About us
More than a simple bed & breakfast
Eco Refúgio Cantareira was born naturally, without any grand plan or commercial intention. This place has always been our home, a space for rest, togetherness, and direct contact with nature. Over time, friends started coming, then friends of friends, and it soon became clear that this little corner wasn't just ours; it made sense to share it.
The idea was never to create a "hotel," but to open the house to those seeking true rest, genuine contact with nature, and more human connections. The proposal is simple: to welcome guests warmly, with care, respect for the environment, and attention to the details that truly matter.
Everything was designed to work in harmony with nature. The buildings are lightweight, the choices are conscious, and sustainability is not just talk, it's daily practice. Energy comes from the sun, resource use is responsible, and the pace of the place invites you to slow down.
Those who arrive are welcomed like long-time friends. The food carries family stories, inspired by Grandma Francelina's recipes, and the experience is intimate, human, and informal. Eco Refúgio Cantareira is that: a real place, open to those who value simplicity, nature, and genuine care.
Who we are
We are Mell and Marcelo, life partners, work partners, and partners in choice. Eco Refúgio Cantareira was born from our way of life, from what we believe in, and from what we have decided to uphold every day. It didn't start as a business project, but as an extension of our routine, our home, and the relationship we have built with nature and with time.
We take care of everything that happens here: from what is built to what is prepared in the kitchen and, above all, the way we welcome guests. We receive those who arrive as friends, without formality or distance, providing close support, because we truly believe that presence and care make all the difference.
That same care is evident in every detail of the place. The Eco Refuge wasn't designed to please everyone or to operate on a large scale. It's a simple and honest proposition: an experience connected to rural life, to real contact with nature, and to time lived more attentively, at the pace it should have.
If this makes sense to you and you want to experience it firsthand, we'll be waiting for you here.
Free and happy animals
Living with animals is part of the experience. We have dogs and chickens roaming freely on the property. The dogs are guard dogs, attentive to their surroundings, but in our presence they are docile, used to people, and very affectionate.
