Best remote lodges in South America

You may only need one or two languages to plan a continent-spanning trip across South America, but you’ll have to prepare for a wider variety of landscapes, ecosystems and wildlife. Following along the spine of the Andes Mountains, home to the highest peaks in the western hemisphere, or across the vast wetlands of the Amazon Rainforest, travelers who choose to immerse themselves in nature can find many destinations, from the tropical islands of the Galapagos to the alpine deserts of Patagonia – and maybe even the hotel of their most adventurous dreams.

Where you stay can make all the difference, especially in a place where your hotel might be the only one around for miles. These remote lodges aren’t just selling a place to sleep; they’re gateways to an immersive backcountry experience, and often get you much closer to the nature you’ve come so far to see. Comfort in these wild places is certainly a luxury – and many people don’t think about the cost of logistics of keeping hotels like these running – but whether you’re planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip or looking for a break from urban life, we’ve selected some of our favorite remote lodges across South America.

Awasi Patagonia

Torres del Paine, Chile
Best for trip guides

Price rating: $$$

Starting from the southern tip of the continent, Patagonia is a region shared by both Argentina and Chile, famous for its alpine vistas, fjords, glaciers and even penguins. There are 30 national parks you could visit in Patagonia, but Torres del Paine in Chile is arguably the most beautiful of them all. With rugged mountains sporting hanging glaciers, it looks like something out of a fairytale – but the secret has been out for a while.

During the summer, you can find trekkers on the park’s famous W and O circuits sleeping in bunks or camping out in the elements. However, in the pampa grasslands outside the park, arid sprawls of land filled with grazing guanacos, incredible lodges like Awasi Patagonia are discreetly camouflaged oases of comfort. From the cuisine to the contemporary villas, it’s a high level of luxury without the stuffiness, but the real reason to put this hotel on your radar is the personalized guiding service. Guests have their own car and a local expert to curate and coordinate their ideal trip in and around the park, so you can see Patagonia at your own pace. For some, that might mean taking on the hardest trails, and for others, that might mean crawling alongside an off-road path, far away from the other tourists, looking for rare birds or pumas.

Planning tip: High season in Patagonia may be summer, but you will still need cold-weather clothes (fleece layers, windbreakers and puffers) to brace the chilly temps and high winds.

Uakari Lodge

Amazonas, Brazil
Best for sustainability

Price rating: $$

At the other extreme of South America, you have a destination that may be one of the most mysterious places on the planet, but it needs no introduction. The Amazon is the world’s largest tropical rainforest, believed to be home to thousands of undiscovered species. The vast wetlands that span multiple countries have very few roads, and the only way to get around is by either riverboat or airplane. 

There are many ways to get into the heart of the rainforest, but one of the most special places is the Uakari Lodge in the Brazilian state of Amazonas. You will need a little bravery to stay at this floating lodge, which sits at the bend of a small river and is surrounded by caimans – cousins in the alligator and crocodile clan. You won’t want to do any stand-up paddling in these waters, but you will be able to explore by boat or on foot with daily excursions from sharp-eyed guides who are local to the reserve’s riverside communities. Sustainability is at the forefront of this lodge, so accommodations are simple but comfortable with mosquito nets and fans. The property also has a hammock-equipped deck for taking in the many sounds of the forest between excursions. Uakari Lodge employs a sustainable tourism model, with nearly 100% of its employees from the surrounding communities.

Getting there: From Manaus, take a short flight to the city of Tefé, where a speedboat can take you the rest of the way on a 90-minute journey to the Mamirua Reserve.

Explora Uyuni 

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Best for silence

Price rating: $$$

This destination in Bolivia is best known for the unique mirror effect that occurs when a thin layer of water covers the salt flats. The result of long-evaporated ancient lakes, Salar de Uyuni is the highest and driest salt desert in the world, and one of the most spectacular landscapes to experience in person. Overlooking the salt flats on a rocky outcrop, the six-room Explora Jirira Lodge is a subtle piece of architecture, sitting on stilts above a rocky outcrop that overlooks the pristine scene. The all-inclusive experience includes excursions to the islands within the salt flats and visits to local villages. There is just one minimalistic common area in this small lodge, from which you and the few other guests will watch the sunset and enjoy a menu of indigenous flavors designed by the chefs from Ancestral, a top restaurant in the Bolivian capital of La Paz. 

Planning tip: Experiencing the mirror effect is entirely dependent on whether or not there is enough water in the flats, so book your trip during the rainy season between December and April to increase your odds. 

Pikaia Lodge 

Galápagos, Ecuador
Best for amenities

Price rating: $$$

Many travelers choose to cruise the Galápagos Islands, a remote destination in its own right located over 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. However, hotels like Pikaia Lodge on Santa Cruz Island make a strong case for lingering in one place. The building sits like a contemporary castle on a hill on the edge of the Cerro Mesa Ecological Reserve. It is fully equipped with amenities like an infinity pool and a spa, plus both land and sea excursions are included, the latter on the resort’s private yacht. 

It’s all very swish, but the privacy is unmatched, and the 360-degree views of the horizon will inspire that feeling of being way off the grid, even if you are staying on the main island. This is actually more convenient for land excursions, as you’ll have the lodge’s qualified guides on hand to take you around Santa Cruz to whet your scientific curiosity at the Charles Darwin Research Center, or you could take a bike ride down to the closest beach.

Getting there: To get to the Galápagos, book a direct flight to Quito (UIO) and then a connecting flight to Baltra (GPS), from which you will need to take a ferry, or book a direct transfer with the hotel.

Gocta Andes Lodge

Andes of Chachapoyas, Peru
Best for avoiding the beaten path

Price rating: $

It’s been a long time since the ruins of Machu Picchu were lost to the world, and now Peru’s most famous landmark might even be getting its own airport. However, you can avoid the crowds if you go north, traveling through the city of Chachapoyas and to the Gocta Lodge, which boasts a stunning view of the Gocta Waterfall, the third-highest in the world, with a 770-foot drop. The rooms are colorful with balconies that let you enjoy the waterfall views, and the pool area embedded in the lawn is a great place to watch the sun set over the mountain—or wake up early for the sunrise to watch the falls be illuminated. The restaurant sources its fish from the nearby river and the local farms. Accommodations are simpler here, and guided tours of the falls and nearby archeological sites are offered. However, the lodge is situated right at the start of many hikes around the falls and the valley, so more experienced trekkers can go without a guide.

Planning tip: Gocta Falls is located at an elevation of over 2,000 feet, which is not as high as in Cusco, but you should still factor in a day or two for acclimatization.