What is luxury?

From living it up on your own private island to simply coming back from a day’s trekking to a hot shower or a hot chocolate, everybody’s idea of luxury is completely personal.

For some, luxury travel involves the more traditional translation of ‘luxury’ – beautifully designed and comfortable hotels, impeccable service and first class travel. But for others just the ability to be able to have a cold drink at the end of a hot day in the jungle, or a fluffy duvet whilst ‘glamping’ in Patagonia or an air conditioned car to travel around in Rio make up life’s little luxuries.

Over the years Latin America has become much more accessible to everyone and as a result there are more options on offer to suit everybody’s needs. So we asked our clients ‘what does luxury mean to you?’ Following is a selection of our favourites:

Luxury is time to oneself, to immerse in something out of the normal and totally pleasurable. On holiday, luxury is being somewhere out of modern communication - no TV, no text, no telephone, no emails, so that you have no idea what is going on in the world and almost no idea what day it is. KM

Travel adventures, with the wow factor, made easy. SB

My luxury travel is tailor-made without any rush. I'd like to meet local people and discover local food, original craft, arts or clothes etc. I do prefer to have comfortable beds and flights, especially for long flights. MS

For me.... 'Luxury travel is to travel extensively in a country and, at the end of each day, to have a clean room with a hot shower to recover in.' TF

My absolutely idea of luxury is cooling off in my own personal plunge pool on a steamy hot day SC

Luxury means experiencing an out of the ordinary opportunity LP

To me, luxury travel means the assurance that your needs have been both considered & anticipated. PF

Walking through those golden doors in Heathrow’s Terminal 5, and then turning left when I walk onto the aircraft and making my way to the front. CE

For me there’s nothing more luxurious than being treated to an ice cold drink and fantastic picnic in the middle of nowhere in the Patagonia wilderness (this really did happen!) AB

Luxury is definitely the Copacabana Palace, EF

One of the most luxurious things I’ve ever done was sailing on the Amazon on the MV Aria – it was like floating through the jungle in a five star hotel! JS

And if that hasn’t inspired you, here’s a rundown of the luxury Latin American experiences we love….

Extra-special touches at your hotel

• Arrive at one of Brazil’s most exclusive beach hotels, Ponta dos Ganchos, by helicopter from Floriánopolis airport. In the evening, enjoy a gourmet private island dinner.
  
• Take a private dinner in the impressive, modern yet atmospheric wine cellar at Sol y Luna in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
• Enjoy an exclusive wine-tasting session with a resident sommelier at Estancia Colomé in the wine-growing region of the Calchaquíes Valley, northwest Argentina.
• Arrive at Villa Rolandi on the idyllic Isla Mujeres, Yucatán Peninsula, by private yacht from Cancún to the hotel’s jetty.
• Stay at Cala Mia in Panama, located on its very own private Caribbean island.

Travel in style

• Salta, Argentina, to the Atacama Desert, Chile: Take a private 4x4 transfer with driver across the Andes – one of South America’s most spectacular road journeys. You’ll beat the public bus, avoiding the long queues at immigration. You can also stop at leisure wherever you wish to take photos of the high-altitude lakes, multi-coloured canyons and vast salt flats.
• Belize and Costa Rica: Private light air craft flights are available for a number of routes – you could even admire the aerial views over the reef and jungle in a private plane from The Lodge at Chaa Creek.
• Angra dos Reis to Ilha Grande, Brazil: Take a private speedboat to the beach paradise of Ilha Grande on Brazil’s Emerald Coast, not far from Rio.
• Presidential service to Machu Picchu: With a capacity of just 8 passengers per carriage (and of course the possibility to book them out for smaller groups), Inca Rail’s Presidential service is the most private and sumptuously luxurious way to reach the famous lost Inca citadel. Panoramic windows, a majestic lounge and an exquisite tasting menu paired with fine wines welcome you aboard.

Excursions and experiences

• Let Explora en Rapa Nui prepare you a private picnic lunch on Anakena beach, Easter Island – complete with wine, beer and plenty of delicious food and guides to set up everything so you can just sit back and enjoy.
• Charter a private sailboat from the superlative Titilaka hotel to explore majestic Lake Titicaca, stopping on the way to visit local communities and timeless islands.
• Visit the famous geysers at El Tatio in the Atacama Desert via a private early morning excursion followed by a visit to Puritama hot springs with Explora en Atacama. Explora own the pool at the top so you can have the place to yourself while their guides set up a private picnic.

Luxury cruises

• Cruise the Amazon in style on board South America’s most exclusive boat the MV Aria.
• For a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience, charter one of our top-of-the range Galápagos yachts for your family or a group of friends.

Ready to indulge? Let one of our experts plan some of life’s luxuries into your next holiday to Latin America - no matter how big or small it will make your trip one to remember.