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Off The Beaten Track Costa Rica

Trips to Tailor

14 days from £3,750

per person
Based on two people sharing & excluding flights
A Costa Rica wildlife and relaxation holiday with a difference: avoid the busy, commercialised places in favour of less visited, but equally beguiling spots with excellent small eco-lodges.  
What to expect
Itinerary

Explore the tour day by day, from the highlights to the quieter moments in between. Here’s how each day unfolds and what to expect along the way.

Day 1 - San Jose
Arrive in San José and transfer to your hotel.

You’ll be met at the airport by our local representative who will take you to your hotel in Costa Rica’s modern capital.

San José
Hotel Presidente

The modern Hotel Presidente is located on a lively pedestrianised street right in the heart of downtown San José with many of the capital’s landmarks, including the Jade Museum and the National Theatre, just steps away.

The hotel’s public areas have an industrial aesthetic to them with exposed brick walls, parquet flooring, and black metal beams. The vintage sewing machines, sitting atop pedestals, are a nod to the building’s former incarnation as a fashion boutique. The comfortable and spacious guest rooms, in contrast, have a fresh white minimalist décor and are spotlessly clean.

One of the most attractive features of the hotel is its plant-filled rooftop bar and restaurant, a popular hangout for locals and tourists alike, with tasty food, excellent cocktails, and a sociable atmosphere.

Day 2 - Turrialba
Transfer to Turrialba via Guayabo National Monument.

From San José, it’s a two-hour drive east to Turrialba. En route you’ll have the opportunity to visit the Guayabo National Monument, the largest pre-Columbian ruins to be discovered in Costa Rica to date.

Although not as grand as other well-known archaeological sites in Latin America, the Guayabo National Monument is still impressive in its own right, especially as so little is known about Costa Rica’s pre-Columbian past, and the setting is beautiful on the jungle-rich slopes of the Turrialba Volcano. Explore the ruins on foot and see petroglyphs and tombs that were discovered by archaeologists in 1968.

A colonial-style mansion in a beautiful rural location close to Turrialba.

Located in the heart of the fertile Turrialba Valley and a 20-minute drive south of Turrialba itself, Casa Turire is a colonial-style mansion surrounded by sugarcane, coffee and macadamia nut plantations, and enfolded by tranquil Lake Angostura.

A long driveway flanked by royal palms leads up to the hotel which has 16 rooms, each one elegantly furnished and with a balcony. The restaurant serves typical Costa Rican and international food with much of the produce grown on site, and the quaint English-style bar is a nice spot for an aperitif.

Facilities include an outdoor pool, Jacuzzi., and spa. Mountain biking, horse-riding, kayaking and birdwatching within the hotel grounds can be arranged locally and cost extra.

Day 3
Optional activities in Turrialba.

Turrialba’s economy has traditionally revolved around agriculture – it’s queso (cheese) is famous throughout Costa Rica – but the town now has a burgeoning adventure sports scene.

Activities with an adrenaline rush include ziplining, waterfall rappelling and white water rafting on the world famous Pacuare River, only a short distance from the town.

Those looking for something more sedate may be interested in a tour around CATIE, a research centre and botanical garden showcasing Costa Rica’s diverse flora and fauna.

Rafting Costa Rica
Costa Rica Pacuare Lodge Rafting

A colonial-style mansion in a beautiful rural location close to Turrialba.

Located in the heart of the fertile Turrialba Valley and a 20-minute drive south of Turrialba itself, Casa Turire is a colonial-style mansion surrounded by sugarcane, coffee and macadamia nut plantations, and enfolded by tranquil Lake Angostura.

A long driveway flanked by royal palms leads up to the hotel which has 16 rooms, each one elegantly furnished and with a balcony. The restaurant serves typical Costa Rican and international food with much of the produce grown on site, and the quaint English-style bar is a nice spot for an aperitif.

Facilities include an outdoor pool, Jacuzzi., and spa. Mountain biking, horse-riding, kayaking and birdwatching within the hotel grounds can be arranged locally and cost extra.

Day 4 - San Gerardo de Dota
Transfer to San Gerado de Dota via Copey Estate Winery.

Costa Rica is one of the last places you’d expect to find a vineyard in Latin America. But in Copey de Dota, a village at 2,300m surrounded by the towering Cordillera Talamanca, the Copey Estate Winery is the first and only commercial vineyard in Costa Rica.

Founded in 2012 by a Costa Rican–Israeli couple, the vineyard produces a variety of red and white grapes from pinot noir to sauvignon blanc, and a tour here gives you an insight into not only the inspiration behind the project, but the challenges faced in growing quality grapes in this environment.

The vineyard also has five hectares of golden berries and uses this fruit to produce a liquor named Golden Rush, and other items such as dried fruits and jams. Explore the vineyard and operations plant before savouring several wines and some Golden Rush liquor in the restaurant, whose large windows maximise enjoyment of the mountain views. A charcuterie board with a selection of locally-made cheeses, cold meats and smoked fish is served for lunch before continuing to San Gerardo de Dota.

 

Trogon Lodge

Trogón Lodge, 87 km from San José, offers simple but stylish guest rooms fashioned from polished wood, all set in exuberant cloud forest gardens. The terrain around is rugged and hilly: a collage of green trees and mountains. It’s a peaceful setting at 2,200m above sea level, where you’re soothed by the sounds of the river below. 

There’s a shared terrace with rocking chairs, where you can relax to observe the birds flitting through the foliage. There are a number of optional excursions available including hikes, horse rides and bird-watching: the location in is one of Costa Rica’s key areas for sightings of the resplendent quetzal.

The lodge also produces much of the fresh fruit and vegetables used in the restaurant and they have their own trout pond, so fresh fish is always on the menu.

Day 5
Quetzal spotting in the Cordillera Talamanca.

San Gerardo de Dota is a small village set deep in a valley surrounded by the towering Talamanca mountain range. At 2,400m, the air is crisp and fresh here – a welcome change from the heat and humidity of the coast.

The surrounding cloud forest is home to a large population of Resplendent Quetzals, one of the most beautiful birds in the Americas with its metallic green plumage, crimson breast and bell. Quetzals reside here year-round, owing to the temperate climate and abundant fruit from the Aguacatillo trees. Like most birds, the Resplendent Quetzal is most easily spotted early in the morning, so today’s tour starts at 6am after a cup of fresh coffee to wake you up, returning in time for breakfast.

Trogon Lodge

Trogón Lodge, 87 km from San José, offers simple but stylish guest rooms fashioned from polished wood, all set in exuberant cloud forest gardens. The terrain around is rugged and hilly: a collage of green trees and mountains. It’s a peaceful setting at 2,200m above sea level, where you’re soothed by the sounds of the river below. 

There’s a shared terrace with rocking chairs, where you can relax to observe the birds flitting through the foliage. There are a number of optional excursions available including hikes, horse rides and bird-watching: the location in is one of Costa Rica’s key areas for sightings of the resplendent quetzal.

The lodge also produces much of the fresh fruit and vegetables used in the restaurant and they have their own trout pond, so fresh fish is always on the menu.

Day 6
Optional activities in San Gerardo de Dota

San Gerardo de Dota offers wonderful hiking opportunities, from gentle meanders in the surrounding cloud forest to more challenging hikes in higher elevations of the Cordillera Talamanca.

You may also want to do some more birdwatching. After all, more than 170 bird species have been identified in the area, including Tanagers, Black Guans, Flycatchers, Hummingbirds (Colibri), Trogons, Emerald Toucanets and Sparrows, among many others.

Trogon Lodge
Trogon Lodge

Trogón Lodge, 87 km from San José, offers simple but stylish guest rooms fashioned from polished wood, all set in exuberant cloud forest gardens. The terrain around is rugged and hilly: a collage of green trees and mountains. It’s a peaceful setting at 2,200m above sea level, where you’re soothed by the sounds of the river below. 

There’s a shared terrace with rocking chairs, where you can relax to observe the birds flitting through the foliage. There are a number of optional excursions available including hikes, horse rides and bird-watching: the location in is one of Costa Rica’s key areas for sightings of the resplendent quetzal.

The lodge also produces much of the fresh fruit and vegetables used in the restaurant and they have their own trout pond, so fresh fish is always on the menu.

Day 7 - Uvita
Transfer to Uvita on the Pacific Coast

From San Gerardo de Dota, the road continues to wind through the Cordillera Talamanca, reaching a highest point of 3,450m at Cerro de la Muerte. Don’t be put off by its intimidating name – ‘Mountain of Death’ – this originates from the era before the highway was built when many ill-prepared travellers on foot or horseback succumbed to the cold and rain. To reassure visitors, the mountain has been renamed Cerro Buena Vista – Mountain with a Beautiful View!

The road then descends all the way down to the Pacific Coast and the beach-front town of Uvita, which sits on the border of the Marino Ballena National Park, one of only two protected marine zones in the country. At its heart is the gorgeous, whale-tail-shaped beach where whale-watching tours depart.

La Cusinga Ecolodge

Set on a hill within a private jungle reserve overlooking the Pacific Ocean, La Cusinga is a family-run ecolodge, accredited for its conservation and environmental efforts. There’s also an accent on wellness, and the property features a yoga studio. You stay in one of ten attractive individual wooden cottages, all with high ceilings and large stone bathrooms.

Each has its own private balcony with spectacular views out to the ocean, where passing dolphins and whales can be spotted. There’s a covered veranda for enjoying the ocean view. A 15 minute jungle walk where you can spot howler monkeys, sloths, and exotic birds leads to the lodge’s own private beach – beautifully secluded, with rainforest spilling on to the white sand. Food at the lodge is excellent, with a variety of fresh Costa Rican dishes, and there’s a selection of equally good restaurants in the nearby village.

Day 8
Whale watching excursion

Every year, humpback whales migrate to the warm, shallow waters of Marino Ballena National Park and the sight of a 40-tonne mammal jumping out of the water and splashing its gigantic tail is quite spectacular. Sightings are never guaranteed but more likely from July to October when Southern Hemisphere humpback whales migrate from Antarctica, and from December to February when Northern Hemisphere humpback whales arrive from the California and Washington state area. Boat trips typically last three hours and you may also see dolphins and sea turtles, as well as seabirds such as pelicans, frigate birds, brown boobies and many more.

 

La Cusinga Ecolodge

Set on a hill within a private jungle reserve overlooking the Pacific Ocean, La Cusinga is a family-run ecolodge, accredited for its conservation and environmental efforts. There’s also an accent on wellness, and the property features a yoga studio. You stay in one of ten attractive individual wooden cottages, all with high ceilings and large stone bathrooms.

Each has its own private balcony with spectacular views out to the ocean, where passing dolphins and whales can be spotted. There’s a covered veranda for enjoying the ocean view. A 15 minute jungle walk where you can spot howler monkeys, sloths, and exotic birds leads to the lodge’s own private beach – beautifully secluded, with rainforest spilling on to the white sand. Food at the lodge is excellent, with a variety of fresh Costa Rican dishes, and there’s a selection of equally good restaurants in the nearby village.

Day 9
Free time on the beach or explore the area.

The lodge where you are staying is tucked away in a private rainforest reserve, with sweeping views over the Pacific and a sandy palm-shaded beach studded with natural pools. Here you can observe abundant wildlife on gentle trail hikes and take a dip in natural swimming holes. Sport fishing, surfing, kayaking, horse-riding, sailing and snorkelling among schools of tropical fish, turtles and octopuses are also popular additional activities available from the lodge.

It’s not all action though: the property has a spa with yoga classes, and you are welcome just to sit back and enjoy a tangerine sunset with a cocktail in your hand.

 

La Cusinga Ecolodge
DCIM102MEDIADJI_0127.JPG
La Cusinga Ecolodge

Set on a hill within a private jungle reserve overlooking the Pacific Ocean, La Cusinga is a family-run ecolodge, accredited for its conservation and environmental efforts. There’s also an accent on wellness, and the property features a yoga studio. You stay in one of ten attractive individual wooden cottages, all with high ceilings and large stone bathrooms.

Each has its own private balcony with spectacular views out to the ocean, where passing dolphins and whales can be spotted. There’s a covered veranda for enjoying the ocean view. A 15 minute jungle walk where you can spot howler monkeys, sloths, and exotic birds leads to the lodge’s own private beach – beautifully secluded, with rainforest spilling on to the white sand. Food at the lodge is excellent, with a variety of fresh Costa Rican dishes, and there’s a selection of equally good restaurants in the nearby village.

Day 10 - Piedras Blancas National Park (Golfito)
Transfer to Golfito via the Terraba-Sierpe wetlands

The drive south to Golfito takes two hours. En route, you’ll stop in Sierpe, a small town at the mouth of the Sierpe River and the jumping off point for a boat trip though the Térraba-Sierpe National Wetlands. This thriving ecosystem boasts an intricate network of meandering rivers, serene canals and tranquil lagoons, supporting many species of birds, fish, shellfish, mammals and reptiles. Boat tours typically last 2-3 hours and are a rewarding way to break up the journey before continuing to Golfito.

 

 

 

A beautiful and secluded eco-lodge in Costa Rica’s lesser-known Piedras Blancas National Park.

Playa Nicuesa is an isolated lodge set within a 165-acre private reserve bordering the Piedras Blancas National Park and the calm waters of the Golfo Dulce. It’s only accessible by boat, either from Golfito or Puerto Jimenez.

The main lodge is essentially a large treehouse, crafted in a variety of salvaged hardwoods. On the upper floor is an open-air restaurant where tasty meals are served communally with the opportunity to meet like-minded travellers.  Accommodation is in a handful of beautifully constructed wooden cabins, which are simply but attractively furnished. Each cabin features large louvred windows and a wraparound veranda, as well as open-air showers, creating a very natural environment. There’s no air conditioning, but a ceiling fan and screened windows ensure the cabins are well ventilated and you can hear the sounds of the jungle. There’s no need for an alarm clock here – the howler monkeys will let you know when it’s time to wake up!

The lodge has an extensive network of self-guided trails for you to explore and guests have complimentary use of kayaks and standup paddleboards. Naturalist guides cost extra and can be booked locally. Sustainability has always been part of Playa Nicuesa’s ethos and electricity is provided by a hydroelectric turbine and solar panels.

Days 11 - 12
Activities at the lodge

The lodge where you are staying has an extensive network of trails, some of which connect with Piedras Blancas National Park. They range from easy to moderate and difficult, from 30 minutes to two hours, and can be self-guided or guided.

The lodge’s location on the Golfo Dulce (‘Sweet Gulf’) means guests can explore the coastline and nearby mangroves by kayak and paddle board as well.

A beautiful and secluded eco-lodge in Costa Rica’s lesser-known Piedras Blancas National Park.

Playa Nicuesa is an isolated lodge set within a 165-acre private reserve bordering the Piedras Blancas National Park and the calm waters of the Golfo Dulce. It’s only accessible by boat, either from Golfito or Puerto Jimenez.

The main lodge is essentially a large treehouse, crafted in a variety of salvaged hardwoods. On the upper floor is an open-air restaurant where tasty meals are served communally with the opportunity to meet like-minded travellers.  Accommodation is in a handful of beautifully constructed wooden cabins, which are simply but attractively furnished. Each cabin features large louvred windows and a wraparound veranda, as well as open-air showers, creating a very natural environment. There’s no air conditioning, but a ceiling fan and screened windows ensure the cabins are well ventilated and you can hear the sounds of the jungle. There’s no need for an alarm clock here – the howler monkeys will let you know when it’s time to wake up!

The lodge has an extensive network of self-guided trails for you to explore and guests have complimentary use of kayaks and standup paddleboards. Naturalist guides cost extra and can be booked locally. Sustainability has always been part of Playa Nicuesa’s ethos and electricity is provided by a hydroelectric turbine and solar panels.

Day 13 - San Jose
Fly to San José.

Return to San José by small aircraft – this one-hour flight rewards you with some breathtaking views of Costa Rica’s varied landscape, including the Whale’s Tail in Uvita.

Upon arrival at San José’s domestic terminal, you’ll be taken to your hotel up in the hills overlooking the capital for your final night in Costa Rica.

A tranquil and sustainable hotel set in a coffee plantation close to San José.

This attractive, small family-run hotel sits amid a coffee plantation in the hills half an hour north of San José. Once a muddy motocross track, devoid of any nature, Finca Rosa Blanca is now a thriving hotel, surrounded by indigenous plants, fruit trees, coffee bushes and birdsong – the hustle and bustle of San José certainly feels a long way away.

Sustainability has always been at its core, and it was the first hotel in Costa Rica to obtain the 5 Star Sustainable Tourism award. Its architectural style is distinctive and owes much to both art nouveau and post-modern design. The Gaudi-esque main building features a two-story atrium with white stucco arches and columns, a fountain, and an array of hanging plants.

The 14 individually designed rooms, spread across the main building or dotted around the hotel’s gardens, are characterised by beautiful, handcrafted furniture and murals by local artists, and have a balcony or terrace overlooking the Central Valley. Each room is fully equipped with a ceiling fan, minibar, and a French Press coffee maker, and the mosaic-tiled bathrooms are spacious with some containing a bathtub or Jacuzzi.

Other facilities include a large spring-fed swimming pool (sanitized by a copper/silver ionization process instead of chlorine), a solar heated jacuzzi, and spa. The open-air restaurant, which is open to the public, offers an extensive farm-to-table menu, with much of the produce grown on the premises.

There’s plenty to experience at Finca Rosa Blanca from an in-depth guided tour of their organic coffee plantation to birdwatching in the grounds with a naturalist guide (170 species have been recorded).

Day 14
Transfer to the airport for your international flight.

Before your flight home there may be time to do a birdwatching tour or a coffee tour and tasting at your hotel.

Off The Beaten Track Costa Rica full itinerary
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Overview
Places Visited

The places you’ll stay and explore on this tour. Here’s a closer look at each one and what makes it worth the trip.

The cultural and geographical heart of Costa Rica, where volcanic landscapes, coffee plantations, fertile valleys and historic towns surround the country’s busy capital. Central Highlands Costa Rica holidays and San José city break itineraries both tend to start here, combining culture, nature, cuisine and easy access to many of the country’s highlights.

San Jose, central highlands and central valleys

Cloud forests, rushing rivers, mist-covered valleys and extraordinary birdlife make this one of Costa Rica’s most rewarding mountain wildernesses. Nestled on the Pacific slopes of the continental divide, Savegre Valley Costa Rica and the Chirripó foothills offer some of the country’s finest hiking, birdwatching and wildlife experiences, away from the main tourist trail.

Savegre valley and Chirripo foothills

Rolling surf, golden sands, tropical forests and wildlife-rich national parks combine along Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast to create one of Central America’s most rewarding beach destinations. Stretching between the Nicoya and Osa Peninsulas, this stretch of Pacific Coast Costa Rica offers a real balance of relaxation, adventure and nature.

Pacific coast

Rainforest-clad hills tumble down to the Pacific Ocean and wildlife thrives in protected reserves across one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth. Remote, wild and wonderfully unspoilt, Osa Peninsula Costa Rica offers extraordinary opportunities to immerse yourself in nature and encounter some of Central America’s rarest species.

Osa Peninsula
Overview
Highlights

For decades, Costa Rica has been a leading light in conservation, and over a quarter of its territory is protected in well-managed national parks and private nature reserves. Many parks are very popular with comprehensive tourist facilities, providing a very different experience from the remote wilderness adventure that many wildlife enthusiasts are hoping for.

On this holiday, we have selected some of our favourite national parks which, although situated in stunning locations, don’t receive hordes of visitors. Among them are Los Quetzales National Park, Marino Ballena National Park, and Piedras Blancas National Park.

Accommodation is in delightfully rustic eco-lodges, usually small and family-run, which offer the opportunity to understand how real life is lived in these bucolic areas. You’ll have the opportunity to participate in optional or included activities, from wildlife-spotting to coffee tours.

There’s no better way to see Costa Rica’s varied landscape unfold than by travelling overland. To complement these journeys, we’ve included a variety of rewarding stop-offs, including an archaeological site and a vineyard.

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Sophie Barber

Travel Expert

All of our experts have lived or travelled extensively in Latin America, so you will receive unrivalled advice based on unique personal experiences.

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What you need to know
Essentials

The practical detail for this tour, all in one place. Transport, accommodation, what’s included and what to pack, so you know exactly what to expect before you go.

Costa Rica information
What's included in the price
Services of our team of experts in our London office
Services of Journey Latin America local representatives and guides
All land transport within Latin America
Accommodation as specified
Meals as specified
Excursions as specified, including entrance fees
Taxes and compulsory charges
Included Excursions
San Gerardo de Dota: Quetzal Spotting
Uvita: Whale watching
Golfito (Playa Nicuesa): self guided hiking and kayaking
Wine tasting at Copey Estate Winery.
Guayabo National Monument
Térraba-Sierpe Wetlands boat trip
What's not included in the price
Tips and gratuities
Meals other than specified
International flights to Latin America
Optional excursions
The latin america specialists

Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday

We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.

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Rosie Kay
Rosie Kay
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Rosie embarked on a year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. She is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others.

Finn Clennett
Finn Clennett
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Finn discovered his passion for travel on an extensive 18-month trip to Latin America, experiencing the vibrant Carnaval in Rio, the end-of-the-world city of Ushuaia, trekking the Andes and volunteering on the Galápagos Islands.

Maggie Wilson
Maggie Wilson
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Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.

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Gary Tombs
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Gary discovered what he had been missing with his first foray into the wilds of Latin America. In his role as Product Manager, he combines this personal obsession with years of industry experience to help ensure that travellers will fall for the region every bit as much as he has.

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What to do

Things to do

We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.

Enjoy thrills and spills on this rip-roaring voyage along the Pacuare river, passing through a scenic river canyon.

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See the resplendent quetzal in its natural habitat on a jungle trail through the cloud forest.

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Visit the famous national parks and lesser-known private nature reserves of Costa Rica. 

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Visit the biological reserve of Caño island to submerge yourself in a natural aquarium of manta rays, lobsters and hundreds of tropical fish.

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Where to stay

Accommodation

Browse our unrivalled portfolio of accommodation. Every option has been carefully chosen by our team of travel experts, so you can rest assured that you will relax in utter comfort

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Small, breathtakingly beautiful Costa Rica is a treasure trove for the nature lover. Trees laden with orchids are home to quetzals and hummingbirds, while the Caribbean shore hosts volcanic beaches and palm-sheltered coves.

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Level definitions

Essential
What it means

Stay in comfortable, well-located hotels chosen to keep you close to the action. These are reliable, practical places with everything you need for a good night’s sleep, sometimes a smaller or family-run find, sometimes a larger, more functional hotel. It’s a straightforward style of stay that keeps costs down and leaves more of your budget for the experiences themselves.

Premium
What it means

Return each evening to well-appointed hotels chosen for their comfort and setting. Rooms are spacious and properly equipped, with all the mod cons you’d expect, and facilities to include a restaurant, a bar or lounge, and often a pool or spa to unwind in. It’s an easy, comfortable style of travel, with somewhere relaxed to look forward to each day.

Essential
What it means

Settle into stylish hotels picked for their character, setting and service. That might be a luxurious city hotel like the Loi Suites in Buenos Aires, or somewhere with a setting you won’t forget, a former estancia on the Patagonian steppe or a lodge at the foot of Machu Picchu. This is our most memorable style, where the hotel becomes part of the journey itself.

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