Must-see hotels in South America

  • Sacha Lodge

    The Oriente

    Enjoying a spectacular setting on the inland lake of Pilchecocha (Laguna El Pilche), a short hike and canoe ride from the Río Napo, Sacha Lodge is one of…

  • Chalalán Ecolodge

    Amazon Basin

    This is Bolivia’s oldest and most successful community-based ecotourism project. Chalalán provides the opportunity to amble through relatively untouched…

  • Sadiri

    Amazon Basin

    One of the newest kids on the community-project block is wonderful Sadiri: six luxury cabins in dense foothill rainforest in the Serranía Sadiri…

  • Villa Jennifer

    Central Highlands

    This peaceful tropical enclave is run by a Danish-Peruvian couple who have done wonders with a lush expanse of tropical bushland bounded by rivers on two…

  • Calanoa Amazonas

    Amazon Basin

    With just six gorgeously designed cabins, this tiny jungle lodge truly is a slice of paradise, and one of the few in the Amazon Basin that allows visitors…

  • Hostería Mandála

    Puerto López

    Easily the nicest place to stay in town, Mandála has a beachfront location north of the malecón – you can't miss the giant rainbow whale tail beckoning…

  • Sol y Luna

    Urubamba

    A living fairy tale, this luxury Relais & Chateaux property runs wild with whimsy. Fans of folk art will be overwhelmed – its 43 casitas (cabins) feature…

  • Morromico

    Chocó

    Situated on a magnificent private beach protected by forested headlands, family run Morromico is a beautiful, small ecoresort surrounded by thick jungle…

  • Hotel Fasano

    Ipanema & Leblon

    Designed by Philippe Starck, the Fasano has fabulously designed rooms with hardwood floors, handsome furnishings (including chairs designed by Sergio…

  • Hotel Click-Clack

    Bogotá

    This high-design haven, the boutique hotel of choice for Colombia's trendsetters, has a sophisticated aesthetic vaguely based around vintage TVs and…

  • Toca da Coruja

    Praia da Pipa

    One of Brazil’s most charming luxury pousadas, Toca da Coruja is an eco- and community-conscious place wrapped in sprawling tropical gardens with sagui…

  • San Pedro Hotel Spa

    Cartagena

    An arresting seven-room boutique hotel wrapped in a handsome colonial mansion, the San Pedro manages to balance authentic historical touches with genuine…

  • Casa Chueca

    Middle Chile

    Gardens looking over the Río Lircay surround the comfortable cabins and hostel at Austrian-run Casa Chueca. It's in the countryside outside Talca, but it…

  • Finca Mirador Morrogacho

    Manizales

    Located on a mountainside on the outskirts of town, this fantastic small hotel with phenomenal views has a variety of spacious, classy accommodations with…

  • Boulevard 251 Riverside Apartments

    Iquitos

    We'll tell it to you straight: there is no better place to stay in Iquitos, either for the exceptional location, high above the banks of the river, or for…

  • Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

    Aguas Calientes

    Luxuriant and set amid tropical gardens, these Andean-style cottages (many with their own private pool) connected by stone pathways are pure indulgence…

  • Hotel Emiliano

    Rio de Janeiro

    Rio's loveliest new hotel sits on a prime spot fronting Copacabana's southern shore. The rooms have a modernist aesthetic, with jacaranda wood furniture,…

  • Hostal Sol y Luna

    Bolivia

    Set on a jungle-covered hill, this inspiring spot offers appealingly rustic accommodations in a variety of cabañas (cabins), simple rooms and camping…

  • Tierra Patagonia

    Parque Nacional Torres del Paine

    Sculpted into the sprawling steppe, this sleek luxury lodge is nothing if not inviting, with a lively living room and circular bar focused on a grand fire…

  • Choibana

    Chocó

    Set on a hillside overlooking a private beach backed by thick jungle, this atmospheric wooden lodge is a great place to take it easy. It has just three…

  • Singular Hotel

    Puerto Natales

    A regional landmark reimagined, the Singular is a former meatpacking and shipping facility on the sound. Heightened industrial design, like chairs…

  • Patagonia Camp

    Parque Nacional Torres del Paine

    This deluxe camp delivers full wilderness immersion far away from the park crowds. Raised boardwalks connect a series of spacious and comfortable yurts…

  • Los Colorados

    Quebrada de Humahuaca

    Looking like they're straight out of a science-fiction movie, these strange but inviting apartments will have you feeling like you've booked into a…

  • Reserva El Cairo

    Salento

    Coffee-country accommodations don't get much better than this. The elegant and comfortable rooms here are set in a charming traditional farmhouse in lush…

  • Inkaterra La Casona

    Cuzco

    Hitting the perfect balance of cozy and high style, this renovated grand colonial in tiny Plazoleta Nazarenas is simply debonair. Rustic meets majestic…

  • Hotel Santa Teresa

    Santa Teresa & Lapa

    What is probably the finest boutique hotel in Rio is set in a lavishly restored building that was part of a coffee plantation in the 19th century. It…

  • Casa Cartagena

    Cuzco

    Fusing modern with colonial, this Italian-owned boutique hotel is dripping in style. Its 16 suites feature walls with oversized stripes, king-sized beds,…

  • Lodge at Valle Chacabuco

    Northern Patagonia

    Classic and refined, these side-by-side beautiful stone lodges were modeled on English architecture in southern Argentina. Patterned tiles, handsome wood…

  • Las Olas

    Lake Titicaca

    To say too much about this place is to spoil the surprise, so here's a taste: quirky, creative, stylish, ecofriendly, million-dollar vistas. Plus there…

  • Hotel Magnolia

    Santiago

    No two rooms are exactly alike at this artfully designed boutique hotel, which masterfully intertwines old and new within the confines of a restored 1920s…

  • Estancia Peuma Hue

    Bariloche

    Sitting amid pristine forests and waterfalls on the banks of Lago Gutiérrez, off RN 40, this wonderful ecolodge retreat is ideal for outdoor adventurers…

  • Lodging House Casa del Lago

    Puerto Ayora

    Ideal for laid-back families or small groups. Choose from several suites with fully stocked kitchens and charming private patios or porches: everything is…

  • Casa Iguana Mar y Sol

    Isla San Cristóbal (Chatham)

    Everything in this five-room hotel, only minutes from the malecón toward Playa Mann, is lovingly and painstakingly handcrafted – from the railings to the…

  • Tetris Container Hostel

    Foz do Iguaçu

    Brazil's coolest hostel is crafted from 15 shipping containers – even the pool is a water-filled shipping container – and makes full use of other…

  • Casa Blanca

    Isla San Cristóbal (Chatham)

    There’s no better place to base yourself in town: not only does this whitewashed adobe building have charmingly decorated rooms and tile floors, but it…

  • We Hostel Design

    São Paulo

    Simply gorgeous, São Paulo's best hostel sits inside a beautiful historic 1926 white mansion on a quiet Vila Mariana residential corner. From the guest…

  • Singular

    Santiago

    Setting new standards for boutique luxury, this standout in the heart of Barrio Lastarria is sharp, refined, thoughtful and, well, singular. The large…

  • Estancia El Cóndor

    Inland Patagonia

    A burly slice of heaven, this remote estancia sits tucked into the shores of Lago San Martín. Lodgings are comfortable but not luxuriant. The casco has…

  • Otorongo Lodge

    Amazon Basin

    Travelers give great feedback about this rustic-style lodge, 100km from Iquitos, and no wonder. It's set down a peaceful tributary off the Amazon and…

  • Cristalino Lodge

    Mato Grosso & Mato Grosso do Sul

    On the banks of the Rio Cristalino (39km north of Alta Floresta), in an area rich in flora and fauna, this luxurious lodge has two 50m-high observation…

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