Gran Meliá Iguazú, Argentina
South America has long played second fiddle to Europe on the luxury travel circuit, and we think that's about to change. It offers many of the experiences travelers want most: beautiful hotels, standout cuisine, extraordinary scenery, and meaningful cultural moments, yet often at a better value and with fewer crowds than many headline destinations. Europe will always have its magic, but if you’re ready for something fresh, read on.
Top Left: Maido Restaurant, Lima, Peru | Top Right: Las Casitas, A Belmond Hotel
Bottom Left: Andean Explorer Belmond Train | Bottom Right: Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba
Few countries pack as much wonder into one destination as Peru. Fly into Lima, its capital, for fantastic high-end hotels and a mind-blowing culinary scene. Once you've had your fill of the city's beaches and restaurants (and picked up a few gorgeous baby alpaca sweaters) fly into Cusco for adventure in the Andes. The region's luxury properties are some of the finest we've seen, and a spectacular vintage train journey to Machu Picchu makes for an arrival you'll never forget.
Top Left: Medellín, Colombia | Top Right: Casa San Agustín, Cartagena, Colombia
Bottom Left: Cartagena, Colombia | Bottom Right: Sofitel Barú Cartagena, Colombia
Colombia rewards travelers with beaches on two coasts, the Caribbean and Pacific, and the Amazon rainforest to the south. Learn some dance moves in the self-proclaimed world capital of salsa: the music you'll hear in Cali's bars and even on the streets makes it hard not to start moving your feet. The picturesque walled city of Cartagena is a must-visit for its high-end boutique hotels and Caribbean-inspired seafood cuisine. Shop for a traditional Colombian sombrero vueltiao and wear the hat home as a reminder of this unforgettable country.
Top Left: The Vines Resort & Spa, Mendoza | Top Right: Iguazu Falls
Bottom Left: Casa de Uco Vineyards & Wine Resort, Mendoza | Bottom Right:El Ateneo Grand Splendid Bookstore, Buenos Aires
Argentina offers so much as well. In Mendoza province, miles of vineyards stretch as far as the eye can see, with boutique hotels sitting amongst the grapevines. Head south to Patagonia for glacial splendor in some of the most dramatic landscapes on earth, then lose yourself in Buenos Aires, where you might find us wandering the stacks of one of the world's most beautiful bookstores: El Ateneo Grand Splendid in the Recoleta neighborhood. Argentina also gets you closer to the world-famous Iguazu Falls, found on the border with Brazil in the midst of a lush rainforest.
Ask us which corner of South America fits your travel style best.