Tetzacuilli: The Pen @ Casa Tlalli

Casa Tlalli is an evolving work of love. Tlalli means Earth in Nahuatl, one of Mexico`s original languages. Situated in the Serra da Mantiqueira in the Brazilian State of Minas Gerais, between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo cities, in the grounds of a former goat cheese production farm. This is an area whose landscape and vibe is reminiscent of the Catskills or the Cotswolds. We have a total of 3 spaces listed here. #casatlalli

NEW: we have a new OFURO, hot tub overlooking the mountain!

Home description. The space used to house the goat-milk producing goats to make the cheese, until I realized I was not cut out to be an intensive farmer and I have recently re-converted it to a dwelling. The Goat Pen is ample, open flooded with light from all sides with views of the surrounding mountains. The entire structure is wooden and you can still see the small details of its previous utilization. There are small windows at about knee level where the goats used to stick their heads out to drink from their basins.

The bedrooms. The Goat Pen is but one single loft-space like open space filled by art and rugs, all warmed by a fireplace. On constructing it, I wanted to give it a “gallery” type feel where art is centra and the “living” surrounds it. We have one large comfortable bed and a smaller one that can be converted into 2, amongst the art, which acts, along with the space, as a separation between the two. Each bed has a small lamp for ambience next to the bed where you can read to your heart’s content. There are two bathrooms each with its own toilet and a separate wash basin for maximum space.

Other surprising features.
We have two beautiful horses that have recuperating in the property after years of working in other farms. At Casa Tlalli, they only feed on abundant grass and cavort all around. We only have one riding saddle. Let us know if you want ride ahead of time.

The art takes a central place. I am experimenting “living” with art and the pen is a reflection of that. With a designer, we recently finished the installation of a Guatemalan mayan textile installation as well as new figurines of Brazilian indigenous provenance.

We have a path to our stream. Feel free to go down and take dip in the natural pools.

The landscape. Casa Tlalli is made up of 49 hectares; 7 hectares of farmed land and 42 hectares of protected forest that is connected to the Itatiaia National Park.


The property is mountainous, but the house and the pen sit on two small plateaus right at the foot of the mountain. The Pen sits below the entrance and the house about 500mts above. The diagram shows the property perimeter and the photo above the location of the house and pen relative to the mountains

We have a natural spring sprouting in the property and that joins the river downstream that merge with other streams that eventually become Cachoeria da Prata (Silver Waterfall) about 800mts below. We have a second stream on the west of the property that does not spring from the property.

You will have the entire place for your self since it is all open space where you can fit multiple people.

I will most likely not be around since I live in Sao Paulo. However, the keeper of the grounds will show you around and leave you the key.

We are located in the Serra da Mantiqueira, a mountain range located in the the states of Minas Gerais, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Casa Tlalli is located in the Minas Gerais side in the municipality of Bocaina de Minas, across the Pedra da Prata - a huge stone monolith, about 800mts from the Cachoeira da Prata waterfall. We are part of the Waterfall Circuit of the region.

Casa Tlalli borders the Itatiaia National Park micro region, the first national park in Brazil. The landscapes are breathtaking, the vegetation lush and the mountains keep the silence and serenity of the land and its inhabitants. The region is known for its abundant water that maintains great biodiversity.

Our region in particular is known for its counterculture vibe. The little towns of Visconde de Maua and Maringa - about 45minutes from us - are a treasure trove of culture in a rural setting. From the quirky Beatles bar to a Tibetan buddhist center and even a Jazz Bar. The cultural center at Visconde can hook you up to all the cultural events and various ateliers; we live right across from the former atelier of famed Brazilian pop-artist - Rubens Gerchman. Moreover the whole region is known for its outdoors lifestyle from mountain biking to mountain climbing (love the Pedra Selada and we do it often) or even paragliding.

There is a relative recent documentary on the region - Caminhos da Mantiqueira (Trails of the Mantiqueira - in Portuguese only) - that can provide further background on this amazingly beautiful and culturally rich region. We are incredibly proud and GRATEFUL for being part of this community.

We are about 3 hours from the city of Rio de Janeiro and 4 hours from the city of Sao Paulo.You can get here by car or by bus from Rio or Sao Paulo to Penedo or Resende. From there you take a second bus to Mirantão. We are 5kms from there - we arrange a taxi or pick you up.

During the rainy season, please be aware that you need to check the weather before you set out to Casa Tlalli. We live in a rural area and along a dirt road that can get muddy.

Once booked, we will be sending you by email a booklet with the instructions on how to get there, description etc.

Note: We charge an extra fee of R$50/day/additional guest for any number of guests above our limit of 4. Please let us know if you would be bringing additional people and we can accommodate.

Also, yes we are pet-friendly, we just ask you to please observe the house rules (no pets in bed or sofas). Furthermore, we do charge an additional R$100/day per pet.
Please be kind to nature and its animals, you are visiting them, not there for your amusement. We have a horse that loves to eat apples or feed, but largely keeps to himself in the surrounding mountains.
Please also mind the house, and its objects. I have been collecting for many years and the objects are precious, less for their value, but for their history. Feel free to read the books or films, but please put back when done. There are many thoughts in each of them and you never know when one needs a new idea from a previously read text.