '60s. Since then, Búzios, located just two hours away from Rio, has evolved into a resort hot spot, with a new crop of boutique hotels and luxury guesthouses serving a jet-set clientele.

Villa Rasa Marina, recently launched by the Hotéis Marina group, is an elegantly decorated, 35-room boutique hotel situated on Praia Rasa, a semi-private beach known for its shallow, clear waters and serene surroundings. Rasa Marina's host of amenities reflects its unique, 360-degree approach, which encourages guests to settle fully into the hideaway's pampered leisure, with offerings ranging from pool- and beach-side drinks to a full-service spa and an oyster and ceviche bar run by star chef Felipe Bronze. For those yearning after more private delights, there's also a deluxe bungalow with a strategically placed beach-view jacuzzi.

However, if you want to keep up with Búzios' beach buzz and nightlife, then check into Pérola or Casas Brancas. One of the oldest hotels in town, Casas Brancas has 32 rooms, all of which feature a clean, Mediterranean look and are already fully booked for April—the new high season for resort insiders. "Jet-setters are looking for a calmer Búzios, and not only does April have perfect weather, but the city is much less crowded that month than in December or January," explains general manager Santiago Bebianno. Besides a stunning panoramic view of Búzios' bay, Casas Brancas also offers one of South America's best spas, which has doubtless reinvigorated many of the hotel's celebrity guests, such as Isabelle Huppert, Philippe Stark and Zinedine Zidane.

At the more design-oriented Pérola, guests can see and be seen while sipping post-beach cocktails on the curtained beds that ring the hotel's shimmering pool. The majority of Pérola's 60 rooms are sprawling suites with over 800-square-feet of private space, encompassing a lounge area and a garden beyond the deluxe bedroom and bathroom. Only two years old, the hotel has already become a firm fixture in the Búzios scene, especially for late-Saturday lunches, where its restaurant's feijoada, a traditional Brazilian black-bean dish, is a favorite.

Upscale guesthouses are also entering the market, including Bella Nina, a charming estate nestled into a hillside facing the Praia Brava beach. Owned by couple José Marcos and Flavia Vieira, the six-room guesthouse was designed by Marcos, who was inspired by the lush environs outside. Indoors, Bella Nina mixes exotic details, such as lace covers from India, with rustic Brazilian motifs, like wrought-iron decorative roses and art-nouveau headboards. The guesthouse is perfect for romantic getaways, or, with the right group of friends, could be booked as an exclusive Búzios beach house for the whole resort season.

—Flavia Mendonça