3 Best Hotels in Side Trips from Buenos Aires, Argentina

Just a few minutes from San Antonio de Areco takes you from town to the vastness of the Pampas and this absolute charmer of a boutique estancia. Estancia La Madrugada pulls off a magical balance of rusticity and elegance, the worn reflection of the region and its past, and a stylish, comfortable hospitality. An all-inclusive stay will leave you relaxed; the locale, enamored; the expertly prepared food and cocktails, deeply satisfied; and the genuinely warm staff, enchanted. Go for a brisk horse ride or laze by the enormous swimming pool set within an idyllic landscape, and return to a sampling of asado prepared by gauchos. With only three gracefully appointed rooms available, book well in advance.

That thundering you hear in the distance lets you know how close this hotel is to the falls—the lobby opens right onto the park trails, and half the rooms have big balconies with a fabulous view of the falls. (Be sure to reserve one of these well in advance, as they're the most popular.) The public areas are decorated with attractive local art and jewelry, and the rooms are perfectly serviceable, with sleek furnishings and wall-to-wall windows, and the spa has a gorgeous indoor hot pool and treatment tents on an outdoor deck. You can see the rising mist over the falls from the beautiful swimming pool, which is surrounded by palm trees and jungle.

Dating from the 1830s, the venerable La Bamba de Areco was once an important stop along the road from Buenos Aires to northern Argentina. In the heart of the pampas, the rustic ranch has been converted into a luxurious boutique hotel that combines period details like beamed ceiling and shuttered windows with pampering amenities like king-size beds dressed in Egyptian cotton sheets. La Pulpería, the property's oldest building, holds a formal dining room (you can also dine outside under the plane trees), a bar, and a breakfast area. There's also a pool, and horseback tours of the property are offered.