Relax in Rio: 8 amazing spa hotels for soothing the soul in Brazil's steamy city

This sleek and edgy hotel updates Copacabana’s magic of yore with flair. The Santapele Spa is designed for detox and relaxation, offering treatments such as shiatsu and lymphatic drainage. Pop on some personalised flip-flops and head to the magnificent rooftop pool that L-shapes in front of the sun-loungers to deliver a stunning tropical refuge, or hit the compact gym with its widescreen views over the Atlantic. Opt for a sea-view room and be wowed by the panorama before you. The hotel also offers a special Ocean Spa Suite, with a private sauna and hot tub, and special treatments such as petal baths can be arranged.

Fasano has single-handedly revolutionised the city’s hotel scene with its superior service and understated cool, making it the place to see and be seen. If the understated luxury isn’t reason enough to justify the price tag, then its prime location – on the boundary of the stunning Arpoador and Ipanema beaches – most certainly is. The ground-floor spa offers a large variety of treatments for hair, skin and nails, using organic products and recycled materials, such as the spa uniform and flip-flops. The rooftop infinity pool is so sought-after that São Paulo's high-flyers book rooms on weekends just to facilitate a Saturday afternoon's lounging across the state border. There’s a Vichy Shower Room on the same floor.

The Palace is located in the glamourous Copacabana neighbourhood. Vast chandeliers, copious amounts of marble and forests-worth of polished Brazilian wood set the tone for this gorgeous, neo-classical wedding cake of a hotel. The huge ground-floor swimming pool is the centre around which the hotel buzzes, complete with a stylish bar and the dependable Pérgula restaurant. A tennis court can be found on the third floor rooftop, service to the sun loungers on Copacabana Beach opposite includes fresh fruits and coconut water, and the spa is a first-class retreat for those who feel they could still unwind a little bit further.

Rio’s Sheraton Resort is wedged into the rock face overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Lounge poolside as waves wash up against the sandy cove below, safe in the knowledge that everything you could possibly need can be found on site. Behind the pool are two hard tennis courts, while upstairs the magnificent, golden spa is the height of luxury, attracting local celebrities as well as guests in search of pampering. A 15-minute coastal walk unlocks the city’s best restaurants in Leblon. The 26th-floor Etoile is the showstopper, where classic French cooking is executed with a Brazilian twist across a tasting menu.

Bringing a touch of dependable Grand Hyatt quality to Barra’s rather hit-and-miss hotel scene, Rio’s first self-styled ‘urban resort’ will charm couples and bowl over families with its beachfront location, vast pool complex and one-off nods to the local culture. The basement spa is pure escapism, mercifully insulated from the joyous weekly samba classes held in the adjacent studio and the pumping limbs of the next-door, high-tech fitness suite. The three restaurants cover Italian, Brazilian and pan-Asian cuisine with aplomb, with Shisu’s sushi and Japanese-grill tasting menu with sake pairing a highlight.

Fasano Angra, on the lush Costa Verde coastal road, delivers the signature warm hospitality while offering guests the agonising choice between short boat rides to tropical destinations or staying put to enjoy impressive facilities, like an 18-hole golf course and enormous spa. Guests can tackle jungle-traversing running trails, cool off in the waterfall-fed natural pools or simply find some headspace at the sumptuous spa before kicking back on the private beach. The front-on views across the bay in some rooms are divine, but the wildlife of the rear-facing apartments won’t disappoint either.

Hotel Santa Teresa has the air of a hillside retreat, but packs in all the amenities of a five-star hotel. The former coffee finca is set in the undulating landscape of the ever charming, bohemian neighbourhood of Santa Teresa, ideal for visitors looking to explore a less sandy side of Rio. The palm-lined pool includes a soothing sun terrace for a daily Vitamin D hit. The sumptuous spa is one of the best in the city, and offers treatments using local essential oils, tropical fruit, and coffee oils as ingredients. The award-winning restaurant is another boon, and has won many awards for its Franco-Brazilian fusion dishes.

The hotel is located in a geographical sweet spot between the city and sea at a quiet end of Copacabana. The area, Leme, is home to a glorious expanse of pale beach that hosts families and promenaders, footballers and sunbathers. From the moment you walk in though, it feels dependable in style, service and design. There’s a gym and spa with two hot tubs and talented therapists. The wide windows in the rooms open out to the Atlantic Ocean, allowing the roar of the waves and the chatter of the beach to blow in. The views of the rooftop pool and bar are indisputable.