Must-see hotels in South America

  • Hostel Galeria 13

    Salvador

    Located in an old colonial house complete with a swimming pool and a Moroccan-style lounge (rarities at any hostel), but especially in one at such a great…

  • Estancia Los Cuartos

    Salta & the Andean Northwest

    Oozing with character, this lovely spot with grazing llamas out front is two centuries old, and feels like a museum, with venerable books lining antique…

  • Ecohostal Yuluka

    Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona

    This gorgeous place very stylishly caters for discerning backpackers who want to explore the park without giving up all comforts. It's very rustic but…

  • Pousada das Missões

    Rio Grande do Sul

    Student groups often utilize the separate dorm-style accommodation at this HI hostel, but more discerning travelers will be comfortable in the private…

  • Posada del Arte

    Baños

    This exquisite little guesthouse has colorful, comfortable rooms, wood floors, gigantic breakfasts and art all around. Several rooms have waterfall views,…

  • Refúgio Ecológico Pedra Afiada

    Santa Catarina

    Splendidly located within the Cânion Malacara, this isolated inn has a gorgeous stone fireplace for chilly nights, a fabulous rooftop deck and viewing…

  • Black Sheep Inn

    The Quilotoa Loop

    This wonderfully rustic community-operated property sits above the valley, 100m north of Chugchilán, and offers spectacular views. Rooms have a cozy cabin…

  • Playa Escondida

    North Coast & Lowlands

    Look no further for seclusion: the lovely and remote Playa Escondida offers accommodation in rustic cabins surrounding a beautiful beach cove, set amid 2…

  • Hôtel des Palmistes

    French Guiana

    Housed in a gorgeously renovated colonial building overlooking Cayenne's main square, this boutique bolt-hole has the best rooms in town (room 1, in…

  • B&B Plaza Italia

    Mendoza

    Comfortable and homey, a stay at this family-run B&B hits the right notes, combining personal intimacy and understated professionalism. Each of the five…

  • Hotel La Posada del Monasterio

    Arequipa

    On a prime corner, this hotel gracefully inhabits an architectural mix-and-match building combining the best of the European and South American style. The…

  • Casa Panq’arani

    Puno

    This delightful traditional Puno home has a flower-filled courtyard and inviting rooms lining a 2nd-floor balcony. But the real draw is the sincere…

  • Barra Beach Club

    Santa Catarina

    This American-run hostel earns top honors across the pedestrian bridge. Three-, four- and 10-bed dorm facilities are spread across several buildings, all…

  • King's Hotel & Residence

    Georgetown

    This is the smartest choice in downtown Georgetown, with a sleek feel and modern furnishings, crisp white cotton sheets on all the beds and some great…

  • Hotel Aranjuez

    Cochabamba

    As you walk around the wonderfully decorated salons in this elegantly furnished hotel on a quiet street in the wealthy Recoleta district, you could be…

  • Posada Queulat

    Northern Patagonia

    The ultimate hideaway, these rustic cabins along the fjord exude serenity. Ample lodgings are well spaced for privacy and feature wood stoves. Service is…

  • Awarradam Jungle Lodge & Spa

    Suriname

    This remote lodge built on an island next to the Awarradam rapids is a great place for those who want to get deep into the jungle while experiencing…

  • Hotel Pozo del Cielo

    Cañón Del Colca

    ‘Heaven’s Well,’ as the name translates, is all low doorways, high ceilings, weirdly shaped rooms and winding paths. One half expects the seven dwarfs to…

  • Posada Nirvana Inn

    Bolivia

    In the barrio of Chiriaca at the top of Irupana (past the soccer field, turn right), Nirvana houses five sublime cabañas (cabins) in an immaculate…

  • Gunsi Resort Tei Wei

    Suriname

    Run by the tiny, very traditional and welcoming village of Gunsi, this is the best place to immerse yourself into Saamaca culture. Huts with beds and…

  • Hostal El Lobo

    Amazon Basin

    Two hundred meters from the main plaza, this updated spot is now a buzzing playground for backpackers. A complete makeover includes crafty tacuara (bamboo…

  • Pousada Pico da Neblina

    Amazonas

    Occupying a grand old mansion with views of São Gabriel's best beach, Pico da Neblina is used mostly for long-term rentals but reserves one room for…

  • Art Hotel Deco

    Uruguay

    Just paces from the city center, this classy boutique hotel easily outshines Salto's other downtown sleeping options. The lovingly renovated historic…

  • Guesthouse TwenTy4

    Paramaribo

    This sparkling clean guesthouse is the best budget deal in the city. It's on a central, quiet backstreet, and the whole place has a welcoming vibe with a…

  • Casa Andina

    Cañón Del Colca

    The purposefully rustic rooms here inhabit thatched-roof stone cottages in neatly sculpted grounds. The best features are the unusual extras such as an…

  • La Campiña

    The Pampas & the Atlantic Coast

    The best option in the area is roughly 4km from center, and well worth the jaunt for tidy rooms with high, slanted beamed ceilings, and the quiet location…

  • La Casa de Anita

    Cañón Del Colca

    Just what Chivay needed: a hotel right on the Plaza de Armas where you can rest in clean, spacious rooms with very comfy cotton bedding, spotless modern…

  • Tren del Sur

    Puerto Montt

    This boutique hotel in the old neighborhood of Modelo is full of furniture (headboards, wardrobes) fashioned from rescued railway trestles. The high-style…

  • Palumeu Jungle Lodge

    Suriname

    This remote lodge is located in the Amerindian village of Palumeu on the banks of the stunning Boven Tapanahoni River. It's managed by METS in…

  • Hotel Piscis

    Mendoza & the Central Andes

    The most extravagant of Las Leñas’ lodgings is the nominally five-star, 99-room Hotel Piscis, with great valley views. Repairs and improvements are needed…

  • Hostal Mirador

    Amazon Basin

    The most happening spot in town (and the only place you'll encounter other gringos) is this hostel with colorful wall murals, fast wi-fi, a small pool, an…

  • Onkel Inn

    La Paz

    A bright, HI-affiliated place in a convenient spot between San Pedro and El Prado. It's less of a scene than the hostels up by the terminal, good for…

  • Domo Camp

    The Lakes District

    Each of these geodesic domes connected by planks through native forest has its own fireplace for warmth, and cozy mattresses and sleeping bags are…

  • Casa Sarandi Guesthouse

    Montevideo

    One block south of Plaza Matriz, two attractive guest rooms in a vintage apartment share a kitchen and comfortable living room adorned with local artwork…

  • Greenheart Boutique Hotel

    Paramaribo

    A lovely hotel in a converted colonial mansion of polished hardwoods. Many rooms have loft spaces, perfect for families, and there are lots of inviting…

  • Bordebaker Lodge

    Northern Patagonia

    A tasteful design hotel with rustic touches, Bordebaker has a two-story main lodge connected by boardwalk to seven modern cabins. Each overlooks a sublime…

  • Galeazzi-Basily B&B

    Ushuaia

    The best feature of this elegant wooded residence is its warm, hospitable family of owners, who will make you feel right at home. Rooms are small but…

  • Hotel Glória

    Santa Catarina

    With its wood-paneled entrance, stained glass and traditional German kaffeehaus (coffeehouse), this Blumenau classic has modernized its entire fleet of…

  • Porto Alegre Eco Hostel

    Porto Alegre

    Down a quiet residential street in the heart of Cidade Baixa, this excellent hostel, chock-full of demolition wood furniture and eco-awareness, has a…

  • Pousada da Ana Doce

    São Paulo State

    It's so hard to choose at this colonial center gem, São Sebastião's most charming inn. One of the 16 neat, cheerful little rooms arranged around a…

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