The most spectacular way to see the Salar de Uyuni is by camper van! Two luxury Airstream Campers have been specially refurbished for the Salt Flats. They have electric blankets, private bath with hot shower, Ipod port and fully stocked mini-bar. The campers come with the services of a tour co-ordinator and an experienced chef, who accompany the caravan in a separate vehicle.
The expanse of rolling countryside surrounding Buenos Aires is scattered with Ranches, or Estancias, where you can experience the iconic Gaucho culture.
On arriving at the Estancia we were greeted by Gauchos dressed in their traditional outfits, offering freshly cooked empanadas and wine. Each Gaucho was in the traditional loose fitting trousers called bombachas, wearing a poncho and carrying a large knife and bolas (three leather bound rocks tied together with approximately three feet long leather straps) in their belts. Typically, a gaucho’s horse is his most valuable possession but there is also often a subtle (or sometimes not so subtle) displaying of silver coins on their belts.
During the stay we had a chance of horse-riding like a true cowboy or taking a more sedate carriage ride. Lunch was, in typical style, a barbeque (or asado) washed down with plenty of Malbec. We were treated to a Tango dancing show with live music and afterwards a spectacular display of horsemanship from the Gauchos.
Some Estancias offer accommodation while others cater for day visitors, so you can choose to completely immerse yourself in the gaucho way of life or just dip in for a few hours.
An extraordinary example for ecotourism, this lodge is nestled in a private reserve in a pristine region of the Talamanca Mountains. Selva Bananito Lodge offers 11 individual cabins constructed of beautiful salvaged wood which stand on stilts following Caribbean tradition.
Overlooking the ocean in a secluded jungle setting in Mal Pais, this boutique adult only hotel has just 6 villas with private pools, a gym, spa, a bar and a restaurant. The cuisine at Casa Chameleon uses natural ingredients and features an open kitchen, so guests can see the chef preparing their food.
Overlooking the whale-tale-shaped sandbar of Uvita de Osa, Kura Design Villas is an exclusive boutique hotel on the South Pacific Coast. Featuring six luxury villas, an infinity salt water pool, and a spectacular outdoor poolside lounge and Spa area, Kura is the perfect place to indulge your senses.
This ultra-luxury 5* hotel can only be accessed by means of the 220-foot long footbridge through the thick forest across from its sister property; Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens. There are 35 luxurious villas with canopy beds, spacious marble bathrooms and secluded private gardens. They also boast a terrace overlooking the volcano and private plunge pools fed by natural mineral hot springs.
‘Warning: School Zone’ bleeped the GPS of my hire car again as I drove through a small village as part of a two week self-drive trip around Costa Rica. I’d lost count of how many times the GPS had given me similar warnings during that drive and it began to re-enforce to me just how important schools and education are to Costa Rica. Education and conservation really seem key to this stable, forwarding thinking country and Costa Rica’s ‘Ticos’ are rightly proud to have one of the highest literacy rates in the Americas and have over 25% of the country protected by parks and reserves. It is also a safe, peaceful country reflected by the fact it has not had an army since 1949.
And what better way to discover this beautiful country than hiring a car and taking to the roads. A four-wheel drive vehicle, full cover insurance and a GPS are recommended and, away from San José, roads are quiet and mostly in good condition. For me the freedom to explore at my own pace made for a really memorable adventure!
Accessible exclusively by boat, Playa Cativo is nestled in the tranquil waters of Golfo Dulce, near Osa Peninsula in southern Costa Rica. Playa Cativo is a beachfront boutique hotel offering an unparalleled experience set on 1,000 acres of private tropical rainforest reserve surrounded by the Piedras Blancas National Park, a former extension of the Corcovado National Park.
Surrounded by stunning scenery, Titilaka is a luxury boutique three-story lodge offering 18 lake-view rooms facing Taquile and Amantani islands to the north; the Bolivian Cordillera Real to the East, along with Lake Titicaca which stretches to the East and West. At the northern tip of the peninsula is the dock, departure point for local and excursion boats.
On the banks of the Vilcanota River and at the foot of Machu Picchu, Sumaq offers exclusive service, luxurious facilities, fantastic architecture and interior design inspired by Incan culture. The hotel has 60 spacious and sophisticated rooms and suites, all with lovely views of the river or rainforest. The a contemporary fusion of traditional Andean Cuisine is served in the signature fine dining restaurant.
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