Five-star properties are popping up throughout Latin America with luxurious offerings from hot spring mineral pools in villas to private yacht explorations.
In December, Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens’ new sister property, Nayara Springs, opened in Costa Rica on a mountaintop in the Arenal Volcano National Park.
The luxury property, located 2.5 hours from the capital San Jose in the town of La Fortuna, features 16 private villas with views of the volcano, surrounded by creeks and natural hot springs. Each villa features a private plunge pool fed by the mineral hot springs, as well as full butler service, a private garden with an open-air shower, and indoor and outdoor lounging areas. In addition, the hotel features a spa, yoga pavilion, adult-only pool and piano bar. Guests can also choose from four dining venues: the fine dining Amor Loco, which features vegetables grown at the resort’s organic garden; the open air gourmet Altamira Restaurant, with buffet breakfast and a la carte lunch and dinner; the Latin Asian fusion Sushi Amor; and Nostalgia Wine & Tapas Bar, which offers wine pairing dinners.
Rates start at $590 per night and include daily a la carte breakfast; welcome drinks; complimentary mini bar; and complimentary Internet access and long-distance telephone calls. For more information, call (866) 311-1197 or visit nayarasprings.com.
Later this year, the 14-room Pikaia Lodge, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, will open on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos.
The eco-sustainable property has a LEED operational certification and will be the first carbon neutral accommodation in the Galapagos. Set in the highlands on an extinct volcano crater, guests will have views of the ocean and island, and many of the secluded suites boast floor-to-ceiling windows. The property also features a wellness center with a whirlpool and sauna; private paths for walking, jogging and biking; a wine cellar with South American vintages; the Evolution Restaurant; and the private 100-ft. M/V Pikaia I yacht.
Travelers can book land and sea exploration packages at the resort through Tropic-Journeys in Nature, such as the 11-day Pikaia Lodge + M/Y Galapagos Aggressor III Live-Aboard Boat package, starting at $8,750 and including a 4-night stay at the lodge and a 6-night scuba diving trip cruising the northern islands of Wolf and Darwin. For more information, visit pikaialodgegalapagos.com or destinationecuador.com.
In Chile, The Singular Santiago, a five-star hotel in the downtown section of the capital, will also open this year. Set in the Lastarria neighborhood, the new hotel is near attractions such as The Museum of Fine Arts, The Museum of Visual Arts, and the Gabriela Mistral Center.
The property’s 62 rooms, each with a living area, include 40 deluxe terrace rooms with views of the Parque Forestal; four suites; and seven patio and 14 classic terrace rooms overlooking the Plaza Mulato Gil. In addition, guests can dine at The Singular Santiago’s Restaurant, which serves French bistro-inspired cuisine using local ingredients, or relax at the Spa at The Singular Santiago, a 3,300-sq.-ft. spa with four treatment rooms, jacuzzis, saunas and steam rooms.
Call for rates. For more information, visit thesingular.com/santiago/lastarria.
