Latin America is one of the dreamiest destinations to visit in the world. From amazing UNESCO World Heritage Sites to a huge diversity of cultures, rich flora and fauna as well as some of the most breathtaking and jaw-dropping landscapes in the world, Latin America ranks high as one of the top continents to visit, especially for travellers who are looking for a meaningful and resonating vacation experience.
When you speak of luxury in Latin America, some of the best hotels and jungle lodges include Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa, Andaz Papagayo, Belmond Hotel das Cataratas, El Mangroove, Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica, Hotel del Parque, Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica, Lapa Rios, and Mashpi Lodge.
So, whether you are planning a trip to Costa Rica, Brazil, Belize or Ecuador, here are the top 10 luxurious hotels and jungle lodges to stay at.
1. Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa, Costa Rica
Set in the heart of 900 acres of lush tropical jungle, Tabacon Thermal Reserve sits at the base of the majestic Arenal Volcano, which houses Costs Rica’s largest network of naturally flowing hot springs. The pristine and sparkling clear waters flow into the waterfalls and hidden bathing pools throughout the resort.
Additionally, the resort and everything in it is designed to make visitors feel in tune with nature and have a luxury experience; starting from the design of the rooms to the thermal springs that supplies the resort’s internationally-acclaimed spa.
Completely in harmony with nature, Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa has been awarded a five star for its sustainability by the Costa Rican Tourism Board. Immerse yourself and enjoy nature from one of the resorts 103 luxurious guest rooms and watch howler monkeys, scarlet macaws, coatis and admire the verdant green jungle foliage.
2. Four Seasons Resort, Costa Rica
This list won’t be complete without adding the Four Seasons Resort. It’s no surprise that it is one of the best (luxury) resorts in the world and Latin America; thanks to its perfect waters and an excellent pool surrounded by a backdrop of mountainsides.
The resort stretches over 250 acres, with a bay on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. From its hillside perch overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Four Seasons’ expansive Costa Rican resort offers privacy while being your launching pad into boundless adventures.
The hotel foyer is an airy mix of pillars and bamboo ceilings. Head down the stairs, and the room opens up to showcase two of the hotel’s pools, including a main pool and sundeck and a separate family pool. Staff cannot do enough, offering towels, cool washcloths, and ice water, plus the stations supply complimentary sunscreen or after-sun.
To one side of the Four Seasons peninsula is a grey–sand beach, on the other, a crescent of palm-shaded white sand. Other facilities include an excellent spa, golf, numerous eateries, and a lobby bar. After a day of zip lining, surfing or hiking a volcano, return to its tropical retreat for a farm- and -sea-to-table dining, refreshing swims in its four swimming pools or relaxing spa treatments. For families and couples who can’t wait to experience “Pura Vida (Where Adventure & Relaxation Meets),” the Four Seasons Resort is your best bet.
3. Andaz Papagayo, Costa Rica
For travellers who want to discover a beachside bliss, we recommend the Andaz Papayago. The 132-rooms and 21 suites resort creates an elegant treehouse feel, and its outdoor terraces offer an immersive Costa Rican views of the tropical forest and bay; which are complemented by the room’s modern design infused with natural materials and local character.
One of its most beautiful creations –the Presidential Suite – an exquisite 3,218 square foot (299 sq.mt.) residence with an oversized terrace and private pool will provide family and friends with an immersion in the lush tropical forest. This suite features a king-bedded master and second bedroom with two double beds, living room, dining area, kitchen and exclusive courtyard entry. Modern design blends with touches of local character such as woven textiles, solid woods and carved artefacts to highlight the Costa Rican aesthetic.
The master bathroom includes a walk-in rain shower and a private terrace with a relaxing outdoor soaking tub. Its spa –the Onda Spa- the 11,000 square foot offers an extensive spa menu of treatments, beautifications, and customized programs. Visitors can indulge in full-body wellness with various massages, body scrubs and wraps, facial therapies, manicures, pedicures, and waxing; while listening to the soothing sound of birdsongs and ocean waves soothe you in one of the three outdoor treatment rooms.
Andaz Costa Rica Resort is also pet-friendly and offers the right mix of adventure and relaxation. Daytime excursions may include a visit to a volcano, surf lessons or an activity within Peninsula Papagayo’s 1,400-acre natural playground. You can also hang out and observe the monkeys at one of its beaches or pools.
4. Belmond Lodge Das Cataratas, Brazil
Belmond Lodge das Cataratas, is the one resort positioned inside Brazil’s Iguassu Nationwide Park. This rainforest resort has an unbeatable location within the jungle, only a quick stroll from Iguazu Falls, one of many world’s most spectacular waterfalls.
For travellers who want to embark on the ultimate jungle escape, Belmond Lodge das Cataratas, this pastel-pink hideaway grants exclusive access to the park—minus the crowds should be on your bucket list. Restored to its original 1950s charm, the hotel’s hacienda-style exterior is matched by its warm, inviting interior design.
Visitors can step outside and explore the sprawling, sculpted grounds or spot a kaleidoscopic array of tropical flowers as howler monkeys call in the distance. Nestled in the centre is an elegantly designed pool. Flanked by orchids, it’s the perfect spot for a refreshing dip after a day full of adventure.
Its lavishly decorated rooms are designed for space and serenity with the addition of colonial furniture, dark wooden floors and artisanal fabrics feature throughout. In each en-suite bedroom, plush furnishings and elegant marble bathrooms invite absolute calm. You can soak up the tropics from your own private balcony. It’s no wonder that the Belmond Lodge Das Cataratas is where “Rainforest thrills meet timeless luxury.”
Lapa Rios Lodge protects 1,000 acres of Central America’s last remaining tropical lowland rainforest. In this immersive destination, the real luxury is in living and breathing the jungle. Every inch is waiting to be discovered. Here, you’ll encounter iconic frogs and macaws; endangered monkeys and over 300 bird species. It’s a pristine environment where nature thrives in its rawest form.
The 17-bungalow lodge assists in the development of the local community, and since its opening in 1993, Lapa Rios has won numerous awards and has been featured in the press worldwide. At the lodge, guests can look forward to once-in-a-lifetime rainforest adventures, wildlife encounters and ocean activities. So, whether you come with a bold spirit for exploring or in search of nature’s tranquillity, you will find myriad opportunities to connect with this enigmatic ecosystem.
Plus, the lodge creates an intimate and authentic experience, at once luxurious, educational and inspiring. Its included interpretive hikes, bird-watching walks, sustainability tours and more provide a true window to the beating heart of the wild Osa Peninsula. According to the Lapa Rios, “Come Enjoy The Rainforest Experience of A Lifetime.”
6. Blancaneaux Lodge, Belize
A dramatic hideaway in a rainforest wonderland, the Blancaneaux lodge in Belize is a 20-room luxury hideaway where waterfalls tumble into turquoise pools above the jungle canopy. Its remote mountain setting allows guests to explore the ancient civilization of the Maya and to return to their own thatched roof dwelling, rich with Guatemalan décor and nestled in the foliage of the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve.
Located in the northwest corner of the 107,000-acre Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve in western Belize’s Cayo District, guests will find the steep limestone hills and valleys of the 13,000-acre Noj Kaax Meen Elijio Panti National Park. The dense jungle, steep ravines, spectacular waterfalls, and fast-flowing rivers are home to many rare or endangered species of flora and fauna.
Its cabanas and villas are perfect for honeymooners and families who want to be transported to an exotic, tropical paradise and wake up to the sounds of the sparkling waters. Set on the banks of Privassion Creek, our Waterfall Spa offers a variety of treatments, wraps, and massages, as well as access to our rejuvenating hot pool overlooking cascading waterfalls.
The lodge’s spa specializes in the art of Thai massage and features professionally trained staffs that have studied ancient techniques at the Sacred Wat Pho Temple in Bangkok. Visitors are treated to a wide variety of body treatments ranging from Papaya body polish to oriental body glow, oriental salt glow, oriental herbal pack and a stress recovery warp, scrub and massage. You can also take your pick of massage types ranging from the oriental massage to essential oil massage, facial, foot massage and back and shoulder massage.
7. Mashpi Lodge, Ecuador
Experience the essence of life itself at the Mashpi Rainforest Lodge where contemporary design moves in harmony with nature. Mashpi Lodge, one of National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World, is the place to encounter 400 species of birds, trees and frogs found nowhere else in the world, complete with crashing waterfalls and incredible flora. Get ready to trek down hidden paths, splash through rivers, rise at dawn to spot rare birds, or fly high above it all aboard the lodge’s Dragonfly canopy gondola.
A hideaway in the forest only accessible to its privileged guests and located on a scenic plateau, the lodge features breathtaking views of the surrounding forested mountains right up close through its floor-to-ceiling panoramic glass windows. Like a cathedral to the natural world, it protrudes from the verdant hillside, holding unknown comforts and pleasures within.
The sustainable luxury hotel is designed to blend in perfectly with its natural environment, its glass walls making it virtually invisible at times. Its stunning contemporary and featuring modernist design makes for a true cocoon of luxury for families and couples who want to enjoy a unique natural vacation experience.
Additionally, with its pergola-style roof and outdoor seats and tables, the lodge’s open-air terrace provides a space for guests to enjoy splendid views and relax to the sounds of the forest and its inhabitants that flutter within touching distance. So, be ready to grab your binoculars to spot some birds from the terrace.
8. El Mangroove, An Autograph Assortment Lodge, Costa Rica
Welcome to Guanacaste, Costa Rica, folks! Welcome to the land of volcanic peaks, scenic waterfalls, hot springs and rich flora and fauna. Be amazed at its beauty found in its national parks, wildlife refuges, quaint villages, historic sites and a countless sum of golden beaches in the area that provides a variety of activities for guests that seek an authentic Costa Rican experience.
Located on the prestigious Gulf of Papagayo on the northern Pacific Coastline of Guanacaste, El Mangroove is the closest beach resort to an international airport within Costa Rica at just 20 minutes from touchdown to sand. El Mangroove takes you seamlessly from day to night, from business to pleasure, from relaxation to energizing moments that inspire.
So, whether you want to take your pick of land or water activities, they are always ready to serve you. For sweat lovers, you can keep up your own routine at an exotic location as El Mangroove offers private and group yoga classes upon request and a multifunctional gym that is open 24 hours. If you are inspired by the ocean, you can take a stand up paddle session, go kayaking, go fishing, go surfing or simply go beach hopping with its onsite boats. You can also order for bicycles if you want to know the area better. El Mangrove’s promise to you is, “Where mangrove and man meet to create a vibrant and unique lifestyle you won’t be forgetting in a hurry.”
9. Inkaterra Reserva, Amazonica
Pristine, remote and yet easily accessible and an eco-luxury lodge in front of Madre de Dios River, Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica has 35 wooden cabanas inspired in the Ese’Eja culture, with 540 bird species which have been inventoried in hotel grounds, deep in the rainforest.
The property offers a varied selection of à-la-carte excursions, including a visit to the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway, a bridge system at 30 meters above the ground, allowing adventurers to enjoy a privileged view of the Amazon. In 2013, Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica was selected by National Geographic Traveler magazine among the world’s 25 best eco-lodges.
Your journey to Inkaterra Reserva will take you to the heart of the Tambopata National Reserve, where you will experience magnificent beauty in the sounds, scents, colours and solitude of the rainforest.
You will find yourself surrounded by a vast environment, connecting with nature in an entirely new way. For first time visitors to the rainforest, the resort prepares a guide to help you enjoy your trip to the fullest and enjoy an amazing Amazon experience.
10. Lodge Del Parque, Ecuador
Hotel Del Parque is a tropical oasis caught in time, and where the past meets the present, nature meets comfort, and service meets passion. Visitors to the hotel get to sleep in a beautiful and lovingly restored 19th century Guayaquil hotel, nestled into a tropical oasis in the heart of the city.
Originally offering shelter only to the homeless, elderly, and disabled, within the 1980s, historic buildings had been moved, rebuilt and renovated plank-by-plank on the banks of the Daule. Now you discover this elegant resort sitting inside an enormous tropical botanical backyard. Inside you can find an eclectic combine of recent and vintage furnishings, and past this swish setting, there’s a fixed backdrop of tropical foliage and flowers. Here, an eclectic mix of modern and antique furniture contrasts refreshingly with the hotel’s tropical surroundings.
Its spacious guestrooms and suites are thoughtfully adorned with boutique resort contacts like grand beds with premium linens, luxurious facilities, and beautiful marble bogs. As soon as once more, the historic 19th-century setting is the spotlight with rooms featuring authentic detailing and excessive ceilings.
If you want to be immersed in nature, you can discover its wildlife sanctuary, where rare and endangered species like the giant harpy eagle and caimans live among the mangroves and exotic plants. The hotel’s concierge can also arrange for a private guided tour of the animal sanctuary and grounds. For coffee lovers, you’ll love your coffee experience in which you get to grips with the plant, the process, and the art of roasting coffee.
The textures and aroma of one of the finest coffees in the world stays with you long after you try your hand at roasting your own with the help of the hotel’s chef. Chocolate lovers are also not left out as pick your own cacao pods and watch as your beans are transformed into artisanal chocolate using Hotel Del Parque’s traditional methods. Set in a 120-year-old landowner’s house, you’ll find the world’s finest cacao beans and experience chocolate tasting like never before.
It’s also an amazing destination for family trips as Hotel Del Parque children’s scavenger hunts are fun and educational! Your children explore the gardens and take photos when they’ve spotted a checklist of rare plants and wildlife. Their discoveries can be printed to share and enjoy when they return to the hotel. The hotel can even arrange for a private tour of the animal sanctuary and grounds just for your kids. Finally, Ecuadorians have centuries of traditional folk medicine wisdom passed down through the generations. In fact, over 900 plants are used for herbal medicine throughout the country.
If you are a herbs enthusiast, the team at Hotel del Parque is glad to show you around its herb and botanical gardens and educate you on traditional medicine. And they can even create personalised infusions to suit your needs.
