Spring into a South American Adventure

A sun-kissed beach with beautiful people. A seaside promenade shaped like a wave. Christ the Redeemer watching from above it all. They don’t call it the Marvelous City for nothing. When visiting Brazil‘s Rio de Janeiro, take it all in from Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana. While famed Copacabana awakens from its winter slumber to welcome back springtime beachgoers, this grand urban retreat with a sophisticated touch of 1950s glamor sparkles all-year long. Take in uninterrupted views of Sugar Loaf Mountain from Spirit Copa Bar, a casual hotspot serving ceviche, poke bowls and smoked salmon alongside local spirits and cocktails. More ocean vistas are seen from the Tropìk Beach Club where Mediterranean-inspired cuisine is paired with live music. Here, you’re just steps away from the city’s greatest sights, including Ipanema Beach and Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon.

A haven of serenity in the heart of the less sandy side of Rio de Janeiro, MGallery Santa Teresa Hotel is a true boutique-style urban retreat in the charmingly colorful hilltop neighborhood of Santa Teresa. Inspired by the golden era of coffee and cocoa, an ode to the former coffee plantation it sits on, the property offers plenty of privacy from the hustle and bustle of Brazil’s largest city. While there’s plenty to explore in Rio, you have everything you need here, including one of the city’s best spas; a spacious pool with loungers, daybeds and plenty of palm trees; the famed Térèze restaurant serving Franco-Brazilian fare; and, trendy Bar dos Descasados mixing craft cocktails with seasonal fruit.

Named to our 2023 Hot List, Argentina incites all kinds of wanderlust with its vibrant cities and serene wildernesses. It’s the whole (South American) package. Experience the best of it at Alvear Art Hotel, located in the bustling heart of Buenos Aires. All 139 rooms are decorated in warm-colored fabrics and large double-glazed windows. For a different point of view of the city, the rooftop heated pool has a retractable roof for those wonderfully sunny days. Relish in the bright and trendy Contraluz Restaurant, and enjoy classic cocktails and local snacks at the Artesano Bar. Hop on a bicycle or walk around the stylish neighborhood to take in the Teatro Colón, the city’s main opera house, and the historic Obelisco de Buenos Aires monument. The open-air shopping mall of Avenida Santa Fe and the traffic-free shops of Florida Street are right at your fingertips.

A cosmopolitan city known for its tree-lined streets, world-class cafes and Malbec, Mendoza captures Argentina’s zest for life with its own laid-back spin on it. It’s easy to get lost in the rhythm of the city here, and where better to start than at Park Hyatt Mendoza. With its magnificent 19th-century Spanish colonial façade, this prestigious retreat is unmistakable from the outside. Start your day by visiting renowned wineries in the area or enjoy an adventure to the foothills of the nearby Andes Mountains. Call it a night with an exquisite dinner at Bistro M, and visit the wine bar for a selection of prestigious Mendoza wines. Later, get lucky at Sun Plaza Mendoza, the on-site state casino with table games and over 650 slot machines.

With its mountain ranges and glacial rivers, Argentinian Patagonia entices exploration. To experience it at its finest, make Llao Llao Resort, Golf & Spa your basecamp. Perched between lakes Nahuel Huapi and Moreno, the circa-1928  lodge is framed by Andean peaks. It features a 15-hectare park that includes an 18-hole golf course, marina, beach, solarium, heated indoor and outdoor infinity edge swimming pools, spa and health club. For springtime travel, staff are ready to guide you on unique treks through nearby woods bursting with fabulous seasonal colors. On the water, the hotel marina provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy the lakes. For fishing enthusiasts, the spring season is especially sublime.

In a country that encompasses the grasslands of Patagonia and the glaciers and forests of Torres del Paine National Park, Chile’s most alluring sight may be the sand and rock of the north’s majestic Atacama Desert. In this desert oasis is Tierra Atacama Hotel & Spa, an all-inclusive architectural beauty offering springtime adventure and wellness for every kind of traveler. Embark on excursions to the Altiplanic Lagoons, Moon Valley, Puritama Hot Springs, Machuca, Tatio Geysers and Atacama Salt Flat, then return to the sun-swept 32-room property to relax in one of its basket swings or poolside loungers.

A rainforest hotel in the clouds, Mashpi Lodge is like a cathedral to the natural world for nature lovers. Nestled in the heart of the Ecudor‘s Andean cloud forest, this eco-lodge is home to over 500 species of birds, trees and frogs, some found nowhere else in the world, along with crashing waterfalls and incredible flora. Using locally sourced materials and solar panels, the lodge was built with the intention of blending in with the natural environment and minimizing its impact on the surrounding Choco rainforest. Guests have the opportunity to trek down hidden paths, splash through rivers and fly high over the forest canopy in the open-air Dragonfly Gondola.

Uruguay’s beach scene is known for being one of the best in South America, and come springtime, the town of José Ignacio transforms from a sleepy fishing village into a buzzing haven for surfers and international jet setters. Sitting on this most coveted point of the Uruguayan coastline is architectural wonder Playa Vik Jose Ignacio. A collaboration between Carrie and Alex Vik and internationally renowned Uruguayan architect Carlos Ott, the avant-garde beachfront retreat features a central sculptural compound referred to as the hotel’s beating heart. Within, collections of international and contemporary Uruguayan artworks invite study. Grab your front-row spot in the 22-meter cantilevered infinity pool to take in the best sunset views on Uruguay’s Atlantic coast.

Beyond its cobbled streets, pretty promenades and rich history, Cartagena offers a slice of serenity with its proximity to the Caribbean Sea. Just 45 minutes from the city, amidst the white sand beaches and turquoise waters of Colombia’s Isla Barú, find Hotel Las Islas. Treetop bungalows and private villas elegantly decorated with Colombian flair feature views of the country’s only underwater park, The Corales del Rosario National Natural Park, where coral reefs and mangroves thrive. Spend time learning to whip up ceviche from a local chef, gaze at the stars with an on-site Astrotour or visit the property’s private island Isleta where you can do anything from kayaking to enjoying a massage.

When it comes to seeking adventure in Peru, your first thought may be Machu Picchu. But any serious bucket list chaser will tell you Colca Canyon reigns supreme when it comes to hiking. A stone’s throw from one of the deepest canyons in the world, Las Casitas, A Belmond Hotel, Colca Canyon is considered the hidden gem of the Andes. With just 20 individual casitas, each with a terrace and heated plunge pool, the property sets guests up to indulge in the peace of the Peruvian valley. Set off on stunning canyon treks, ride Peruvian Paso horses and watch the skies in search of the massive Andean condor. Or make the most of your downtime by recharging in the spa or getting to know the adorable resident alpacas.