The Copacabana Palace is superbly located: it faces the famous Copacabana Beach and yet is only minutes from the centre of Rio. The hotel is located eight miles from the domestic airport, Santos Dumont, and 20 miles from Rio de Janeiro's international airport, Tom Jobim. The Copacabana Palace is the jewel of the Orient-Express collection in the southern hemisphere and, according to the Official Hotel Guide, is the best luxury hotel in Latin America.

The Copacabana Palace is legendary for its sumptuous style, fine cuisine and impeccable service. Always the last word in elegance, this imposing Mediterranean-style building has recently been refurbished from top to toe, reaffirming its reputation as South America's most sought-after hotel. The Copacabana Palace is at the very heart of Rio's exhilarating social life, a rendezvous for the international set and the cream of Rio society.

Rio's most traditional and luxurious hotel was opened in 1923. The impressive, stucco-fashioned landmark building was designed by the French architect Joseph Gire, who was inspired by two hotels: the Negresco in Nice and the Carlton in Cannes. Since its opening, it has had only two owners - the Guinle family of Rio de Janeiro and from 1989, Orient-Express Hotels.

No other city in the world can match the natural beauty of Rio with its dazzling beaches and majestic mountains: its beauty is reborn each morning as the sun rises. Situated on the Tropic of Capricorn, the city is lush and has a pleasant tropical climate with near-perfect weather throughout the year. It is a modern, cosmopolitan city where visitors immediately feel at home. Rio is located in the south-east of Brazil, the country's most developed region and 32 per cent of Brazil's population live within a 300-mile (500-kilometre) radius of the city.

The Copacabana Palace boasts a magnificent semi-Olympic size swimming pool, without doubt the finest in Rio, and the only roof-top tennis court in the city. The hotel also offers a new Fitness Centre and a Beauty Salon. Water sports nearby include surfing and jet-skiing. It is also possible to cruise and snorkel around the offshore islands as well as play golf, beach volleyball and other sports.

The Copacabana Palace has 226 bedrooms and suites, 148 in the main building and 78 in the Tower Wing. Suites face either the sea or Copacabana Avenue. The 5th floor Executive rooms and suites all benefit from a range of exclusive facilities and an Executive lounge, where snacks and drinks are served throughout the day. Guest rooms are air conditioned and have international TV, VCR and direct dial telephones.

The Copacabana Palace is the perfect setting for business functions, and the hotel is equipped to handle a range of events from small company meetings to major international conferences. The hotel has 14 private meeting rooms and a total capacity of 2500.

With its opulent lounges, bars and restaurants, the Copacabana Palace is a haven of relaxation and good living. Guests can choose from two of Rio's finest restaurants: the Cipriani Restaurant and the Pergula Restaurant.

The semi-Olympic size Swimming Pool is heated to a temperature of 28º C. There is a poolside sunbathing area. The tennis court is located on top of the hotel terrace.