Grand Designs: Latin America

There doesn’t exist a hotel on earth that can match the majesty of a Yellowstone or Banff or Kruger or Komodo. Or does there?

This is part 4 of 4 in our Grand Designs series, featuring hotels in Latin America. Find the whole series here: Part 1: Asia and Oceania // Part 2: Europe and Africa // Part 3: USA and Canada // Part 4: Latin America.

Believe it or not, there are perfectly reasonable people who find a good piece of architecture and design to be as impressive as any earthly scenery — if not more so. You might be reading one of them right now. Nothing shameful about it. We’re not defensive. We’re special. A club of special people for whom a tasteful touch of humanity amid the randomness of nature helps us appreciate both even more.

The hotels listed below are located in or near some incredible national parks. They were chosen because they are monumental works of art and hospitality that club members have deemed aesthetically equal to the spectacular landscapes and cultural treasures that surround them. Read on to see if you’re one of us.
 

Gaia River Lodge

Cayo District, Belize

Aptly named for the Greek goddess who’s no less than the personification of the Earth itself, Gaia River Lodge immerses you in the Belizean rain forest, and gives you a front-row view of the majestic Five Sisters Waterfalls in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve and proximity to Elijio Panti National Park. Getting there is far from quick and effortless — but it’s worth the trouble.

Rancho do Peixe

Jericoacoara, Brazil

Rancho do Peixe, located on the pristine and somewhat remote northern coast of Brazil, started out as the rustic beachfront getaway of a group of windsurfing enthusiasts. These days, there may be wifi access and fine linens on the beds, but the rugged look and convivial spirit survive — and as in the past, the star attraction is the magnificent natural beauty of Jericoacoara national park.

Origins Luxury Lodge

Bijagua, Costa Rica

Fantastically secluded in the mountainous interior of northern Costa Rica, Origins Luxury Lodge isn’t one for subtlety. Its elevated perspective gives it a panoramic view that takes in the rainforest’s treetops, the vast Lake Nicaragua, and the distant volcanoes of Volcán Tenorio National Park. Its unique construction is eye-catching even as its natural materials blend with its surroundings.

Bahia Vik

Jose Ignacio, Uruguay

José Ignacio is a happening beachside enclave that’s superseded Punta del Este as Uruguay’s most desirable destination. Here, set on the dunes beside the ocean, is the thoroughly modern Bahia Vik. Like other hotels by Alex and Carrie Vik, there’s a firm focus on a notable art collection and ongoing involvement with contemporary artists. There’s also Cabo Polonio, a splendid national park just up the coast.

Amomoxtli

Tepoztlán, Mexico

Tepoztlán is a mountain town near Mexico City that’s known for its significance in Aztec history and culture — as well as the ruins of the nearby El Tepozteco temple, and the national park that surrounds it. And with the advent of Amomoxtli, the region’s first high-end luxury boutique hotel, it’s a destination that’s set to welcome a new crop of international travelers.

Remota

Puerto Natales, Chile

Remota’s industrial, bunker-like design was groundbreaking when it was unveiled in 2005. It’s a huge architectural statement that comes with a small human footprint, putting the emphasis on the surrounding natural landscapes instead of the manmade structures. It’s a good thing, too. Those surrounds include Patagonia and Torres del Paine National Park, two of the most beautiful places on earth.

La Alondra Casa de Huespedes

Corrientes, Argentina

Perhaps inspired by the old-fashioned Argentinian tradition of the pulpería — a tavern-meets-guesthouse that hosted gauchos and travelers during their long journeys across the pampas — La Alondra Casa de Huespedes, a small guesthouse near the historic center of Corrientes, brands itself as a “refuge for nomads.” It’s also a good place from which to visit the wetlands and wildlife of Iberá National Park.

Casa Chablé

Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

There are hotels closer to Tulum National Park, just 30 miles north, but Casa Chablé puts you directly in Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site dedicated to preserving the flora and fauna of the Yucatán coast. This hotel single-handedly demonstrates that the desert-island atmosphere of a true eco-resort is entirely compatible with the white-glove elegance of a modern luxury hotel.

Tierra Chiloe

Castro, Chile

It’s true that Chiloé, the largest island on a northern Patagonian archipelago, surrounded by deep blue water and dotted with colorful fishing villages, doesn’t have the name recognition of Atacama or Torres del Paine. But the eye-catching Tierra Chiloé will put it on the map. The hotel is all about views of the pristine waters surrounding the island, and for the extra-adventurous, access to Chiloé National Park.

Belmond Hotel das Cataratas

Iguazu Falls, Brazil

Staying at Belmond Hotel Das Cataratas means that you’ll sleep just a stone’s throw away from the thundering series of more than 275 waterfalls that make up Iguazu Falls National Park, one of our planet’s most astonishing natural landmarks. The hacienda-style hotel is no slouch either, having been lovingly restored to its 1950s glory, with the original Portuguese-inspired charms on proud display.

Six Senses La Sagesse

St. David’s, Grenada

Six Senses La Sagesse occupies a headland on the quiet south coast of Grenada, a place that’s rapidly ascending the luxury destination rankings. The hotel’s low-profile structures are nestled into the rises and falls of the land in a way that affords it an extraordinary sense of privacy and seclusion. When you get bored of the beach, visit the exotic wildlife and waterfalls at Grand Etang National Park.

Casa Gangotena

Quito, Ecuador

Built as a private residence in 1534, the Renaissance-style Casa Gangotena honors its history through lovingly restored painted ceilings, wooden paneling, oil paintings, murals, and friezes. It’s set in a prominent corner of Quito’s Old Town, itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and allows for trips to a quartet of Ecuadorian national parks, Cayambe-Coca, Sumaco Napo-Galeras, Cotopaxi, and Llanganates.

 
 
This is part 4 of 4 in our Grand Designs series, featuring hotels in Latin America. Find the whole series here: Part 1: Asia and Oceania // Part 2: Europe and Africa // Part 3: USA and Canada // Part 4: Latin America.