Self Drive Argentina and Chile

Overview

Set in the fashionable and leafy district of Palermo, Legado Mitico is a beautiful boutique hotel within easy reach of the city’s main attractions and restaurants.

Located in a refurbished three-storey townhouse, the hotel draws on the rich historical culture of Argentina. There are 11 rooms each inspired by a famous figure such as tango dancer Carlos Gardel, writer Jorge Luis Borges, and Evita. A warm colour scheme runs throughout the rooms and wooden floors and period antique pieces give them lots of traditional charm.

The cultural theme extends into the communal areas with a small library in the lounge where the more inquisitive guest can read all about the historic figures that inspire the decoration of the room. The library opens out onto a small patio where guests can relax with a drink.

Overview

Located in the prestigious Recoleta neighborhood, the Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires seamlessly blends an early-20th-century mansion with a modern high-rise, offering a fusion of contemporary comfort and European-style elegance. Throughout the hotel, from the lavishly decorated rooms to the refined communal areas, there is a distinct sense of luxury and sophistication.

The chic, well-appointed guest rooms ensure the utmost in comfort and privacy, providing a serene space for you to relax and recharge. Perfect for family vacations, the spacious suites offer you ample room, featuring separate areas for sleeping and living to enhance your stay while you’re not out exploring the city and surrounds.

At Michelin-selected Elena, a two-story restaurant inspired by the historic homes of San Telmo, the focus is on dry-aged meats, brasserie fare and charcuterie. Savor some of Argentina’s finest meats and seafood, paired with an exceptional selection of regional wines. Meanwhile, at Nuestro Secreto, outdoor barbecues offer a unique dining experience, turning Buenos Aires’ traditional asado into a social event centered on top-tier grilled meats. End your evening at the equestrian-themed Pony Line bar, where creative cocktails, gourmet burgers and live DJs create a vibrant atmosphere.

Overview

Algodon Mansion is a beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of Buenos Aires’ elegant residential neighbourhood of Recoleta, whose tree-lined boulevards are filled with boutiques, restaurants and galleries.

Behind the classical French façade are ten luxurious suites, designed to meet the highest quality standards for service, technology and comfort. Lavish bathrooms are made from Italian calacatta marble and French limestone and feature oversized steam showers as well as bath tubs. There is the option of hiring out the entire hotel should you be after your own private mansion in the heart of Buenos Aires.

While there are a variety of eateries around the hotel, the Algodon Mansion restaurant is well worth a visit or two. Settle in at the Algodon Wine Bar & Charcuterie, which is the perfect place to sample fine Argentinian wines, many of which come from their own Algodon wine estates in Mendoza. Head to the roof and you’ll discover Davidoff Lounge, an open-air cigar bar which also serves a selection of congnacs. The hotel also features a steam room and sauna, massage rooms and a rooftop swimming pool.

Overview

Hub Porteño is a historic property set on a quiet street in the heart of Recoleta, and feels more like a home than a hotel. There are just 11 rooms, bright and spacious and filled with antique furniture and more recent pieces from local artisans.

The hotel’s rooftop terrace is a beautiful spot with outdoor seating nestled among the lush greenery – a real city centre oasis. Here you can relax with a drink from the bar and a bite to eat or simply sit back with the morning paper. La Pecora Nera Grill specialises in new Argentinian cuisine while the cosy living room is the place to enjoy drinks and snacks.

There is also a wellness centre with a sauna, gym and treatment room.

Overview

Cradled within the soaring peaks of the Andes, among Argentine Patagonia’s most enchanting and tranquil landscapes, just outside the mountain village of Villa La Angostura, is Las Balsas. If you’re searching for a scenic location, they don’t come much better than this.

Built in 1988, this Relais & Chateaux property sits on the shores of Lake Huapi, in the heart of Nahuel Huapi National Park. Its iconic blue facade cuts a striking figure across the verdant landscapes, reflecting onto the serene lake water below.

Each of the 20 rooms and villas enjoys panoramic views of Lake Huapi. Interiors prioritise comfort and cosiness, full of warming woods and soft furnishings. As you’d expect from a Relais & Chateaux property, service is top notch and the culinary offering is exceptional. Dishes represent the hotel’s dedication to Slow Food, combining simple, fresh and local ingredients with regional gastronomy and cooking techniques.

Guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner in the restaurant along with a glass of wine from the hotel cellar which holds around 150 bottles of Argentinian wine. There is also a heated indoor/outdoor swimming pool as well as a Jacuzzi, sauna, small gym and massage room, although one might argue that the hotel’s greatest appeal is in exploration of the infinite outdoors around it.

Overview

One of South America’s most prestigious hotels, Llao Llao’s esteemed reputation precedes it. First opening its doors in 1938, this grand hotel, built in the Canadian home style, has welcomed aristocrats, diplomats and the rich and famous across its cypress threshold.

Set on an outcrop of the Llao Llao peninsula, and flanked by the Moreno and Nahuel Huapi lakes, the hotel responds to its dramatically beautiful setting with an equally majestic design. With lavish, wood panelled interiors, an infinity–edge pool, a full spa, its own golf course, tennis courts, and five restaurants, the 238–room hotel is a destination in itself. 

The interiors reflect the hotel’s heritage, and the rooms, divided between the Bustillo wing and Lago Moreno wing, offer breathtaking views across the surrounding lakes and mountains. The five restaurants offer everything from local Patagonian dishes to international cuisine. Wash down your meal with a drink in the lobby bar, or treat yourself to Llao Llao High Tea in the scenic Winter Garden

Explore the hotel’s 15–hectare grounds with a range of activities, including cycling, hiking, fishing, kayaking and horse riding, before unwinding in the spa. If you want to venture further afield, the soaring landscapes of Bariloche are at your fingertips.

Overview

Estancia Puema Hue is a beautiful lodge nestled in the heart of Nahuel Huapa National Park – the country’s first and largest national park. This really is one of our absolute favorite properties in all of Argentina.

The lodge is set within 500 acres of wilderness at the southern end of Lake Gutlerrez. The landscape is one of rolling hills, pristine forest, valleys, waterfalls and creeks. Estancia Peuma Hue means ‘house of dreams’ in local Mapuche language and we certainly think it’s a very special place.

There are 14 rooms spread across five houses, all with views of the lake. Decor throughout the lodge is very traditional with wooden floors and beams, local textiles and warm colours. There are even fireplaces in the living rooms of each house. Poplar House is the main house of the estancia and as well as having rooms, it is also where meals are served. Food is a real treat here with many of the ingredients grown in their own kitchen garden and orchard.

Alternatively, choose to stay in one of their luxury yurts. These canvas yurts are 16ft in diameter and are set on rasied decks. They feature king-sized beds and en-suite bathrooms, and are a wonderful way to really immerse yourself in the natural surroundings.

There is so much to do during your stay at Estancia Puema Hue, from hiking, horse riding and kayaking to fishing, birdwatching and yoga. Children are very welcome here so this is a wonderful choice for active families.

Overview

Located above the shimmering Lago Nahuel Huapi, Villa Beluno is a five-star sanctuary in the heart of the Argentine Lake District. Inspired by the charm of Tuscan villas, this boutique retreat provides an opulent haven for guests to immerse themselves in the region’s natural splendour. With just thirteen well-appointed rooms flooded with natural light and adorned with locally sourced lenga wood furnishings, each space offers a tranquil lakeside view.

Culinary delights await at the hotel’s acclaimed restaurant, Avellana, where ingredients sourced from the onsite hydroponic greenhouse and orchard elevate every dish. Indulge further at the patisserie or unwind with a signature cocktail on the enchanting outdoor terrace. Unwind in the spa complete with a sauna, fitness studio and infinity pool, all offering breathtaking panoramas of the surrounding landscape.

Overview

A more modern approach than many of the other lodge style offerings in Patagonia, El Casco is a luxury boutique hotel with contemporary style.

The rooms and communal areas are decorated with 160 paintings and sculptures from an exclusive collection, each room themed around a different South American Artist. Set on the lake shore on the outskirts of Bariloche, the hotel is made up of around thirty rooms, many with stunning views of the lake. Facilities include indoor and outdoor heated pools, health club, outdoor jacuzzi, private pier and boat and an excellent restaurant.

Service is impeccable, friendly and professional making this an ideal base from which to explore the region.

Overview

Set in a beautiful area of woodland, fresh water and traditional farmland that is so characteristic of the Pucon Valley, &Beyond Vira Vira provides a delightful selection of comfortable accommodation with the intimate feel of a Chilean hacienda in its own 23-acre estate.

The design is both modern and at one with the wild surroundings, with large windows and a warming use of wood. Just 21 beautifully crafted rooms are spread between the guest house and the main hotel building’s junior suites, with a handful of villa suites on the banks of the Liucura river, and the opulent Ruca Suite set in the middle of the forest. The latter two options offer their own living room and fireplace, with a private terrace and an outdoor tub to watch the clear Chilean night skies.

The restaurant offers food created from homegrown produce, a blend of local, indigenous recipes coupled with the best and truly fresh ingredients, accompanied, of course, by well-paired wines.

The area around Pucon and the neighbouring Villarrica volcano is famed for its range of activities, from hiking and hot springs to a plethora of adventure activities. Several beautiful wilderness areas are nearby, including Huerquehue National Park, and horseback riding, mounting biking, river rafting, varied hiking tours, ascents to the active volcano and even skiing on Villarrica’s slopes can be arranged. Each day, guests can meet with Vira Vira’s excursion manager to discuss and plan excursions, or simply choose to explore the area around the estate, including the artisanal cheese factory.

Overview

Constructed over three years using reinforced concrete, the structure of this hotel incorporates contemporary concepts and techniques with the local identity and culture, while still respecting the surrounding environment. The aim was to enhance nature rather than compete with it, and there is a strong focus on sustainability and energy efficiency.

Inside you’ll discover local materials like flagstone, volcanic rock, and exposed indigenous wood all adding to the warm and inviting atmosphere of the hotel. Modern art and traditional crafts are a focal point of the decor throughout. All 16 of the spacious rooms boast large floor-to-ceiling windows with breathtaking views of Llanquihue Lake and Osorno Volcano.

Food is an important part of any stay at Hotel AWA, and the chef and his team create a new menu every day featuring interesting flavours. Cuisine showcases local traditions and the finest regional ingredients, some of them sourced from the hotel’s own organic garden.

The aromas of wood and sweet citrus in the spa provide the ultimate relaxation experience combined with unique treatments designed to help balance the body, mind and soul. Other facilities include a heated pool, sauna, steam room and hydro-massage pool.

Overview

Set in the picturesque Colchagua Valley in Chile’s verdant wine region, a half-day’s drive from Santiago, Clos Apalta is a family-owned estate owned by a seventh-generation winemaker. A boutique hotel and winery with a blend of French and Chilean expertise and design, resulting in exquisite wines and an exceptional stay. The property features ten luxurious accommodations, four casitas and six larger villas, all with spacious bedrooms, living areas, spa-like bathrooms and private sundecks. The villas also include their own plunge pools.

Clos Apalta is committed to sustainability, for example its compost and water treatment plants are 100%  organic and energy saving. The vineyard is also completely organic and their wine exports are carbon neutral.

There’s plenty of activities to enjoy while staying in Clos Apalta including visiting the winery, wine tastings, cooking lessons with the head chef and outdoor activities such as hiking, biking and horseback riding where foxes, peregrine falcons, and eagles call this stunning landscape home.

Overview

The extraordinary sophistication and contemporary chic of the Vik Chile is quite simply unparalleled in Chile’s wine region.

Fresh from an extensive refurbishment, this 22-room (with seven Puro Vik glass pods) avant garde luxury boutique hotel is set within the 4,400-hectare Millahue Valley and Vik vineyard, just two hours south of Santiago in the Colchagua Valley area. Each suite is individually themed and decorated, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows which allow guests to take in the majestic views of the region. A newer addition to the hotel, guests can now choose to stay in one of the separate Puro Vik glass pods, providing an incredible vantage point for overlooking the valley.

The lodge is decorated in keeping with the vineyard’s holistic and ecological principles and it’s almost as if the exterior’s inconspicuous minimalism was intended to touch the hillside on which it perches. This spectacular sense of floating is further emphasised by seamless glass windows-for-walls in the rooms. Yet the insightful use of dark heavy woods, rough natural materials, functional furniture and a minimal elegance also makes the lodge feel contrastingly very solid, grounded and stylishly real.

The lodge enjoys uninterrupted views of the vineyards and lake and there is a cosy sitting area with a fireplace, patios with sofas, and a well-equipped and elegant dining room where excellent traditional Chilean cuisine is served.

Plenty of activities and expeditions can be arranged to suit guests according to their time and preferences, especially with immediate if not exclusive access to the vineyard and winery.

Overview

Set around 50 miles from Santiago in the Casablanca region, this boutique vineyard produces entirely organic wine. This is a traditional wine ‘Estancia’ and was originally built at the beginning of the 20th Century set in it’s own San Antonio Valley of around 27,000 acres. The main building housing the accommodation blends traditional style with plush furnishings and was entirely refurbished in 2004. Rooms are spacious and have their own private terrace.

The winery itself is an advanced gravity-flow facility producing excellent Syrah (judged to be among one of the world’s best). There is an excellent restaurant on site and a good number of activities to keep guests occupied including horseback riding and harvesting, as well as relaxing in the beautiful gardens.