Since Aqua Expeditions began 13 years ago, each voyage unlocks access to remote regions through small explorer vessels.

Since Aqua Expeditions began 13 years ago, voyages unlock access to remote regions through small explorer vessels.

Sitting on a private reserve with view of Torres del Paine's snow-capped mountains, Awasi redefines luxury in Chilean Patagonia.

The third Uruguayan property in José Ignacio from Vik Retreats, Bahia Vik offers a spacious beachfront hideaway with a resort-like vibe. Here's our review.

Between the sea, sand and mountains, only one building is recognizable: a palatial grand hotel, the Copacabana Palace.

Belmond Hotel Monasterio occupies a 16th-century monastery, but with modern amenities plus the service standards of Belmond hotels.

What once was a humble fly-fishing lodge has been transformed by adventure-lodging powerhouse Eleven into one of Chile's most special lodges.

Estancia Vik is a Spanish colonial ranch with exquisite interiors crafted by local Uruguayan artists. Read our review of the property.

Read our review of Islas Secas in Panama an ultra-private island paradise with no more than 24 guests at a time and fantastic access to nature.

Owned and operated by Quasar Expeditions, Grace is perfect for visitors to the Galápagos seeking a sophisticated, classic-style vessel.

Palacio Nazarenas, A Belmond Hotel, Cusco, occupies a fabulous former palace and convent, but has been updated to feature the best room product in Cusco.

The six-room Playa Vik, a stone’s throw from the action of Jose Ignacio town, feels like an art aficionado’s ultimate escape. Here's our review.

Nestled in the Sacred Valley, this dreamy family-owned compound merges the owner's European background her love for Peruvian culture and community.

Tierra Atacama is the perfect retreat for nature lovers seeking both serenity and adventure.

For travelers exploring the dramatic landscapes of Patagonia and Atacama, Vik Chile offers a wow conclusion to a Chilean adventure. Here's our review.

If Madonna, Nicole Kidman or Lady Gaga were coming to Buenos Aires to film a remake of “Evita,” they would be sure to stay at the Algodon Mansion. Until the opening of this beautiful townhouse hotel, the most palatial place to stay in the Recoleta area—or all of Buenos Aires for that matter—was a room in the palace section of the Park Hyatt or Four Seasons hotel. Now, however, the more exclusive option is to check in to this ten-suite mansion just around the corner where you will be among a much smaller group of guests and in more private circumstances. The stunning Belle Epoque-style residence was built as a family home in 1912, and its grand classical façade and proportions have been meticulously restored but now a valet in a well-cut suit greets guests outside and ushers them into salons that are sleek and modern. The check-in desk sits in a marble hallway and to its left is an elegant bar with a fireplace flanked by handsome suede club chairs. Next door is the intimate dining room of the restaurant, the Algodon Club, where French/Argentine cuisine is served to a crowd of well-heeled locals as well as hotel guests. Downstairs is a wine cellar, which includes bottles from the Algodon Estates in Mendoza.

The ten guest suites feature sleek contemporary furniture from B&B Italia and Cappellini and all have vast marble bathrooms, including major steam showers, and the latest technology from WiFi and plasma TVs to electronic window shades, iPod docks and Nespresso machines. Some of the larger suites contain separate living rooms and baby grand pianos. To ensure that all guests feel at home, each room comes with an Algodon wine-tasting set and a 24-hour butler who can assist with cars, personalized business cards, reservations, or, in our case, fresh-baked cookies as a late-night snack. Though there are no fitness facilities, guests receive complimentary membership to a large and modern gym a block away. The Algodon does have a spa as well as a small rooftop pool, really large dipping tub, which is surrounded by a teak deck, complete with loungers. Individual suites or the entire mansion can be rented.

Situated in the lush Catarpe Valley just outside San Pedro de Atacama, Alto Atacama is set against a strikingly remote backdrop; the Salt Mountain Range looms in the distance, blending in with the adobe-walled property and giving a sense of isolation despite being only a mile from town.

The hotel’s forty-two rooms are sprinkled throughout the property, and all are decorated in a harmonious earth palate, with regional touches like hand-woven blankets in vibrant reds and orange hues. Many have private terraces overlooking the meticulously cared-for gardens. Shared spaces include a cozy living room with a fireplace, an outdoor lounge to take in the gorgeous sunsets and the aforementioned gardens, lovingly referred to as the “Andean Park,” constructed as a tribute to the surrounding terrain. And of course, Alto has a roster of over 30 excursions, ranging from horseback-riding on the sand dunes to exploring the nearby Incan ruins.

Hermès toiletries, 500-thread-count Egyptian-cotton linens, daily fruit baskets, and fresh flowers everywhere are just a few of the amenities that make the Alvear Palace popular with traditionalists looking for a taste of Argentine opulence. A recent renovation at the hotel updated the 210 rose-, beige- and cream-hued Louis XV–style rooms and suites with marble bathrooms and LCD screens above the in-room hot tubs, though rooms still feel surprisingly dated. There are all-new accommodations on the top floors, with an ever-so-gentle veer towards a more contemporary style. Guests in these rooms have a private check-in experience on the 10th floor, and access to a club level.

Butlers will unpack for guests as well as secure reservations at the hotel’s refined French restaurant, La Bourgogne, the first Relais Gourmand restaurant in Latin America. The hotel’s spa has also been refurbished, and the gym features top-end equipment. For cocktails or high tea, don’t miss the dark and romantic lobby bar, usually busy with a local crowd. The multi-tiered rooftop bar is also a local favorite, and has some of the best views in city. Sunday brunch in the main restaurant is the best in the city, worth attending even if you’re staying elsewhere.

The Andaz Costa Rica, the second luxury hotel for the brand, is situated on the beautiful Peninsula Papagayo with breathtaking views from the entire property. Tucked away in a lush rainforest, the Andaz is a modern oasis, and the open-air design and neutral color scheme blend right into the tropical surroundings.

The resort has 153 sleek guest rooms and 21 suites, including four with plunge pools, and a two-bedroom presidential suite with a full pool. Each of the accommodations offers partial or full views of the bay through floor-to-ceiling windows. The décor is sleek and modern, while still being authentically Costa Rican with natural wood furnishings and rattan fabrics. The rooms also offer a complimentary minibar and WiFi, along with such beach essentials as flip-flops and straw beach hats for use during one's stay.

The hotel boasts two infinity-edge pools with views of the sea, one geared towards families and the other adults-only. The beach has complimentary activities, including kayaking, snorkeling and paddle boarding in the crystalline waters of Culebra Bay. There is also a Kids’ Club for children ages 4-12 that offers games, activities and art projects. The spa and wellness center is located in the leafy forest, providing treatments in a spectacular setting. There are two restaurants on property serving Latin American-inspired cuisine and a tapas and cocktail bar on the terrace with lovely views.

Long gone are the times when the journey to the destination was just as enjoyable as the trip itself (no more glamorous air travel or celebrity filled transatlantic crossings), but nostalgic train travel is still within reach in Peru. The Belmond Andean Explorer is South America’s first luxury sleeper train that offers travelers two train itineraries: a one night journey between Cusco and Puno (on the shores of Lake Titicaca) or a two night journey between Cusco, Puno and Arequipa. Both of which are offered in either direction.

With an onboard baby grand piano, two bars, two dining cars, a spa car and activities like cooking and cocktail classes available, the Belmond Andean Explorer is by far the most comfortable way to travel for those visiting Lake Titicaca. While the rooms are well appointed with neutral colors and accented with Peruvian textiles (think soft Alpaca fabrics) and art, the constraints of the train cars result in small accommodations. (Note: We recommend the suites as they are surprisingly spacious for a train and offer the only double beds on board.) Each of the 35 cabins is equipped with an ensuite bathroom, robes, air conditioning and oxygen tanks to make the high altitude more comfortable.

For those wary of sleeping on a moving train, consider the one night journey between Cusco and Puno because the train stops overnight so that passengers can sleep.

One of the many elements that make Aqua Wellness Resort so special is its staff. Consisting of a wide array of multi-talented ex-pats, they resemble a family (and by the end of your trip, they will feel like your family). The Director of Sustainable Systems is a Vermont-educated farmer. The Managing Partner who originally hails from British Guiana is also a Manhattan hedge fund manager. The Wellness Director having “broken up with winter years ago,” spends her winters in Nicaragua and summers in Canada. The General Manager who is developing the spa into a world-class program, was born in the Ukraine. The German architect is married to the Managing Director (ask about how they met: she was a tourist in Manhattan’s Central Park, he offered her directions, they fell in love…) The English chef biked around Asia for two years perfecting his craft.

An eco luxury property comprised of 25 tree houses, Aqua Wellness Resort sits on the protected Redonda Bay on the Pacific coast. The resort emphasizes nature, in particular the stunning ocean at its feet. The houses, built on pilings amid the tropical forest and made of sustainable local wood and stone, feature rain showers and un-chlorinated private plunge pools. Ideal for families, the tree houses can accommodate several people and even have full kitchens, dining rooms and lounge areas. The Nicaraguan furnishings are comfortable and the views of the rainforest and ocean act as the world’s most spectacular decoration. One of the directors described their mission: “We’re intentionally taking people out of their comfort zone and bringing them back to basics. We’re in nature, but in a luxurious way.”

Activities include hiking, surfing, fishing, kayaking and yoga. The 1,100-square-foot yoga platform overlooks the ocean and the instructor also offers a raw-food cooking course. The protected nature of the bay allows for snorkeling and swimming in the very warm and gentle ocean, and phosphorescent sea creatures are visible at night.

The food at Bromelia restaurant is a balanced mix of American (omelets, fajitas, pasta, and sandwiches) and Nicaraguan (ceviche, locally caught seafood, churrasco, gallo pinto and curry). All food is locally grown as the resort works closely with the farmers in the nearby town of Rivas. Also on offer is an extensive menu of smoothies – all of which include all-natural, locally grown ingredients (a great post-yoga treat).

Located off one of San Pedro de Atacama’s main streets, Awasi Atacama is the area’s most exclusive property with only ten rooms and private excursions.