Uyuni
This appealing hostel is in a modern building featuring plenty of concrete and wood, a bright central courtyard and sociable common areas. The private…
Must-see hotels in South America
Bolivia
Located across the river from town and a 10-minute walk from the bus station, this hostel has 13 spacious rooms with gleaming tiled floors, bright and…
Cartagena
Despite steadily rising prices in Getsemaní, rates here remain reasonable and you'll get personal, four-star service, beautiful communal areas with…
Montevideo
If you can snag one of the two 6th-floor rooms at this ancient family-run hotel one block off Plaza Matriz, go for it! Both feature air-conditioning and…
Sucre
Immaculate Casa Verde is a real home away from home. It's deservedly popular and frankly underpriced given the quality of service: Belgian owner Rene…
Cauca & Huila
A kilometer out of Villavieja toward the Desierto de la Tatacoa, this compound of tiny, thatched-roofed cottages is so colorful that you can be forgiven…
Coastal Patagonia
Want to really get away? Stay at this offbeat guesthouse or rent simple stone cottages from the original settlement, artfully restored with recycled and…
Suriname
This magical spot on an island surrounded by thick rainforest is only accessible via a three-hour boat ride from Atjoni, where the road from Paramaribo…
Salvador
Located in an old colonial house complete with a swimming pool and a Moroccan-style lounge (rarities at any hostel), but especially in one at such a great…
Northern Patagonia
A great hub for hikers heading into Parque Nacional Cerro Castillo, this hostel also offers custom hiking tours and horse-packing trips. Guests have…
Salta & the Andean Northwest
Oozing with character, this lovely spot with grazing llamas out front is two centuries old, and feels like a museum, with venerable books lining antique…
Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona
This gorgeous place very stylishly caters for discerning backpackers who want to explore the park without giving up all comforts. It's very rustic but…
Rio Grande do Sul
Student groups often utilize the separate dorm-style accommodation at this HI hostel, but more discerning travelers will be comfortable in the private…
Baños
This exquisite little guesthouse has colorful, comfortable rooms, wood floors, gigantic breakfasts and art all around. Several rooms have waterfall views,…
Potosí
Housed in an attractively crumbling 18th-century colonial house in the center of town with an equally handsome yellow and stone slab inner atrium. The…
Refúgio Ecológico Pedra Afiada
Santa Catarina
Splendidly located within the Cânion Malacara, this isolated inn has a gorgeous stone fireplace for chilly nights, a fabulous rooftop deck and viewing…
North Coast & Lowlands
Look no further for seclusion: the lovely and remote Playa Escondida offers accommodation in rustic cabins surrounding a beautiful beach cove, set amid 2…
The Quilotoa Loop
This wonderfully rustic community-operated property sits above the valley, 100m north of Chugchilán, and offers spectacular views. Rooms have a cozy cabin…
French Guiana
Housed in a gorgeously renovated colonial building overlooking Cayenne's main square, this boutique bolt-hole has the best rooms in town (room 1, in…
Mendoza
Comfortable and homey, a stay at this family-run B&B hits the right notes, combining personal intimacy and understated professionalism. Each of the five…
Hotel La Posada del Monasterio
Arequipa
On a prime corner, this hotel gracefully inhabits an architectural mix-and-match building combining the best of the European and South American style. The…
Puno
This delightful traditional Puno home has a flower-filled courtyard and inviting rooms lining a 2nd-floor balcony. But the real draw is the sincere…
Georgetown
This is the smartest choice in downtown Georgetown, with a sleek feel and modern furnishings, crisp white cotton sheets on all the beds and some great…
Santa Catarina
This American-run hostel earns top honors across the pedestrian bridge. Three-, four- and 10-bed dorm facilities are spread across several buildings, all…
Cochabamba
As you walk around the wonderfully decorated salons in this elegantly furnished hotel on a quiet street in the wealthy Recoleta district, you could be…
Northern Patagonia
The ultimate hideaway, these rustic cabins along the fjord exude serenity. Ample lodgings are well spaced for privacy and feature wood stoves. Service is…
Suriname
This remote lodge built on an island next to the Awarradam rapids is a great place for those who want to get deep into the jungle while experiencing…
Cañón Del Colca
‘Heaven’s Well,’ as the name translates, is all low doorways, high ceilings, weirdly shaped rooms and winding paths. One half expects the seven dwarfs to…
Bolivia
In the barrio of Chiriaca at the top of Irupana (past the soccer field, turn right), Nirvana houses five sublime cabañas (cabins) in an immaculate…
Suriname
Run by the tiny, very traditional and welcoming village of Gunsi, this is the best place to immerse yourself into Saamaca culture. Huts with beds and…
Amazonas
Occupying a grand old mansion with views of São Gabriel's best beach, Pico da Neblina is used mostly for long-term rentals but reserves one room for…
Amazon Basin
Two hundred meters from the main plaza, this updated spot is now a buzzing playground for backpackers. A complete makeover includes crafty tacuara (bamboo…
Uruguay
Just paces from the city center, this classy boutique hotel easily outshines Salto's other downtown sleeping options. The lovingly renovated historic…
Paramaribo
This sparkling clean guesthouse is the best budget deal in the city. It's on a central, quiet backstreet, and the whole place has a welcoming vibe with a…
Cañón Del Colca
The purposefully rustic rooms here inhabit thatched-roof stone cottages in neatly sculpted grounds. The best features are the unusual extras such as an…
The Pampas & the Atlantic Coast
The best option in the area is roughly 4km from center, and well worth the jaunt for tidy rooms with high, slanted beamed ceilings, and the quiet location…
Cañón Del Colca
Just what Chivay needed: a hotel right on the Plaza de Armas where you can rest in clean, spacious rooms with very comfy cotton bedding, spotless modern…
Puerto Montt
This boutique hotel in the old neighborhood of Modelo is full of furniture (headboards, wardrobes) fashioned from rescued railway trestles. The high-style…
Ilhabela
Up a dramatic driveway from Vila, this relative newcomer sits tucked away in jungly surrounds. Dorms come in four- to 12-bed configurations (the latter…
Mendoza & the Central Andes
The most extravagant of Las Leñas’ lodgings is the nominally five-star, 99-room Hotel Piscis, with great valley views. Repairs and improvements are needed…
