Luxury Travel in South America
HOTELS, LODGES, HACIENDAS & EXPERIENCES
The definition of luxury is continually evolving and pertinent to each individual. For some, it can be vital to experience whilst travelling but it can be hard to know where to find a genuine ‘experience’. At South America Travel Centre our experts work diligently to discover what Luxury truly means to you in order to help you experience it from the moment you board your flight to the time you return.
To us, the meaning of luxury in travel is to have the freedom to experience a destination at your own pace, to be able to immerse yourself in the local culture and to not have a single concern. This notion of luxury is something we strive to deliver with each and every experience. Not only this, but our firsthand knowledge of sophisticated destinations, gourmet cuisine, lodges and hotels enable us to send you on an inspired journey with confidence and ease.
South America has many luxury properties and experiences, here you’ll find some of the best. Travel throughout South America with the support of expert local guides, in private air-conditioned vehicles or on unforgettable train journeys. Whatever your dream holiday, we can make it happen.
South America Travel Centre specialises in creating tailor-made holidays in South America, Central America, Cuba and Mexico. Whether you wish to travel around a specific country (e.g. Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador (Galapagos), Guyana, Peru, Uruguay or Venezuela) or you wish to experience several countries in a longer tour from Mexico to Argentina we can design an itinerary just for you.
SOUTH AMERICA
Argentina – luxury properties & experiences
Overview:
Luxury properties are found from Salta, in Argentina’s arid north, through the wine growing regions of Mendoza, it’s beautiful capital, Buenos Aires and Ushuaia in the Tierra Del Fuego (end of the world) .
A holiday staying at Argentina’s finest luxury and boutique properties should include fine dining, excellent wines, learning about the Gaucho way of life, horse whispering, expansive landscapes and of course Buenos Aires, the Paris of South America.
Lavish properties come in the form of lodges, haciendas, excellent wineries and a combination of luxury and boutique hotels. An individually tailored itinerary by our experts can combine any of these properties together to create an authentic and deluxe Argentinian experience.
Image: Aarkur Hotel Ushuaia
Bolivia
Overview:
Bolivia has a small number of luxury or boutique properties, in La Paz and a recently opened tented camp (glamping) on the edge of the Salar de Uyuni (Uyuni Salt Flats). It is possible to fly-in-and-out of the Uyuni and an overland journey from Uyuni to Chile’s Atacama region will have you experiencing some simple, yet wonderfully located, lodges as well as some of Souht America’s most stunning scenery. If you were to take this trip you could end up staying in one of many luxury boutique lodges in San Pedro de Atacama, where having stayed in more simple accommodation you’ll appreciate your surrounding all the more.
Image: Kachi Lodge (Salar de Uyuni)
Brazil
Overview:
Just like the country Brazil offers an incredibly diverse range of luxury hotels and lodges; some are converted colonial homes, others grand hotels, like the Belmond Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro, as well as boutique rain-forest lodges, like Cristalino Lodge.
Brazil also offer many luxurious modern properties in cosmopolitan Sao Paulo and in the Copacabana and Ipanema regions of Rio de Janeiro.
Image: Belmond das Cataratas (Iguassu Falls)
Chile
Overview:
Chile likely has more luxury and boutique properties than any other country in South America. From the Atacama region in the North to the foot of Patagonia in the South there are many wonderful and architecturally stunning lodges, wineries and hotels, most of them fully-inclusive. From the moment you arrive everything will be taken care of focused on your interests and preferences. With so many excellent properties to chose from it’s possible to tailor-make your holiday even further. Some properties have a greater focus on cuisine, others on activities (walking & mountain biking) and some have an excellent stable with horses of differing abilities/qualities. Our team of dedicated experts can find out what your interests are to ensure that they are choosing the right property for you.
Image: Awasi Patagonia
Colombia
Overview:
Colombia has many stunning luxury hotels as well as several beautiful Haciendas (former coffee plantations). Cartagena’s old walled city area has many small luxury boutique hotels offering an oasis from which explore.
Image: Ananda Hotel, Cartagena
Ecuador
Overview:
Luxury and boutique hotels, lodges and colonial era haciendas can be found in Ecuador. Whilst there is not the diversity of properties as found in Peru and Chile, Ecuador still has several fabulous accommodation and experiences to choose from along with luxury Amazon riverboats. Many of these properties have strong links with the local community as well as an environmentally strong ethic giving their guests and authentic and meaningful experience.
Image: Mashpi Lodge (Cloud Forest)
Galapagos Islands
Overview:
Over the last four years many fine luxury Galapagos ships have been launched (more are being launched in 2019/2020). Most are small 16-20 berth ships that offer air-conditioned luxury as well as a high standard of service (with Naturalist guides as well as an on-board cruise director).
The Galapagos Islands also has a small number of luxury hotels, or in one case, a luxury ‘Safari Camp’. These properties offer excursions to nearby islands; they can also be combined with a traditional Galapagos Cruise.
Image: MV Petrel
Peru
Overview:
Luxurious experiences and properties are found throughout Peru. Cosmopolitan Lima has many luxury hotels, Lima also has many world-leading restaurants (two of the world’s top ten). Cuzco and the Sacred Valley offer many fine hotels, lodges and Haciendas; many offering spa facilities as well as fine dining.
Luxury can also be found in the Amazon, either in a lodge or on a luxury Amazon riverboat.
Image: Belmond Palacio Nazarenas
Uruguay
Overview:
Easily accessible from Buenos Aires by hydrofoil across the Rio de la Plata, the tiny country of Uruguay offers a small number of luxury properties in the beautiful 17th century Portuguese town of Colonia, the capital Montevideo, and the glamorous Monaco-style resort area of Punta del Este. Uruguay also has a small number of estancias and wineries that offer a luxury stay.
Image: Narbona Wine Lodge
CENTRAL AMERICA
Costa Rica
Overview:
Costa Rica has many beautiful & luxury wilderness lodges from which to discover the countries amazingly colourful wildlife.
Image: Lapa Rios Lodge
Guatemala
Overview:
Luxury can also be found on a trip through Guatemala, in particular on the shores of Lake Atitlan. Antigua also offers several boutique properties from which to discover this beautiful city.
Image: Lake Atitlan Hotel
Panama
Overview:
Panama has several new luxury hotels as well as several fine older hotels and several boutique hotels from which to discover Panama’s rich bird life and stunning beaches.
Image: American Trade Hotel, Panama City
CUBA AND MEXICO
Cuba
Overview:
Until recently luxury accommodation in Cuba was limited to a couple of hotels in Havana and Trinidad. With some restrictions eased investment is being made and more luxury accommodations are appearing.
Image: Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski
Mexico
Overview:
Mexico has many fine hotels and spas. It also has several several former colonial houses that have been concerted to provide beautiful boutique accommodation. The smaller, better, properties book out quickly.
Image: Chable Resort & Spa Merida