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Latin America is famed for its plethora of wild and remote landscapes. From the lunar rock formations of Chile’s Atacama Desert to the ice-clad peaks of Tierra del Fuego’s deepest southern reaches, travellers in search of a humbling encounter with Mother Nature are never disappointed with a trip to this diverse and vibrant region.
Luckily, for those of us who want to experience all the wilderness has to offer without roughing it with the backpackers, Latin America is also home to some truly extraordinary luxury lodges – making even the most remote corners of the earth accessible for the discerning traveller.
Humboldt Travel specialises in luxury travel to Latin America and beyond. Here are our favourite places to experience the Latin American wilderness in ultimate style:
Lapa Rios, Osa Peninsula, Costa RicaNowhere does exceptional, hassle-free wildlife experiences quite like Costa Rica. This diminutive country is one of the planet’s most biodiverse with an incredible range of luxury escapes to boot. Rated the ‘Best Eco-Lodge Resort in Costa Rica’ by Forbes magazine and the Michelin guide in 2025, Lapa Rios Eco-Lodge is the perfect luxury getaway for wildlife lovers who seek the seclusion of pristine forests for intimate encounters with wildlife.
Boasting striking ocean views from within a private 1000-acre rainforest reserve, each of Lapa Rios’ individual bungalows is embraced by the lush vegetation of Costa Rica’s remote Osa Peninsula. Guided by the property’s team of experts, guests can enjoy bespoke explorations of the park in search of sloths, howler monkeys, scarlet macaws, snakes, caimans and thousands of species of birds and insects. Whether you choose to spot dolphins frolicking in the bay from the seclusion of your private terrace, or head out with your guide to catch a sighting of one of the regions five species of wild cat, it’s impossible not to be enchanted by the natural beauty here.
Powered by an eco-luxury philosophy that places memorable service and conscious sustainability choices at the heart of the guest experience, Lapa Rios is a must-do on any wildlife trip in Central America.
Galapagos Safari Camp, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
If the Galapagos Islands are on your bucket list but your sea-legs are less than reliable, consider a luxury land-based stay at the Galapagos Safari Camp. This intimate retreat on Santa Cruz Island offers just ten spacious safari tents to use as your base to explore these famed isles, or, alternatively, to enjoy as a peaceful extension of your stay after a cruise. Set in the island’s lush highland landscapes, each tent offers guests striking views of the sea and the rugged hills which you can enjoy from the perfect privacy of your balcony hammock.
Colder evenings can be spent curled up with a book by the cosy fireplace in the elegant main lodge building after a delicious meal in the fine dining restaurant. After the rigours of tailor-made excursions including horseback riding, snorkelling, kayaking and hiking, guests can immerse themselves in the inviting infinity pool, surrounded by vibrant vegetation.
Whatever the perfect Galapagos trip means to you, the personalised service approach of this innovative property guarantees you a once-in-a-lifetime experience of these enchanted isles.
Cristalino Jungle Lodge, Alta Floresta, Brazil
Consistently rated as one of the world’s most exquisite eco-lodges, Cristalino offers guests the opportunity to experience the enormity of the Amazon rainforest in the perfect privacy of a 29,000-acre private forest reserve. More exclusive and less frequently visited than the northern zone around Manaus, the southern Amazon is an absolute must-do for keen birders or those who simply wish to experience the forest away from the noise of mainstream tourist infrastructure.
The Cristalino experience is characterised by small group explorations led by naturalist guides who interpret the sights and sounds of the rainforest using decades of specialist knowledge. Wildlife lovers can hope to see various species of monkeys, giant river otters, ocelots, tropical frogs, river turtles and caimans alongside a myriad of colourful tropical birds.
When you’re not exploring the forest, guests can sample elevated Amazonian cuisine in the onsite restaurant or meditate to the sounds of the forest on Cristalino’s elegant floating deck. With each of the bungalows offering either a private garden or a sleek veranda alongside plush beds and high-end amenities, Cristalino is living proof that you don’t have to sacrifice comfort to enjoy a remote experience in the Brazilian Amazon.
Everything you need to plan your trip in 2026
With Torres del Paine’s growing popularity and Patagonia’s limited tourism season, it is more worth it than ever to splash out on a truly exclusive experience of these majestic landscapes. Based within a vast private reserve, Awasi Patagonia consists of independent villas that overlook the untamed beauty of the Patagonian scrub forests, Lake Sarmiento and the rugged peaks of the Torres del Paine National Park.
Allowing guests to experience the magic of Patagonia with zero compromise, each villa is allocated its own private guide and vehicle, meaning you are free to explore entirely at your own pace and according to your own interests. Get closer to nature by exploring the hills on horseback or complete the park’s iconic treks with the added value of your own expert guide’s wealth of local knowledge.
After long days in the park, you can return to the ultimate luxury of your villa, complete with a warming woodburning stove and a private outdoor hot tub, to slowly unwind in the vast silence of Patagonia’s rolling slopes. Offering fine dining experiences based around the bounty of the south pacific fjords and a service experience like no other, Awasi’s ultimate combination of remote location and curated exploration is nothing less than pure Patagonian perfection
Casa Gaston, Uyuni, Bolivia
This year will see the opening of the first true luxury hotel experience on the extra-terrestrial salt flats of Bolivia’s Uyuni Desert. Inspired by the titanic legacy of Bolivia’s greatest modern artist, Gaston Ugalde (1944-2023), Casa Gastón is a high-end hotel-museum that will offer guests the chance to luxuriate in the humbling seclusion of southern Bolivia’s monumental landscapes.
Offering personalised explorations of the region, guests of this ultra-remote luxury hotel will have the opportunity to walk the salt flats at sunrise, visit the stunning Tunupa volcano and immerse themselves in the unique culture of the Andes through curated experiences with local quinoa farmers and llama herders. The culinary offer at Casa Gastón is led by the acclaimed Marsia Taha, recognised as Best Female Chef in Latin America by Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2024. Centring local ingredients and Bolivian gastronomic tradition, the hotel’s sophisticated menu is a joyful celebration of creativity and community.
Influenced throughout by Ugalde’s pioneering artistry, Casa Gastón will give discerning travellers the opportunity to experience the majesty of Uyuni like never before.
Simon Williams
Simon Williams is Director of Humboldt Travel. Humboldt Travel is a luxury travel company specialising in tailor made holidays to Latin America, Africa and Asia. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
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