Kurotel

Kurotel is a family-run health resort, clinic and spa in the mountain town of Gramado, in southern Brazil. It's best for people who want a medically supervised reset, with doctors, nutritionists and therapists building a plan around goals like stress, sleep, weight or healthy ageing.

What it's like

Kurotel is a health resort in Gramado, a mountain town in Brazil's southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. It mixes a medical clinic, a spa and a hotel under one roof, and it calls itself a health resort rather than a hotel with a spa.

The story goes back to 1971, when founding physician Dr Luis Carlos Silveira created what he called the Kur Method. The resort itself opened in March 1982 with just 10 apartments, a medical clinic, a gym and Kneipp water therapy. It's grown steadily since, adding an indoor pool, an aesthetics center, a water therapy area and, in 2018, a contemporary wing with 20 more apartments. It's still a family business, passed from one generation to the next, and the current medical director is Dr Mariela de Oliveira Silveira.

The approach blends current science and technology with older therapies. Expect medical, nutritional and psychological consultations alongside massages, hydrotherapy baths, yoga and guided walks. In 2025, the World Spa Awards named it Brazil's best wellness retreat.

The programs

• Kur Method. The flagship program starts at four nights. You see a doctor, nutritionist, psychologist and physiotherapist, get a body imaging assessment and follow a personalized daily schedule. It includes five meals a day on a tailored meal plan, group exercise classes, water aerobics, therapeutic massages, an underwater massage and a therapeutic bath circuit. Some treatments, such as mud packs, are added only if a doctor recommends them.
• Kur Wellness. A lighter option from two nights, without medical follow-up. It includes four meals a day, one body therapy session, the bath circuit, yoga, meditation and guided walks, including to Lago Negro.
• Longevity. Focused on attention and memory, with options for care before and after surgery.
• Other plans cover weight loss, corporate groups and day spa visits.

When you book, you pick one or more focus areas. The list includes burnout, stress, sleep problems, digital detox, quitting smoking, menopause, gut health, muscle strength and weight loss. The team also offers follow-up after you go home.

Rooms

Rooms range from classic suites designed to feel like Gramado to modern suites in the newer wing. There's also a reserved wing with its own private spa and a private elevator straight to the suite, plus a chalet option.

Who it suits (and who it doesn't)

Kurotel suits people who want structure and real medical input, not just a massage menu. If you've got a clear goal, like sleeping better, recovering from burnout or preparing for surgery, the clinical side is the main draw.

It's less suited to travelers who want a casual holiday with minimal scheduling. The website is in Portuguese, so non-Portuguese speakers should contact the team before booking to check language support.

Getting there

Kurotel is at Rua Nações Unidas 533 in Gramado. Most international visitors fly into Porto Alegre, the state capital, then continue by road into the hills. The website doesn't list transfer details, so ask the reservations team about getting there when you book.